CLEVELAND — The Indians finally have some good news where Travis Hafner is concerned.
The disabled designated hitter took batting practice Saturday at Progressive Field, and, according to manager Eric Wedge, will begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week with Triple-A Buffalo.
An ailing right shoulder has sidelined Hafner since late May, limiting the team’s top run producer to 46 games, and a .217 batting average, four home runs and
22 RBIs.
Hafner is expected to be joined at Buffalo by rehabbing catcher Victor Martinez, who went 0-for-2 in his first game for Double-A Akron on Friday. Both Martinez and Hafner worked out at Progressive Field on Saturday, with Martinez scheduled to serve as Akron’s DH today.
Since the Aeros are on the road next week, Martinez, out since June 12 following wrist surgery, will switch rehab sites and is expected to catch for the first time for the Bisons. He could be activated by the end of next week, batting .278 without a homer and 21 RBIs in 54 games.

Brilliant Lee

Another sparkling start from Cliff Lee on Friday ran the American League Cy Young candidate’s record to 17-2, making the left-hander just the sixth pitcher in MLB history since 1970 to accomplish as much — the first-ever Cleveland pitcher.
Lee joined Ron Guidry (1978 Yankees), Roger Clemens (1986 Red Sox, 2001 Yankees), Greg Maddux (1995 Braves), Randy Johnson (1995 Mariners) and David Wells (1998 Yankees). Wells was the only one who didn’t win the Cy Young Award.
Lee is one behind Arizona’s Brandon Webb (18-4) for the major league lead in wins and leads the AL with a 2.43 ERA.

Call to the Hall

Former player and manager Mike Hargrove was inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame along with late second baseman Joe Gordon (1947-50) during ceremonies prior to Saturday’s game.
Video tributes to both preceded the unveiling of plaques to hang in Heritage Park behind the center field wall at Progressive Field.
Hargrove was on hand for the event, as were members of his family, Indians owner Larry Dolan and Cleveland HOF members Charles Nagy, Andre Thornton, Sam McDowell and Bob Feller.

Minor details

A number of Cleveland’s minor leaguers had big nights Friday, including former Indians starter Aaron Laffey, who ran his record to 5-1 at Buffalo by allowing just two unearned runs in six innings of the Bisons’ 14-7 victory over Rochester.
• Buffalo first baseman Michael Aubrey aided Laffey’s cause with a 4-for-5 performance that included a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
• Catcher Carlos Santana, the prized bounty from the Casey Blake trade with the Dodgers, went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and four RBIs in Class A Kinston’s 14-0 shutout of Frederick, raising his average to .375 since being acquired.
• Beau Mills, Cleveland’s first-round pick (13th overall) last year, went 3-for-5 with his 19th homer in the Kinston win.
• The Indians’ first-round draft choice this year, shortstop Lonnie Chisenhall, went 4-for-6 with two doubles and four RBIs in Class A Mahoning Valley’s 11-10 loss to Jamestown.  

Roundin’ third

The Indians have played much better at home this year, with a 32-29 record at Progressive Field compared to a 23-38 mark on the road. Through its first 121 games, Cleveland hit .264 at home, .247 on the road, while posting a 3.91 ERA at home and a 4.99 ERA on the road.
• Kelly Shoppach took the hat trick in strikeouts Saturday and has now whiffed in
18 of his last 34 at-bats.
• Reliever Edward Mujica’s last five appearances resulted in 12 earned runs on
12 hits through 31/3 innings.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

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