Matsuzaka leaves Tribe outing early

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Daisuke Matsuzaka gave his manager a scare. Scott Kazmir gave Terry Francona more reason to think the left-hander still might have something to contribute.

Matsuzaka left his outing Monday because of a cramp in his right calf, overshadowing a fine performance by Scott Kazmir as the Cleveland Indians played to a 0-0 tie with Jered Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels.

“It’s hard to let a guy pitch like that,” said Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who managed Matsuzaka with Boston. “He came in after his first inning and he was trying to loosen it up. We told him when he went out, if it was bothering him, to let us know. You could tell when he was warming up he just couldn’t get it to loosen up.”

Attempting a comeback after having elbow-reconstruction surgery in 2011 and a disastrous final season with Boston, the 32-year-old Matsuzaka allowed one hit in one inning before cramping during warmups for his second inning in his fourth spring appearance.

Before the game, Francona described Matsuzaka’s previous bullpen session the best he’s thrown since joining Cleveland.

Also trying to make a comeback is Kazmir. Out of the majors since being cut by the Angels in June 2011, the 2002 first round pick of the New York Mets pitched four innings of three-hit ball with four strikeouts.

The 29-year-old Kazmir ran his scoreless streak eight innings in major league outings and 11 overall.

“I was throwing strikes, that’s all you can ask for in spring,” said Kazmir, a two-time All Star with Tampa Bay. “It was fun seeing those guys before the game. After that, I was locked in.”