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Michael Brantley has been on a tear ever since the Cactus League kicked off, and he knocked out another 3 hits (including his 7th double of the spring) Friday afternoon to lead the Indians to a 14-3 romp over the Rockies. Brantley now has a .500/.559/.706 line, and is yet to strike out in 36 plate appearances.
The Tribe scored 4 runs in each of three different innings. In the 3rd, Brantley started things off by a single, followed by the same from Lonnie Chisenhall (who went 2 for 2 against southpaw Jorge De La Rosa, which is nice to see). A double by Elliot Johnson (speaking of guys playing very well this spring) was the big hit in the inning. In the 6th, the Indians took advantage of poor control by Colorado reliever Rex Brothers, who hit Nick Swisher with a pitch and walked Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana before Brantley doubled to put the game out of reach. The 8th-inning scoring isn't quite as exciting, as it happened after the starters had left the game, but Nyjer Morgan (who could fill in for Michael Bourn, should Bourn's hamstring keep him out when the season begins) did have a double. All totaled, the Indians had 16 hits and 5 doubles.
Justin Masterson, fresh off the news that there will be no contract extension worked out this spring, started for the Tribe and went 6 innings, appearing ready to throw 100 pitches when Opening Day in Oakland rolls around in just ten days. He allowed 2 runs while striking out 6 and walking 2, which is all fairly solid, though he did also throw 2 wild pitches. Those 2 runs are the first he's allowed all spring, in 19 innings now.
C.C. Lee allowed a leadoff home run and recorded just 2 outs, leading Cody Allen to pitch part of the 7th and part of the 8th, something now many Indians relievers have done this spring (working in two different innings).
The Indians pick things up again tomorrow afternoon at 4:05 ET, when the Indians host these same Rockies at Goodyear Ballpark.