GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) --Whether it's spring training in Arizona or opening day in Cleveland, the game is the same to Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona.
"I'm just playing baseball," Carmona said. "Here or there, it only changes maybe because there are a little more people. I don't have to think about that. I just think about (pitching)."
Carmona wrapped up an excellent spring by pitching Cleveland past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on Sunday in his final tuneup for opening day.
Carmona did not allow an earned run in five crisp innings, giving up five hits and one walk while striking out three. The right-hander, set to start Friday against the Chicago White Sox, went 5-2 with a 3.73 ERA this spring. He led the majors in wins and innings (29).
"I'm very, very happy with this spring. I feel more confident now because I can throw more strikes," Carmona said.
Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley took the loss, allowing two runs and two hits in three innings. Both runs came in the second after he walked Luis Valbuena and hit Adam Everett with a pitch. Michael Brantley hit a grounder inside third for a double that scored both runners.
"I started rushing a little bit," Billingsley said. "I got a little too quick to the plate. That happens, but I settled down in the third inning and started making a few pitches."
The Dodgers were playing their final spring game in Arizona and their regulars were lifted early. The Indians tacked on three runs in the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana.
Austin Kearns went 3 for 3 with a run for the Indians.
The lone Dodgers player with more than one hit was Aaron Miles, who went 2 for 2. Los Angeles scored in the fifth when Corey Smith doubled to center and scored on a throwing error by Carmona.
NOTES: The Dodgers optioned pitcher Ramon Troncoso to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Troncoso picked up his first save of the spring Saturday in a 5-4 win
over San Diego. He was 1-0 in nine spring appearances with a 5.59 ERA,
giving up 14 hits and six earned runs. Last year, Troncoso appeared in
52 games for the Dodgers and was 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA. Dodgers manager
Don Mattingly said the team would likely make some more roster decisions
after Sunday's game, but wouldn't announce those until Monday. ...
Dodgers 3B Casey Blake, slated to begin the season on the disabled list,
is scheduled to take some at-bats in a minor league game Monday.
Mattingly said the plan is for Blake, struggling with a back injury, to
get as many minor league at-bats as possible in the next week so he can
be activated when he's eligible to come off the DL on April 6. ...
Dodgers RHP Vicente Padilla faced hitters for the first time since
having forearm surgery on Feb. 24. Mattingly said Padilla made it
through the 25-pitch session and looked good. "His ball's got a little
life to it and guys are still having trouble getting to it," the manager
said.
