CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians, after scoring 27 runs in their first three spring-training games, were shut out Wednesday, 8-0, by the Padres in Peoria, Ariz.
The Indians managed four hits, two by center fielder Oscar Mercado. The other two hits belonged to Franmil Reyes and Bobby Bradley. Reyes doubled against his former team to start the second inning. Reyes has four hits this spring, including three doubles.
The Tribe received a good effort from its pitching staff until the late going. Adam Plutko, in his first start of the spring, went two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and was assisted by nice catches from Mercado to end the first and left fielder Greg Allen to end the second.
Lefty Oliver Perez, in his first appearance of the spring, pitched a scoreless third with two strikeouts, one against a lefty and one against a righty, which is a good start with MLB’s new 3-batter rule coming into play on March 12. Catcher Sandy Leon threw out former Indians outfielder Abraham Almonte on an attempted steal of second base for the other out in the third.
The Padres scored the only run they needed in the fourth. The run was unearned against lefty Sam Hentges because of an error by shortstop Christian Arroyo.
Hard-throwing James Karinchak struck out the Padres in order in the fifth. Karinchak, showing a great breaking ball, has four strikeouts in two scoreless innings this spring.
The Padres put the game away with seven runs in the final three innings. Wil Myers started the sixth with a homer off Phil Maton. Edward Oliveras started a four-run seventh with a homer off Dominic Leone. After the homer the Padres bunched four straight hits together to complete the big inning against Leone, who pitched with the Cardinals last year.
San Diego added two more runs in the eighth.
Next: The Indians are scheduled to face the Dodgers on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark. Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.50) will make his second start of the spring. He’ll face right-hander Tony Gonsolin.
James Hoyt, Nick Wittgren, Cam Hill, Anthony Gose, Henry Martinez and Argenis Angulo are scheduled to follow Rodriguez.
Pedro Báez, Adam Kolarek, Edubray Ramos, Dylan Floro and Logan Gilbert are scheduled to follow Gonsolin. The game will be televised on SportsTime Ohio and 99.1 FM at 3:05 p.m. ET.
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