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Do IT this week: Layering
Rays' Winston Abreu acquired for Meloan. Offense still in slump
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Jul 03, 2009
The fourth new relief pitcher in less than two weeks is about to join the Indians' bullpen.
The Tampa Bay Rays dealt 32-year-old right-hander Winston Abreu to the Tribe on Thursday in exchange for right-hander John Meloan and cash.
Abreu is headed for the 25-man roster, so someone will have to be lopped off the club to make room for him, though the team has not specified when Abreu will be activated.
Signed by the Rays to a minor-league contract in February, Abreu spent spring training in major-league training camp.
He was assigned to Triple-A Durham, where he compiled a 3-0 record with 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA, appearing in 23 games. He limited batters to a .128 average and struck out 49 in 32 innings.
On June 14, he was called up to the Rays and pitched twice, giving up one run, three hits and two walks in 32/3 innings before being designated for assignment on June 27. In 2008, Abreu pitched for the Chiba Lotte Lions in Japan, posting a 1-2 record and 3.32 ERA in 20 outings before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow in June. Abreu also has pitched for the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. His major-league record: 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in 35 appearances.
Meloan has pitched in 25 games for Triple-A Columbus, compiling a 5.52 ERA in 44 innings, including two starts.
Chris Perez, Jose Veras and Mike Gosling were all acquired to pitch in the Tribe bullpen the past two weeks.
Temporary slowdown?
Indians manager Eric Wedge thinks the offense is experiencing only a minor slump, having averaged only 2.6 runs and compiling a .195 batting average the past five games.
''I think we're going to be a good offensive club the second half,'' Wedge said. ''I don't expect the offense to be clicking right now, but I do expect it to click sooner than later.''
Wedge believes the problem is that Asdrubal Cabrera, Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are still trying to scrape the rust off their swings after being sidelined with injuries.
Other stuff
The Tribe has lost eight of its past nine games at Progressive Field and 13 of its past 15 overall. . . . Jeremy Sowers, who took the loss against the Chicago White Sox Wednesday night, is 0-5 with a 6.23 ERA for his career against them. . . . Victor Martinez snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a double Wednesday night.
Three All-Stars
Three Columbus players, outfielder Jordan Brown, catcher Wyatt Toregas and third baseman Andy Marte, have been picked to play in the International League All-Star Team.
They will be part of the team that plays the best of the Pacific Coast League July 15 in Portland, Ore. The game will be aired on ESPN2.
Farm facts
Marte went 4-for-4 with a double and his 10th homer of the season, but Columbus lost to Toledo 12-4 in Class AAA. Brown also hit his 10th home run and doubled, raising his average to .326. Marte lifted his average to .319.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
The fourth new relief pitcher in less than two weeks is about to join the Indians' bullpen.
Get the full article here.
