CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland Indians have placed designated hitter Travis Hafner on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right knee.
Hafner, who hasn’t played since May 23, is hitting .242 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 39 games. The move is retroactive to May 24. Hafner, the Indians’ cleanup hitter, ran in the outfield and took batting practice before Tuesday night’s game and manager Manny Acta said he would be available to pinch-hit.
The Indians, who fell out of first place in the AL Central for the first time since April 22 after losing to Kansas City on Tuesday night, have been hit by injuries in the last week. Catcher Carlos Santana is on the seven-day DL with a concussion and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned Tuesday after missing four games with a hamstring injury. Third baseman Jack Hannahan is on the 15-day DL with a calf injury.
Left-hander Scott Barnes has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus and will be used out of the bullpen. He is 0-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 11 games at Columbus.
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