Sox can't get to Carmona but come back for tie

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Fausto Carmona showed no adverse affects of being hit in the arm by a line drive last week, pitching 5 scoreless innings for the Cleveland Indians in a 2-2, 10-inning tie with the White Sox on Tuesday night.

"I was scared when it happened, but I'm fine," Carmona said, adding that he also doesn't have any lingering effects from the strained left hip that sidelined him for two months last season.

"No problems all spring and today I think I pitched good, did what I wanted with all my pitches," he said.

Cleveland is counting on Carmona, who was hit Thursday in a minor-league game, to bounce back from an injury-marred season. He went from being a 19-game winner with the second-best ERA in the AL at 3.06 in 2007 to an 8-7 mark, 5.44 ERA and an alarming 12 more walks than strikeouts last year.

"It's not fair to say he's back to being the pitcher he was two years ago," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "But if he doesn't try to do too much and trusts his stuff, he's going to be just fine. The most impressive thing was that he wasn't on track right away today. He got better, then he was fantastic."

Carmona said he paid attention to trying to remain calm and it paid off. He allowed 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out two.

"I didn't overthrow and that's important," Carmona said. "I get in trouble when I rush, when I try too hard."

Carmona said he gets gentle reminders from catcher Victor Martinez all the time to remain calm.

The White Sox' Aaron Poreda gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 4 walks over the first 3 innings.

Cleveland scored twice in the third off Poreda. Grady Sizemore had an RBI double in the third, and Mark DeRosa followed with a bloop RBI single.

"Poreda threw the ball again," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He hasn't had a bad outing this spring. The kid has a really good future. Now we have to see in what role."

Poreda could be used out of the bullpen, or in a rotation spot. Guillen said part of the decision comes from how far along veterans Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras are in their rehab process.

Both are scheduled to pitch today.

Colon, coming off elbow surgery, hasn't worked since allowing 4 runs over 12/3 innings March 16. Contreras, who ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in August, struck out four over 2 scoreless innings March 15.

Brent Lillibridge and DeWayne Wise had RBI singles in the seventh when the Sox tied it against Jensen Lewis.