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The Indians lost 5-2 to the Angels on Sunday, as the offense really struggled all afternoon. The Tribe put together only 5 hits, with a double by Elliot Johnson being the only one to go for extra bases. They were being shut out until the 8th inning, when Nyjer Morgan drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scampered home on a ground ball. Carlos Santana went 0-4, continuing what has been a weak month at the plate for him. He's now batting just .167 in Cactus League play, though he does have a pair of home runs. The offense has done very well as a whole this spring, for what that's worth, and I wouldn't be too worried about Carlos' bat.
Zach McAllister started for the Indians. In the 1st he walked Mike Trout, than gave up a triple to Albert Pujols. It landed on the edge of the warning track just out of the reach of both Morgan and David Murphy. Pujols scored on a ground-ball out, making it 2-0. The next three innings were mostly uneventful, as McAllister allowed only a pair of singles (and also hit Pujols with a pitch). Pujols lined a double to left field in the 5th, and the deficit grew to 3 runs that frame. A 1-2-3 6th finished off McAllister's day. He finished with 3 strikeouts in 6 innings, with 3 runs on 6 hits. That's not great, but it isn't bad either. Other than Pujols, one walk and a handful of singles were all he gave up.
John Axford worked a 1-2-3 7th, but the 8th wasn't so clean. Josh Outman allowed a leadoff home run and then a single. After recording one out, he was lifted for C.C. Lee, who gave up a single that scored the runner.
There's only a week left until the regular season begins. Most of the roster spots are accounted for now, but there are still a couple notable pieces in the air: Who gets the fifth spot in the rotation (Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin seem like the only real candidates now that Aaron Harang has been told it won't be him), and what's the third base situation going to be? I suspect we'll get answers to both of those questions Monday or Tuesday.