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Peralta, Garko, Aubrey homer in intrasquad game. Francisco goes 3-for-3, Sizemore, Marte get two hits
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Even in intrasquad games, the maxim about pitchers being ahead of the hitters early in spring training usually holds true.
Tuesday was the exception to that rule. Jhonny Peralta, Ryan Garko and Michael Aubrey homered.
And that was only the beginning. Ben Francisco was 3-for-3 with a double, Grady Sizemore and Andy Marte singled twice, and Victor Martinez doubled.
The serious evaluation of players won't really begin until the exhibition schedule starts Thursday, but for Marte, every little bit helps.
He is out of options and trying to make the club as a utility infielder. Not only will the staff carefully watch his at-bats, it will look at his progress as a first baseman, a position he is only now learning to play. By trade, Marte is a third baseman.
If the hitting was impressive, it stands to reason that the pitching suffered. Each of 11 pitchers took a turn, getting a chance to retire three batters or throw 20-25 pitches, whichever came first.
Joe Borowski gave up the home runs to Garko and Peralta, allowing three runs on three hits. On the other end of the spectrum, Jeremy Sowers got through one inning unscathed but allowed two hits, striking out one.
Paul Byrd made the most of his outing, throwing a hitless inning.
Twelve more pitchers will throw today in the second and last intrasquad game, scheduled for six innings.
Get used to it
When Travis Hafner came to the plate in the first inning, he looked at the infield defense and noticed a familiar alignment.
The shortstop had moved to the right of second base, emulating the kind of shift that Hafner often faces during the season.
''I saw it for the first time like you saw it for the first time,'' said manager Eric Wedge, referring to using such a strategy in a practice game.
Whose idea was it?
''I don't know,'' Wedge said.
Wedge was asked the viability of bunting against a defense in which the third baseman is nowhere near the bag.
''No, we want Travis to swing the bat,'' he said.
''He can do a lot more damage that way.''
Paying up
Tribe public-relations chief Bart Swain walked around all morning in an LSU purple and yellow cap, a purple T-shirt that read, ''Only girlie men wear sweater vests,'' purple beads and a tiger tail dragging from the back of his trousers.
Obviously, Swain had lost a bet on the Ohio State-LSU national-championship football game. But to who?
Byrd won the wager and supplied Swain with all of the embarrassing paraphernalia.
Tickets on sale
On Saturday at 10 a.m. individual-game tickets to all Indians games (except the opener, which is sold out) will go on sale.
They can be purchased at the Progressive Field box office, at all Tribe Team Shops, on line at http://www.indians.com, by phone at 866-48 TRIBE or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including those at Macy's and Giant Eagle.
So far, the club has sold more than 1.3 million tickets for the season, a total that was not reached last year until late April. Season-ticket sales are up 20 percent over last year at this time, and group sales are up 39 percent.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Even in intrasquad games, the maxim about pitchers being ahead of the hitters early in spring training usually holds true.
Get the full article here.
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