GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- After two rough outings, Aaron Laffey was pleased with his latest effort.
The 23-year-old left-hander, vying to earn the fifth spot in Cleveland's rotation, pitched four hitless innings as Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-0 on Friday.
Laffey is among five left-handers seeking the last spot in the rotation.
"I look at it as it is my spot and I'm not doing what I can to keep it," Laffey said. "Last year, I felt pressure trying to win a spot. This year, I'm just coming in and pitching."
In two previous outings, Laffey gave up 10 hits and seven runs over three innings.
"Two in a row stinks and I didn't want to make it three," Laffey said. "I wasn't getting down on myself, but it feels good to get results on top of feeling good."
Oakland's Bobby Crosby, the 2004 AL Rookie of the Year as a shortstop, played first base for the first time. The Athletics signed free agent Orlando Cabrera to play short this season.
Laffey, who was shut down in September with a tender elbow, went to the bullpen after his outing and threw 20 more pitches.
"I felt like I could've gone five or six," Laffey said. "I threw more inside pitches and more strikes. I was a little extra pumped."
Laffey said that came from watching his favorite college basketball team, North Carolina, escape with an ACC tournament win over Virginia Tech on TV before taking the mound.
"When my Tar Heels barely pulled one out, that was motivation," Laffey said. "I told myself to go after the hitters. I was ready."
Indians manager Eric Wedge was impressed.
"He threw 38 pitches in one inning last time and 40 over four innings today," Wedge said. "He was aggressive and he was sharp."
A's starter Dana Eveland gave up four hits and two runs in 3 1/3 innings. The left-hander was upset at his throwing error trying to pick off Grady Sizemore from first base during a two-run first inning.
"I hadn't worked on that move all spring and it was probably stupid to do it there," Eveland said.
Zach Jackson hit Oakland's Jack Hannahan in the batting helmet with a pitch in the eighth. Hannahan took first base, but was replaced by pinch-runner Corey Wimberly after reaching third.
Jackson, battling for the spot Laffey confidently says is his, allowed four hits and two earned runs over 3 1/3 innings. He left after yielding a two-run double to minor-leaguer Landon Powell with one out in the eighth.
Veteran Vinnie Chulk got a double-play grounder to end the eighth. He yielded a triple to Cliff Pennington in the ninth, but stranded him at third for the save.
Crosby went 0-for-3, but manager Bob Geren was impressed with the veteran's work at both third and first.
"I like the confidence hes has," said Geren, adding that he wants to see how Crosby handles second base and the outfield, too. "I think he's a good enough athlete to do it."
Notes
Cabrera is scheduled to make his Athletics debut Saturday as the DH. ... Oakland optioned OF Javier Herrera to Triple-A Sacramento. ... Indians RHP Jake Westbrook threw off a mound for the first time since having Tommy John surgery in June. ... Sean Casey will be in Cleveland's camp March 15-19 as a guest instructor. A second-round pick in 1995, the first baseman retired this winter after 12 seasons for the Indians, Reds, Pirates, Tigers and Red Sox. ... Indians SS Jhonny Peralta said his wife Molly is fine after being stung by a scorpion. The couple moved into a different rental house, however.
