Scott Kazmir didn't distance himself from Carlos Carrasco in the competition for the last spot in the Indians rotation despite a 10-5 victory over Seattle on Saturday.
Peoria, Ariz. -- Scott Kazmir and Carlos Carrasco each have one start left before the end of spring training. It sounds as if a decision will be made before then regarding who will be the Indians' fifth starter.
Manager Terry Francona said he'll meet with GM Chris Antonetti on Sunday after Antonetti returns from scouting college players. The Indians have the fifth pick in the country in the June draft.
"I think we'd like to get things in order as soon as we can," said Francona. "We'll meet with Chris and get things figured out."
Kazmir didn't distance himself from Carrasco in a 10-5 victory over Seattle on Saturday. He was battered for five runs on 13 hits in five innings. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter in 85 pitches.
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The left-hander was saved by the ground rules at the Peoria Sports Complex. Two balls were hit above the center field fence, high off the batter's eye, but they did not count as homers.
Kelly Shoppach and Michael Dowd each were credited with a double on hits that would have been homers in any other park.
"It was awesome," said Kazmir. "I told Kelly, 'That's the longest double I've ever seen.' "
Kazmir has made six appearances this spring, including two B games. In all appearances, he's struck out 23, walked three and allowed eight earned runs and 29 hits in 21 innings.
Carrasco (2-1, 6.00) missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Whenever he gets back to the big leagues, he must serve a six-game suspension for throwing at Kansas City's Billy Butler in 2011. The suspension could influence the decision because the Indians open the season with 13 straight games.
If Carrasco made the rotation, he wouldn't be able to pitch until April 8 at the earliest. The Indians would have to carry six starters to cover Carrasco's first turn in the rotation on April 6 while he served his suspension.
"We have to get some clarity on the suspension first," said Francona.
MLB said earlier in spring training that Carrasco must serve the suspension, which should be all the clarity anyone needs.
"Besides what the scoreboard said, I thought it went well," said Kazmir of his start. "For the most part, my fastball felt really good early on. The game plan was to stick with that and build arm strength since I was going so deep into the game.
"It almost felt too good. I felt like I was overthrowing a little bit."
Said Francona: "I thought he looked OK. He just gave up a bunch of hits."
The Mariners opened the game with four straight hits and two runs off Kazmir. He came back with three scoreless innings, but gave up three runs on four hits in the fifth. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer.
"He stayed in his delivery, but he got a little tired," said Francona. "That's what happens in spring training."
Kazmir tried to stick with his fastball as much as he could, but there were times, especially in the first inning, when he had to deviate from the plan just to get outs.
"It is a competition," he said. "You have to try and find a happy medium. Especially now at crunch time. There are a lot of decisions to be made and one outing could make a difference."
Kazmir said he has not been told if he'll break camp with the Indians.
A child's eyes: Three-year-old Jacob Reynolds was at Goodyear Ballpark on Friday night when his father, Mark, hit a home run over the left field scoreboard. The ball traveled close to 500 feet.
"My son told me, 'You hit it and nobody caught it,' " said Reynolds. "He's starting to figure it out."
Reynolds tried to shrug off the homer as just another spring-training swing. But it meant more. Not only did it come against his old team, but off the pitcher, David Hernandez, whom the Diamondbacks acquired for Reynolds when they traded him to Baltimore in 2010. One more thing: He hit a 96 mph fastball.
"When you hit a ball like that, you don't feel it," said Reynolds. "Normally, eight times out of 10, you'll hit a ball and it will hurt your hands. You get a couple of swings here and there and you don't feel anything. That's what it was like. It felt good."
Testing, testing: Closer Chris Perez pitched in his first game Saturday since straining his right shoulder on Feb. 26. In an inning against the Dodgers Class A club, he allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Perez threw 30 pitches, including 19 strikes.
After his outing, Perez Tweeted: "Great to get out there again. If the season started next week, I'd be ready. What's that? It does start next week?"
Tough game: Matt Carson was taken off the field on a cart in the fifth inning after sliding into the right field wall attempting to catch a triple by Seattle catcher Michael Dowd. Carson left the game with a cut on his forehead and strained neck.
Jason Kipnis (left elbow) and Yan Gomez (right hamstring) should be ready to play Sunday against the Cubs.
Finally: The Indians released nine players from minor league camp including SS Hunter Jones (11th round pick 2010), SS Tyler Cannon (12th round pick 2010), CF Mark Brown (19th round pick, 2010), LHP Daniel Jimenez (23rd round pick 2009), SS Evan Frazar (27th round 2011), LHP Kyle Petter (34th round in 2010), OF Mark Bradley (49th round 2010), RHP Luis Encarnacion (non-drafted free agent 2009), RHP Estevenson Encarnacion (non-drafted free agent 2010).
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158
On Twitter: @hoynsie