AP Sports Writer
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Carlos Santana got thrown out, then chewed out.
Cleveland's catcher was scolded by manager Manny Acta for sliding headfirst into home plate in the first inning of the Indians' 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
Attempting to score from second after left fielder Tony Gwynn Jr. kicked away a single by Austin Kearns, Santana never hesitated as he rounded third and headed home. As he approached the plate, Cleveland's dugout braced for a potential collision between Santana and Dodgers catcher Rod Barajas that never happened.
That's because Santana made a dive and his hand was expertly blocked by Barajas' foot.
Once he got back to the dugout, Santana "got an earful" from Acta, who said the club instructs its players to slide feet first into the plate to lessen their chances of being injured.
"It never ends," Acta said. "You keep preaching it and guys still do it. It's not a very good thing to do."
On the plus side, Santana didn't get hurt.
Last season, he sustained a severe knee injury when he got bowled over by Boston's Ryan Kalish while blocking the plate at Fenway Park. Santana tore a ligament on the play and underwent surgery. The Indians were hoping the injury wouldn't make Santana timid and take away his aggressiveness.
That doesn't seem to be a problem.
"He had no fear," Acta said, "which is good."
Indians starter Carlos Carrasco pitched two scoreless innings and combined with four relievers on a two-hitter. Carrasco, who was impressive after being called up from the minors late last season, has already earned a spot in Cleveland's rotation.
Acta likes what he sees in Carrasco, who came over from Philadelphia in the 2009 trade for Cliff Lee.
"If you grade his four pitches, all of them have a chance to be above average," Acta said.
Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley, projected as the No. 2 or No. 3 starter for first-year manager Don Mattingly, worked three scoreless innings. He gave up three singles, struck out three and walked none.
One of Billingsley's goals this spring is to sharpen a changeup that has been steadily improving. He threw a few to the Indians and liked the results.
"Since I've been in pro ball, I've always wanted to incorporate a changeup as a main pitch, a go-to pitch in certain situations," said Billingsley, a 13-game winner last season. "It could be something that takes me over the top and makes me a little better."
With the Dodgers' rotation basically set, Billingsley said the team's starters can work on perfecting pitches and not worry about job security.
"We have a lot of experience on this staff," he said. "We all can make each other better."
Orlando Cabrera's RBI double in the fourth gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead, and Jerry Sands tied it in the seventh with a long homer to left.
Cleveland scored the decisive run in the bottom of the inning, when Ezequiel Carrera scored from third on Roman Colon's wild pitch.
NOTES: The Indians signed reliever Chad Durbin, who spent the past three seasons with the Phillies. "He makes us better and that's what it's all about," Acta said of Durbin, who pitched for Cleveland in 2003 and 2004. "He has pitched very important innings for a team that has been in the playoffs the last few years. It gives us a good go-to guy in the middle innings." ... Indians utilityman Shelley Duncan has been sidelined the past few days after pulling a back muscle swinging in the batting cages. He should be back soon.
Updated March 1, 2011
