Walker fans 7 in his final spring game
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- In his final outing of the spring, right-hander Josh Tomlin did all he could to secure a spot in the Indians' rotation. Tomlin logged six shutout innings and 10 strikeouts, leading Cleveland to a 4-1 Cactus League victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night at Goodyear Ballpark. Seattle right-hander Taijuan Walker also turned in a solid five-inning effort in his last start of Spring Training.
Supporting Tomlin's stellar performance was a standout showing by Tribe catcher Yan Gomes, who drove in all three runs allowed by Walker. In the first inning, Gomes lofted a pitch to center field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Tyler Naquin. Two innings later, Gomes drilled a hanging slider to left field for a two-run home run, his fifth long ball of the spring.
Tomlin -- up against Cody Anderson and Trevor Bauer for a place in the rotation -- was perfect the first time through the order, but Indians Minor Leaguer Yu-Cheng Chang made an error at shortstop to begin the fourth. Unfazed, Tomlin struck out seven of the final 12 batters he faced, scattering three hits but sidestepping harm for the remainder of his start.
"I think we kind of saw it come together tonight," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He was really good. Down. Crisp. He used his breaking ball. The one time they had something going, when we started out the inning with an error, he pitched around it. That's what Tomlin can do."
With his performance, which included no walks, Tomlin lowered his Cactus League ERA to 4.67 from 7.15.
"[It was] good," Tomlin said. "I was able to keep the ball down. I actually had a changeup that was working today, and my curveball was where it needs to be before the season. I think having those two pitches -- the changeup and the curveball -- to offset lefties a little bit helps."
Walker -- Seattle's projected No. 4 starter -- struck out seven and walked two in his outing. On the spring, he has piled up 23 strikeouts, compared to four walks, in 22 innings. Mike Montgomery, who was making his fifth appearance since moving to the bullpen, spun a shutout inning.
Walker will throw a simulated-game situation in Texas on Sunday and then be ready to start Seattle's home opener on April 8 against the A's.
"I feel good," the 23-year-old said of his spring. "I feel like I paced myself pretty well. I didn't have to go out with guns blazing. I'm pretty happy with where I'm at right now, especially the way my curveball was tonight. I was pretty pleased with it."
Up next for the Mariners: Felix Hernandez makes his final spring appearance Wednesday and will pitch two or three innings against the Padres in a 12:10 p.m. PT game at Peoria Stadium. Hernandez, tuning up for his ninth Opening Day start on April 4 in Texas, has a 2.92 ERA in three Cactus League starts and is coming off six scoreless frames against the White Sox. The game will be televised live on MLB.TV.
Up next for the Indians: Right-hander Corey Kluber will take the mound Wednesday for his final tuneup for Opening Day, opposite Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in a 4:05 p.m. ET Cactus League clash at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Kluber is slated to log five or six innings and will be followed by closer Cody Allen and relievers Jeff Manship and Ross Detwiler. Follow the game live on MLB Gameday.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, follow him on Twitter @MLBastian and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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