Moss homers as Indians club Mariners’ ace

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Felix Hernandez left in the second inning of his final tuneup before Seattle’s opener. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon didn’t last much longer.

McClendon was ejected in the fourth inning of Cleveland’s 8-6 win over Seattle on Tuesday.

Brandon Moss’ two-run homer in the first gave the Indians a 4-3 lead against King Felix, who allowed seven runs, five hits and two walks in 12/3 innings.

Michael Bourn had an RBI double in the third, Michael Brantley was hit by a pitch, and Carlos Santana’s two-run double finished Hernandez, who starts Monday’s opener against the Los Angeles Angels.

After Bruce Chen threw close to and then behind Rickie Weeks in the bottom half, plate umpire Alan Porter warned both benches. McClendon walked out of the dugout and was ejected before he got to the third-base line.

“He threw behind him twice,” McClendon said. “If you think he’s throwing at him, you’ve got to eject him.”

McClendon went back to the dugout briefly, then realized there is no tunnel and the clubhouse is down the right-field line. Porter questioned McClendon’s presence and the manager, with large gestures, explained why he was on the field.

“He asked where I was going,” McClendon said. “I told him you threw me out, I have to get off the field.”

Indians manager Terry Francona understood why his former teammate from the 1987 Cincinnati Reds was upset.

“I can understand why they were yelling,” Francona said. “But he (Chen) wasn’t going to hit him with a changeup. It was hot out.”

Destined for Triple-A Columbus, Chen and gave up a home run to Weeks leading off the game and allowed four runs and eight hits in 41/3 innings. He struck out five and walked none.

Francona is getting used to having three left-handed batters in Bourn, Jason Kipnis and Brantley at the top of the batting order.

“I wish we didn’t invite every left-hander but I don’t see a way to avoid it,” Francona said. “We want them to have the extra at-bats (when the lineup turns over). We’re going to have them bunched up somewhere.”