Carlos Carrasco strikes out 6, Mike Aviles homers as Indians beat Cubs 7-2
3/7/2014MESA, Ariz. — Edwin Jackson allowed three runs and four hits in three innings for the Cubs while Carlos Carrasco struck out six of his 12 batters in leading the Cleveland Indians over a Chicago split-squad 7-2 Friday.
Jackson, coming off a subpar first year of a $52 million, four-year contract, hit two batters and struck out two.
Mike Aviles hit a first-inning homer, giving the Indians a quick 2-0 lead after Nyjer Morgan opened the game with a single off Jackson. Morgan is batting .556 in spring training.
Indians reserve outfielder Ryan Raburn left in the third inning with a bruised left knee and bloody lip after running into the right-field wall chasing Kris Bryant’s two-run homer in the second. The Indians said the injury is not expected to be serious.
STARTING TIME
Indians: Carrasco was strong in his first start and third appearance. He gave up three hits and two runs — none earned — in three innings, leaving his ERA at 1.29. He did not walk a batter.
“It goes to show you if you throw the ball over the plate and you don’t walk people you probably aren’t going to give up a lot of runs,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Cubs: Jackson threw only fastballs and was hit hard. He has allowed four earned runs and six hits in two starts, including two home runs in five innings. He has struck out five, walked none and hit three batters.
“Today was a fastball day,” Jackson said. “We are at a time in spring training where we kind of have the luxury to go out and do something like that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: After attention from a trainer, Raburn remained in the game defensively, then was pinch hit for in the third.
Cubs: Starlin Castro is expected to start baseball activities next week after spending a few days in the hot and cold pools trying to reduce extra fluid near his right hamstring. He is expected to be out another week or so.
“It’s better it happened now and not in the season,” he said. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be 100 percent for the season.”
FEAST OR FAMINE
While Cubs top prospect Javier Baez has received plenty of attention, Bryant has matched him in home runs with two. Bryant has struck out in his six other at-bats, including two Friday.
CRANKING IT UP
Indians right-hander Danny Salazar pitched an inning in a “B’’ game Friday morning. He threw 21 pitches while facing six batters, striking out three and topping out at about 95 mph. He is expected to make his exhibition debut Tuesday.
“I thought Danny looked really good,” Francona said. “He looked free and easy.”