Columbus shuttle drops off three pitchers in Cleveland

 CLEVELAND: Nick Hagadone and Corey Kluber arrived today, and Josh Judy will join the Indians in Kansas City on Friday, all three to help bolster a bullpen that was thoroughly tested in Wednesday night's 16-inning game against the Athletics.

Hagadone nd Kluber made their major-league debuts today in the finale against Oakland, which avoided a four-game sweep with a 7-0 win at Progressive Field. Hagadone entered the game with bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh and reitred three consecutive batters on a ground ball, sacrifice fly and strikeout. Kluber let in three runs for Hagadone on two bloop singles.

Manager Manny Acta was particiularly pleased with Hagadone, whose lead pitch is a 95-mile-per-hour fastball.

""Both guys came into unusual situations,'' the manager said. ""That’s not when you want to bring in a (novice) pitcher. Hagadone was impressive, not only his arm but his heartbeat was terrific. I’ve been around guys a lot of years, and some of them start hyperventilating in those situations.

 ""I don’t know how long it’s been since he pitched in relief, but he didn’t get hit hard,'' Acta said of Kluber, who was a member of Columbus’ rotation.

  To circumvent a rule that prevents minor-league assignees from returning to the big leagues until 10 days have passed, the Tribe placed Shin-Soo Choo (strained left oblique) on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 28. That allowed Hagadone to come back from Triple-A early, because he was replacing an injured player.  

""The fastest Choo was going to be back was a couple of days earlier,'' Acta said. ""That wasn’t worth taking the risk of being short in the bullpen.''