The Indians promoted Jensen Lewis and Justin Germano, put Mitch Talbot on the disabled list and sent Jess Todd to Class AAA Columbus.
Updated: 9:04 p.m.
TORONTO, Ontario -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians 2010 regular season. The Indians play the Blue Jays tonight in the first game of a three-game series at Rogers Centre.
Rogers Centre dimensions: Left field line 328 feet, left center field power alley 375, center field 400, right center fielder power alley 375, right field line 328.
In-game notes:
Score: Jays 8, Indians1 after six innings.
No shutout: The Indians offense has been shut out an AL high eight times. No.9 was lurking Friday until the Indians rallied for one run against Shaun Marcum in the fifth. Carlos Santana started the inning with an infield single. Austin Kearns doubled him to third and he scored on Matt LaPorta's sac-fly.
If they hadn't already been trailing 7-0, it would have been a good omen.
Is a 13-hitter good? Justin Masterson left with one out and two on in the sixth inning. He scattered 13 hits and eight runs over his 5 1/3 innings of work. He threw 114 pitches.
Another big inning: After giving up seven runs in the seventh inning to the Yankees on Thursday night, the Indians gave up six in the fourth inning Friday to the Jays. Justin Masterson allowed all six runs on seven hits.
The big hit of the inning was Jose Bautista's grand slam. It was his 31st homer of the season. The Jays sent 10 batters to the plate.
There she goes: Fred Lewis gave the Jays a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer against Justin Masterson in the third. He hit a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right center.
Sizzling start: The way Shaun Marcum started the game, it was Lewis homer that looked like a slam instead of Bautista's.
He retired 12 straight, striking out six. The closest the Indians came to a hit with Shin-Soo Choo's grounder to the hole between second and first with two out in the first. Hill made a diving stop and threw Choo out to end the inning.
Pre-game notes:
Game 103: The theory that the Indians brought up Justin Germano as a fallback in case Jake Westbrook is traded before Saturday's 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline has been dented
Yes, Germano made his last three appearances as a starter for Class AAA Columbus before his contract was purchased by the Indians, but GM Mark Shapiro said Germano is here to protect the bullpen for tonight's game against Toronto.
Tribe starters Fausto Carmona and Mitch Tablot pitched a combined 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday and Thursday against the Yankees. So the bullpen needed some fresh arms. Germano and Jensen Lewis arrived from Columbus.
Meanwhile, Talbot was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back and reliever Jess Todd was optioned to Columbus. The Indians will need a starter to take Talbot's spot Tuesday against Boston. Germano, who pitched in Japan last year, could get that start. Then again, he could be designated for assignment Saturday when Kerry Wood is expected to be activated.
Westbrook is scheduled to start against Toronto on Saturday at 1:07 p.m.
Shapiro, when asked about whether he thought he'd make a trade for Westbrook, said "I have no idea. If I had to guess, I'd say no."
There has been interest in Westbrook, moreso now that Roy Oswalt was traded to the Phillies on Thursday. The Cardinals have been interested in Westbrook for a while.
"I don't think we have to trade him," said Shapiro. "There is value to keeping him."
Talbot injured his back throwing a pitch in Thursday's 11-4 loss to the Yankees. He was removed without recording an out in the third inning.
"We don't think it's too bad," said Shapiro.
The Indians were looking to cut back Talbot's innings in the second half. If the back injury isn't serious, as Shapiro suggests, this gives them the ideal situation to do that.
Talbot, the rookie right-hander, is 8-9 for the Tribe this year.
Germano, a right-hander, was 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA at Columbus. He was in the big leagues with the Padres for parts of the 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.
His best year with San Diego was 2007 when he went 7-10 with a 4.46 ERA.
Germano started the year at Akron where he went 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in seven games, including one start. His last three appearances at Columbus were starts.
"This is the most I've ever relieved," said Germano. "I've been a starter my whole career. But this is a good opportunity with a young team."
Lewis is 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 22 games with the Tribe. He's 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 16 games at Columbus.
Todd made five appearances with the Tribe. He had no record and a 7.50 ERA. He's 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 34 games at Columbus.
On the shelf: Travis Hafner, scratched from Thursday's start because of a sore right shoulder, said he won't play tonight or Saturday while getting treatment on the shoulder.
"It happened in the doubleheader against the Tigers," said Hafner. "We had a long delay and it was tough getting headed back up again. But with two days of treatment and a lot of ice, I think I'll be in a good spot on Sunday."
After Thursday's game Acta sounded as if the Indians were getting close to putting Hafner on the disabled list. That does not appear to be the case. At least not in the immediate future.
"It just depends how many days it is," said Acta. "How long can yoku wait? He could show up tomorrow or Sunday and be ready to play and that wouldn't be so bad. But you can only wait so long and have our hands tied."
Lineups:
Indians (42-60): CF Trevor Crowe (S), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (R), LF Austin Kearns (R), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), DH Shelley Duncan (R), 3B Jayson Nix (R), 2B Jason Donald (R) and RHP Justin Masterson (3-9, 5.19).
Blue Jays (53-49): LF Fred Lewis (L), SS Yunel Escobar (R), RF Jose Bautista (R), CF Vernon Wells (R), DH Adam Lind (L), 2B Aaron Hill (R), 1B Lyle Overbay (L), C John Buck (R), 3B Edwin Encarnacion (R) and RHP Saun Marcum (9-4, 3.36).
Umpires: H Fieldin Culbreth, 1B Gary Cederstrom, 2B Alan Porter, 3B Ed Hickox.
Next: RHP Jake Westbrook (6-7, 4.65) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.89) Saturday at 1:07 p.m.