CLEVELAND – The hits just keep coming for the Indians, and not the ones they’d like to see.
Cleveland added two more to its mounting list of disabled players Friday, placing starting pitcher Josh Tomlin (right elbow soreness) and outfielder Michael Brantley (right wrist inflammation) on the injured list.
Those additions bring the total to seven players on the DL for the Indians, who are also without designated hitter Travis Hafner (right foot strain), outfielder Grady Sizemore (right knee contusion), second baseman Jason Kipnis (right hamstring strain), Carlos Carrasco (right elbow inflammation) and outfielder Trevor Crowe (right shoulder surgery).
Cleveland has used the disabled list 20 times for 15 players this season, with only Minnesota (25) using it more in the American League.
Newly acquired DH Jim Thome assumed Brantley’s roster spot, while LHP Nick Hagadone was promoted from Triple-A Columbus to fill Tomlin’s vacancy.
The 25-year-old Hagadone, who was acquired in the trade with Boston for Victor Martinez two seasons ago, will be making his big league debut should he appear out of the bullpen.
He has gone a combined 6-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 44 relief outings for Columbus and Double-A Akron, striking out 74 batters over 68 innings.
• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was out of the lineup for the second straight time with lower-back soreness on the left side. He did enter the game in the eighth inning as defensive replacement in right.
Welcome back
How pleased was manager Manny Acta when he learned the Indians had acquired Thome?
“It was a moment of joy,” Acta said. “We wanted to walk out on the street and yell out to everyone in Cleveland that we got him and he’s coming back.”
Minor details
Columbus clinched the International League’s West Division title, entering Friday with the IL’s best record (82-52). The defending league and Triple-A champion Clippers led the IL in home runs (142), runs (665), RBIs (616), walks (534) and on-base percentage (.347).
• Double-A Akron LHP Matt Packer was recently named the Indians’ minor league player of the week, going 2-0 and allowing just an earned run in two starts covering 16 innings. He struck out 16 over the span. Packer, a 32nd-round draft pick in 2009, is 7-12 with a 4.36 ERA in 25 starts for the Aeros.
Roundin’ third
Justin Masterson’s 2.83 ERA ranked fifth among AL starting pitchers through Thursday.
• In commemoration of Thome’s return, the Indians will offer reduced ticket rates for all of their remaining home games, beginning Monday against Oakland. The club will hold a special celebration of Thome’s 600-career-homer milestone prior to the series opener against Minnesota on Sept. 23.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
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