Minor Matters: Whitney Goes Deep

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Matt Whitney wasted little time getting back into the swing in the Indians' minor-league system. Whitney homered for the Akron Aeros in an 8-3 exhibition win over Double-A players from the Atlanta Braves system Thursday. Wes Hodges also homered for Akron. For Buffalo, outfielder Shin-Soo Choo didn't get a hit, but it was good to see him play, six months after elbow surgery.

Whitney, picked from the Indians in the Rule 5 draft in December by the Washington Nationals, was returned to Cleveland's organization earlier this week. He started at first base in the game at Disney World, going 1-for-3 with a walk and solo homer.

Third baseman Hodges went 2-for-3 with his homer and had four RBIs. Lower-level infielder Isaias Velasquez started at shortstop for the Aeros and had two doubles in four times up, scoring twice.

Lefty Shawn Nottingham got the win, allowing two hits over three scoreless innings, striking out one and throwing his fastest pitch at 89 mph.

Right-hander J.D. Martin yielded three runs on two hits and a walk over two innings, topping out at 88.

Right-handers Jeffrey Stevens and Sung-Wei Tseng finished, each topping out at 90 mph. Stevens yielded only a walk over two innings, fanning two. Tseng worked two perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Buffalo tied the Richmond Braves, 1-1.

Choo was hitless in two trips, but has been stinging the ball in batting practice. He's still limited to throwing from 120 feet and when he takes outfield practice, tosses the balls underhand to the infield to avoid stress on his surgically repaired shoulder. He'll begin the season on Cleveland's disabled list, but since he is out of options, will have to be activated by the Indians when he is healthy, or put on waivers. He's not due to play regularly until May.

The Bisons got only four hits, singles by Ryan Mulhern, David Wallace, Jason Cooper and Wyatt Toregas -- and struck out 12 times.

Jeff Harris started and yielded only a walk over four hitless innings, fanning four. Speeds were not kept for the Triple-A pitchers.

Tom Mastny, just sent down by the Indians, gave up one run on three hits over two innings.

Rick Bauer, Ed Mujica and Randy Newsom, up from Akron, each worked one scoreless inning.

Back in Winter Haven, the Kinston Indians defeated the Myrtle Beach team in Class A action, 9-8.

Third baseman Jared Goedert went 2-for-5 with three RBI; catcher Alex Castillo was 3-for-4 with a solo homer; second baseman Adam Davis 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI; shortstop Carlos Rivero 2-for-4 with an RBI; and Beau Mills 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Starter Carlton Smith gave up six runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings, striking out four. The right-hander's top pitch was timed at 92 mph.

T.J. Burton walked one and fanned four over two hitless innings, topping out at 91; Neil Wagner topped out at 91, giving up a run and two hits over one inning and Luis Perdomo struck out the side in his only inning, reaching 93 mph.

Lake County defeated the Rome Braves, 3-1. Shortstop Mark Thompson and left fielder Matt Brown each had two of the Captains' nine hits. Brown had a two-run double.

Starter Ryan Morris gave up two hits and three walks over five scoreless innings. He fanned two and hit a high speed of 89.

Michael Pontius yielded an unearned run over two innings; Jonathan Holt and Dallas Cawiezell each pitched one hitless inning with one strikeout. Cawiezell topped out at 91 mph.