PEORIA, Ariz. -- Carl Pavano rebounded from a rough outing with six strong innings Wednesday, and the Cleveland Indians beat the San Diego Padres 8-4.
Pavano, who appeared in only 26 games in four seasons for the Yankees after signing a $39.95 million contract in 2005, has had his share of struggles this spring. He entered the game with a 9.82 ERA, but threw 53 of 77 pitches for strikes Wednesday and was the first Indians pitcher to go six innings this spring. He gave up six runs over four innings in his last start.
"I still have to make some adjustments on the mound, but I felt really good today," said Pavano, who complimented his defense -- in particular two sparkling plays from second baseman Asdrubal Carerra in the fifth inning.
"I was getting frustrated with some things, but I spoke with our pitching coach [Carl Willis] and he simplified some things that gave me piece of mind," he said. "I was rushing my delivery a bit and he got me back in sync. I feel good to go out there and do a job like this."
Indians manager Eric Wedge has penciled in Pavano as the No. 3 starter in the rotation this season, and was happy to see the positive results.
"I thought he threw well. He was on line with his pitches all day and did a good job moving his fastball around," Wedge said "He came up in the zone that one inning, but he was able to get it back down and it was good to see him make the adjustment."
After allowing a home run to Henry Blanco, a double to Luis Rodriguez and an RBI single to David Eckstein in the third, Pavano rebounded with three scoreless innings.
Andy Marte hit a two-run homer in the fourth, and Kelly Shoppach and Trevor Crowe each homered in the eighth to pace a 12-hit attack for Cleveland.
The Padres had 11 hits, including three singles by Eckstein, who raised his Cactus League batting average to .462 (18-for-39) before departing in the fifth inning. Eckstein is one of two former Arizona Diamondbacks second basemen who will start at that spot for NL West Division rivals this season -- Orlando Hudson in Los Angeles is the other.
"I've done stuff like this before in the spring, but maybe not this hot," Eckstein said. "I was very disappointed with my swing last year, and that's what I work on with my brother during the whole offseason. I've tried to simplify my approach and it's been going well."
San Diego starter Kevin Correia pitched into the sixth inning, but wasn't happy after allowing nine hits and six runs.
"I felt like I threw the ball well, but I'm looking for some results at this point," Correia said. "We reset to zero when the season starts, but any time you go out there you want to pitch well.
"You're not always going to feel good out there, I got to 90 pitches [actually 92] and now I need to get some kind of a springboard into the season."
Notes
The Padres reduced their roster to 40 by reassigning C Colt Morton to their minor league camp. ... The Indians dropped their roster to 36 by optioning LHP Aaron Laffey to Triple-A Columbus. ... Wedge has his starting rotation set for the season with LHP Cliff Lee, RHP Fausto Carmona, Pavano, LHP Scott Lewis and RHP Anthony Reyes. Reyes was bumped to the No. 5 spot for lefty-righty purposes. ... Cleveland DH Travis Hafner had only his second two-hit game of the spring.
