Indians put LaPorta on 15-day DL with ankle injury

CLEVELAND – Matt LaPorta is on the Cleveland Indians' disabled list, though his ankle injury may not be as serious as first feared.

The Indians put the first baseman on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle and recalled outfielder Travis Buck from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday before the second game of a weekend interleague series against Pittsburgh.

"He will be out two to three weeks with a mild high ankle sprain," manager Manny Acta said of LaPorta, who is hitting .242 with eight homers and 32 RBIs in 59 games.

LaPorta twisted his ankle when he was caught in a rundown between second and third base in the third inning of a 5-1 win Friday. He had to be helped from the field.

Acta said Carlos Santana will see the bulk of the playing time at first with Lou Marson taking over at catcher. Buck and third baseman Jack Hannahan will back up Santana at first.

LaPorta, the key player acquired in the trade that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee in July 2008, was hurt trying to advance from second base on a routine groundball to the shortstop. Acta was not pleased with the baserunning gaffe, saying that all players should know not to go on such a play.

"It is safe to say I didn't want him to go to third base whether or not he was getting injured," Acta said.

Buck was optioned out Friday when Cleveland activated DH Travis Hafner, but available to be recalled because of the injury situation. He never even left Cleveland as he had planned to fly to Scranton (Pa.) on Saturday morning to join the Clippers.

"I watched on TV last night and got a call to stick around," said Buck, who has hit .226 with two homers and eight RBIs in 29 games for Cleveland.

The veteran outfielder has been working out at first base and played a couple of games there during spring training, but has never played the position in a regular-season game. He doesn't even have his own first baseman's mitt.

"I had one, but got rid of it because I didn't break it in the right way," he said. "I'm borrowing Hannahan's. He's got a good glove no matter where he plays, so maybe it will help me."