WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Though the Indians have yet to announce it officially, it appears that Jorge Julio has won the final roster spot in the bullpen.
Following its exhibition victory over the Yankees at Chain of Lakes Park on Tuesday, Cleveland purchased the right-handed reliever’s contract, while re-assigning one of the other two pitchers in the competition, Scott Elarton, to minor league camp.
The third, Tom Mastny, is still on the big league roster, but is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to clear room for Julio, who was added to the 40-man roster in place of left-hander Aaron Fultz. Fultz was designated for assignment.
The Indians also optioned second baseman Josh Barfield to Buffalo, leaving Andy Marte and Ben Francisco as the only two candidates remaining for the final position-player spot — a job that is expected to go to Marte, who is out of minor league options.
The 29-year-old Julio, a former closer with Baltimore who spent last season in Florida and Colorado, has outpitched the competition this spring, allowing just two earned runs in nine exhibition outings
(11 innings), while striking out a team-high 13 batters.
Matsny appeared to be the frontrunner entering camp, but the right-hander has been inconsistent, posting a 6.39 ERA in nine games (122/3 innings).
Elarton, a former member of Cleveland’s rotation trying to resurrect his career as a reliever, pitched well this spring (0-1, 2.03 ERA in nine games), but was a long shot to make the team.

Out in style

With one home game left, the Indians have the chance to set an exhibition attendance record in their final spring at Chain of Lakes Park where they’ve been since 1993.
Cleveland has drawn 80,573 fans in 14 games, needing 6,720 in its home finale Thursday against the Rays to surpass the old attendance record of 87,292 set in 1999.   

Roundin’ third

Prized pitching prospect Adam Miller, allowed two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out three in his second appearance for Triple-A Buffalo on Monday — a 6-2 victory over the Mud Hens in Lakeland. Miller did not appear in a big league game, missing the majority of the exhibition season with a blister on his middle finger.
• Legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee was in attendance Tuesday, throwing out one of the ceremonial first pitchers and signing autographs in front of the Indians team shop. Dundee, who trained Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, is promoting a new book on his life in the ring.
• The Indians are on the road today (1:05), traveling to Kissimmee and Osceola County Stadium to take on the Astros. C.C. Sabathia (2-0, 4.80) makes his fifth and final exhibition start, opposing right-hander Roy Oswalt (1-1, 3.60).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.    

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