Today, for the first time all spring, Indians’ center fielder Grady Sizemore will be in action for the Indians, albeit at designated hitter to ease him in to game action, as Cleveland takes on the Arizona Diamondbacks with the Tribe riding a two-game winning streak in Cactus League play.
The Indians stand at 9-11 in the spring as training begins winding down.
Sizemore, returning from surgery, participated in sliding drills on Friday to make sure that all parts are in working order, and apparently, they are, and none too soon for Indians’ fans with Opening Day only twelve days from now.
Mitch Talbot takes the mound today against an Arizona squad that trailed the Reds 10-0 yesterday, yet came back to win 13-10…a late field goal decided things (just kidding).
Arizona will send out this lineup in support of Armando Galarraga. (You will remember that it was Galarraga who — last year with Detroit — hurled an imperfect perfect game against the Indians when a blown call at first base on the 27th out of the game, crediting Jason Donald with a hit when Donald was shown to be clearly out, robbed Galarraga of his piece of history...or perhaps the incident made him more famous than a "routine" perfecto might have made him):
1) Willie Bloomquist® CF
2) Ryan Roberts® 3B
3) Gerardo Parra (L) RF
4) Russell Branyan (L) DH
5) Miguel Montero (L) C
6) Brandon Allen (L) LF
7) Paul Goldschmidt® 1B
8) Tony Abreu (S) 2B
9) Ed Rogers® SS
The Tribe will counter with these starters in support of Talbot:
1) Grady Sizemore (L) DH
2) Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3) Shin-Soo Choo (L) RF
4) Chad Huffman® LF
5) Travis Buck (L) 1B
6) Orlando Cabrera® 2B
7) Jack Hannahan (L) 3B
8) Paul Phillips® C
9) Michael Brantley (L) CF