August 5, 2005

Hafner returns to Indians’ lineup

Having missed the past 17 games with a concussion, former Cowley College All-American and current Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner returned to the Indians’ lineup in a 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Hafner went 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in. His RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning put Cleveland ahead 3-2 and would have been the game-winner had the Yankees not struck for a pair of solo home runs off Indians’ closer Bob Wickman in the top of the ninth inning.

Hafner had been bothered by dizziness and headaches since being hit in the face with a pitch by Mark Buerhle of the Chicago White Sox on July 16.

“I’m pretty close to normal,” Hafner said on the Indians’ website. “I’m able to see the ball good and react well.”

After going hitless in three games at Double-A Akron, Hafner lined a double down the left-field line in his first at-bat back with the big league club.

Prior to the injury, Hafner was one of the hottest hitters in baseball as he was named the American League Player of the month in June, and was the American League Player of the Week for the week ending July 11.

Hafner is batting .313 with 18 home runs, 24 doubles, and 64 RBI in 84 games. He is second in the American League in on-base percentage (.416) and fourth in slugging percentage (.578).

Cleveland is 57-52, and 4 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card race.