Carmona anxious for opener

He threw 99 pitches without too much fatigue in a 7-1 win over Atlanta.

ATLANTA (AP) — Fausto Carmona can’t wait for the regular season to start.

Cleveland’s right-hander had his second consecutive good six-inning outing, allowing a run and four hits with a walk and two strikeouts in the Indians’ 7-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Casey Blake had a two-run triple and Travis Hafner drove in two runs for the Indians. Grady Sizemore had a double and triple, and Ryan Garko also had two hits and an RBI.

Carmona, who was 19-8 last season with a 3.08 ERA, second best in the AL, is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland’s second game.

In his last start, he gave up six hits and two earned runs in six innings in a 3-3 tie against Detroit.

“I’m ready for the season. I’m waiting for the season,” said Carmona.

Cleveland manager Eric Wedge was glad to see Carmona throw 99 pitches without too much fatigue.

“I think Fausto did a good job with his rhythm and tempo,” Wedge said. “He used all of his pitches and he was down with them. We wanted him at around 100 pitches. That’s where we wanted him to be. He’s been very consistent all spring.”

The Braves run came in the third on a single and stolen base by Mark Kotsay, who scored on a two-out single by Kelly Johnson.

Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens left after giving up a leadoff walk to Victor Martinez to open the fourth. He allowed two runs and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander, acquired in a trade with Detroit for shortstop Edgar Renteria in the offseason, is scheduled to start on Wednesday against Pittsburgh in Atlanta’s third regular season game.

The 22-year-old Jurrjens said he hasn’t been told he made the team but was told by Roger McDowell that he’s starting Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Atlanta.

“I’m still not believing until I get on the plane tomorrow,” he said.

Notes

Atlanta CF Mark Kotsay made a diving catch in left-center, robbing Franklin Gutierrez of an extra base leading off the third. ... Cleveland RHP Jake Westbrook will start for the Indians on Saturday against Atlanta LHP Mike Hampton. ... Prior to the game, the Braves claimed switch-hitting infielder Ruben Gotay off waivers from the New York Mets and outrighted first baseman Scott Thorman to Triple-A Richmond after he cleared waivers. ... After the game, the Braves sent five players to Richmond: pitcher Jeff Ridgway, catcher Clint Sammons, outfielders Josh Anderson and Joe Borchard and infielder Brent Lillibridge.