Lindor homers in Minor League tilt, nears return
ARLINGTON -- After missing all of Spring Training with a right calf strain, Francisco Lindor made his most significant step on Monday in his bid to return to the Indians when he becomes eligible to come off the injured list on April 4. He played eight innings in a Minor League game in Arizona, going 1-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs.
“It was a good day for him,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said before the Indians' 5-4 loss to the Rangers in Tuesday’s Spring Training finale.
The All-Star shortstop missed only 10 games total the last three seasons (he played in 158, 159 and 158, respectively, but the Indians only played 161 games in 2016), playing in more games (475) than any other Cleveland player during that span. If he returns on April 4, he’ll only miss the first five games of the season.
Lindor sustained the calf injury on Feb. 6 while preparing for Spring Training. The Indians will open the season without both their middle infielders, as second baseman Jason Kipnis is also out with a right calf injury. Kipnis will take longer to return, but is running on the treadmill and hitting at this stage, Francona said.
Clevinger stays sharp in spring finale
Tuesday’s starter Mike Clevinger worked three innings in his fifth and final outing of Spring Training, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits. He walked two and struck out five, giving him 21 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings this spring. Clevinger is slated to start Monday in the Tribe’s home opener against the White Sox.
“I don’t know if because he was in a stadium, it looked like he was a little over-amped, but the ball’s coming out great,” Francona said. “I think he’s situated to have a good, solid year. It’ll just be fun to watch him get better.”
Umps, clubs bend rules at end
It’s a general, if unwritten, rule that Spring Training games end in ties rather than go to extra innings, so with the score tied at 4 to start the ninth inning Tuesday, the umpires asked Francona and Rangers manager Chris Woodward if they would be willing to start each of their halves of the frame with a runner on second base.
The Minor Leagues adopted that rule for extra innings last season, and Major League Baseball gave teams the option to try it this spring. Both managers agreed to do it Tuesday. The Indians stranded Korey Holland, but the Rangers capitalized on the free bases and won when Zack Granite scored from second on Franklin Rollin’s walk-off single.
“I kind of like it actually -- it’s different,” Francona said.
Up next
The Indians will have Corey Kluber on the mound against the Twins in Minnesota on Thursday at 4:10 p.m. ET for his fifth-consecutive Opening Day start. Only one pitcher in Cleveland’s 119 Major League seasons has started five openers in a row; Stan Coveleski from 1917-21. José Berríos has the start for the Twins.