ARLINGTON, Texas — The stats are going the wrong way for All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

“Fatigue is showing,” said Indians manager Manny Acta.

Cabrera didn’t start Thursday night against the Rangers. He didn’t play Sunday against the White Sox coupled with Monday’s off day, but Cabrera’s bat has shown no sign of warming. He’s hitting .122 (5-for-41) in September.

Since the All-Star break, Cabrera’s number have declined steeply. He was hitting .294 (105-for-358) with 14 homers and 51 RBI when he started for the American League in the All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix.

In the second half, Cabrera is hitting .224 (47-for-210) with eight homers and 31 RBI.

Here’s Cabrera’s month-by-month breakdown: .262 (28-for-107) in April, .330 (39-for-106) in May, .297 (33-for-111) in June, .266 (25-for-94) in July, .239 (26-for-109) in August and .122 (5-for-41) in September.

Cabrera has played with bruised knees and a sore wrist. Many times, he has been the only regular in the lineup because of the Indians’ numerous injuries. But fatigue seems to have run him down and is inflicting a harsh lesson.

“I’ve seen a little of fatigue from Asdrubal since the All-Star break,” said Acta. “That’s part of the learning process here. Guys have to learn how to prepare themselves to play 200 games — not 162, 200 games.

“They have to learn how to get their body used to it by improving their eating habits. By resting properly and hydrating themselves properly. It’s a process that guys at 25 probably still haven’t mastered.”

Acta didn’t reach the number 200 by adding 30 spring training games, 162 regular season games and the 11 postseason victories needed to win a World Series. It’s his own calculation.

“I’m talking 200 games,” said Acta. “You have to prepare yourself for more games than the season brings so your body can handle whatever the season brings to you with ease. . . . That’s a fact. That’s what I believe.”

Cabrera is hitting .268 (152-for-568) with 31 doubles, three triples, 22 homers and 82 RBI. The homers and RBI are career highs.

He was back . . . for a bit: Shin-Soo Choo was activated Thursday. He started in right field and batted third. However, after grounding out to first in the first inning, he was replaced in right field by Ezequiel Carrera.

Choo returned from his second trip to the disabled list this year. His latest injury was a strained left oblique.

Asked why he just didn’t finish the season on the disabled list and take the off-season to get completely healed, Choo said: “I want to finish the season on the field, not with an injury. That’s my goal.”

Choo said he feels no pain when he swings or throws from the oblique muscle.

“But I know something is there,” he said.

Did you see that? Shelley Duncan still was shaking his head Thursday after his three consecutive carbon-copy, highlight-reel catches against the left-field wall on Wednesday night against Elvis Andrus, Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.

“I’ve never had three balls hit to me like that . . . all the same one,” said Duncan. “It was just funny.”

Duncan’s catches against Andrus and Hamilton were the last two outs in a 1-2-3 first inning. His catch against Young was the first out in the second. They were all hit to almost the exact same spot in front of the left-field scoreboard.

“I jumped for all three,” said Duncan. “I was about six inches above the ground. That’s about as high as I can go.”

Duncan’s eyes were huge after he caught Young’s ball. He was talking to himself as well.

“[Center fielder] Trevor Crowe was laughing at me, and I was saying, ‘Are you kidding me?’ ” said Duncan. “All I was thinking was just get the spotlight off me.”

Hamilton hit a grand slam in the fourth over the left-field wall, but Duncan still jumped for the ball.

“I’m not sure why I did it,” he said with a laugh. “It was fun.”

Testing, testing: Right-hander Josh Tomlin threw a bullpen session Thursday to test his sore right elbow. He will throw another one this weekend at Target Field in Minneapolis and a simulated game when the Indians return home.

If he passes those tests, Acta said Tomlin could be “in the mix” to start one of the games in a day-night doubleheader against the Twins on Sept. 24. It’s doubtful Tomlin would be able to pitch more than three or four innings.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

CLEVELAND —
Somehow, some way, they’ve scrapped, clawed and limped their way into contention. And now that September’s here, the Cleveland Indians plan to hang around.

For as long as they can.

“We all know what we’re facing,” manager Manny Acta said following a 7-0 loss Thursday to the Oakland Athletics. “There’s no time to complain, no time to rest, no time to shut it down. We just have to get after it.”

The Indians opened the season’s final month with an ugly loss, a rarity for a team that has played 46 one-run games and made dramatic wins routine. They remain 5 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central, a deficit the Indians hope doesn’t grow by the time the Tigers come to town next week.

“We’re still very much in it,” reliever Tony Sipp said.

Gio Gonzalez (12-11) pitched seven shutout innings and baffled Cleveland again as the A’s avoided a four-game sweep.

Gonzalez improved to 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in six career starts against the Indians, extending his scoreless streak to 27 2/3 innings against them. The left-hander allowed four singles and was never in trouble against a lineup missing several injured regulars.

“Gio was tough on us again,” Acta said. “Even when we have a full deck of cards he is always tough on us. He’s got an overpowering fastball and one of the best breaking balls in the league. He always cruises against us, and he did it again.”

Cliff Pennington had four hits and three RBIs as the A’s did just enough against Fausto Carmona (6-13) and snapped a five-game losing streak.

Afterward, the Indians packed and left for Kansas City, where they’ll open a three-game series tonight. On Monday, they’ll open a critical three-game set at home against the Tigers. At this point, the Indians may need a sweep to keep their unexpected comeback season alive.

With their next win, the Indians will match their total for all of 2010, when they finished 25 games out of first.

“We’ve actually opened some eyes because nobody thought this was for real and were waiting on us to hit that skid and head down that downward spiral,” Sipp said. “That hasn’t happened yet.”

After winning a 16-inning marathon that ended at 12:07 a.m., the Indians took the field at 12:06 p.m.

Their bats never awakened against Gonzalez, who won his third start in a row after five consecutive losses. He worked out of three two-on jams, twice getting Asdrubal Cabrera to pop to right for the final out. In four starts in Cleveland, Gonzalez is 4-0 with a 0.67 ERA.

He has no explanation for how he does it.

“Honestly, I really don’t,” Gonzalez said. “The defense does a great job. Our catchers do a great job studying video. All I try to do is pound the strike zone. That’s it.”

Only hours into the season’s final month, the Indians had to make yet another roster move because of an injury.

Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was placed on the 15-day disabled list, the latest tough break for the South Korean, whose 2011 season has been marred by injuries, an arrest on drunken-driving charges and sub-par stats. Choo strained a muscle in his side on a check-swing last week.

Choo joined the Indians’ ample DL, which includes outfielders Michael Brantley and Grady Sizemore, DH Travis Hafner and starters Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco. Acta has been forced to juggle his lineup for months, and Thursday he had to use two rookie relievers Nick Hagadone and Corey Kluber, who made their major league debuts shortly after arriving from Triple-A Columbus.

“We’re hanging in there,” Acta said. “We’re doing well. We’ve won five of the last seven games, and if you win five out of seven the rest of the way good things can happen. These guys are going to go out and battle and if we get a couple of the cards back in the next couple weeks, maybe it will give us a lift.”

Oakland strung together three straight two-out singles, and got aggressive on the basepaths to take a 2-0 lead in the fifth against Carmona.

That was more than Gonzalez needed to keep the Indians — injured or not — in check.

“That team is fighting for first place,” Gonzalez said. “They can definitely hit a fastball up and any mistake pitches. I’m just trying to do my job. You can’t do anything about it except stay away from the bats.”

• NOTES — Gonzalez hasn’t given up a run in his last four starts against the Indians, the longest stretch by an A’s pitcher against Cleveland since Bob Welch in 1990. … The Indians said 18 dozen baseballs (216) were used in Wednesday’s game, which featured 14 pitchers, 34 strikeouts and 509 pitches. … Cleveland was shut out for the 12th time, but first since July. … RHP Jason Rice, acquired by Oakland just before the midnight waiver deadline in a deal from Boston, arrived at the ballpark just before game time. … Sizemore is scheduled to play six innings in the outfield Thursday night for Double-A Akron, the next step in his recovery from a bruised knee. He could be back with the Indians next week. … Indians RHP Justin Masterson (10-8) will start the series opener against the Royals Bruce Chen (10-5). Masterson’s 2.83 ERA is the AL’s fourth lowest, and he’s gone at least five innings in 27 of 28 starts.

CLEVELAND — Somehow, some way, they’ve scrapped, clawed and limped their way into contention. And now that September’s here, the Cleveland Indians plan to hang around.

For as long as they can.

“We all know what we’re facing,” manager Manny Acta said after a 7-0 loss Thursday to the Oakland Athletics. “There’s no time to complain, no time to rest, no time to shut it down. We just have to get after it.”

The Indians opened the season’s final month with an ugly loss, a rarity for a team that has played 46 one-run games and made dramatic wins routine. They remain 51/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central, a deficit the Indians hope doesn’t grow by the time the Tigers come to town next week.

“We’re still very much in it,” reliever Tony Sipp said.

Gio Gonzalez (12-11) pitched seven shutout innings and baffled Cleveland again as the A’s avoided a four-game sweep.

Gonzalez improved to 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in six career starts against the Indians, extending his scoreless streak to 272/3 innings against them. The left-hander allowed four singles and never was in trouble against a lineup missing several injured regulars.

“Gio was tough on us again,” Acta said. “Even when we have a full deck of cards he is always tough on us. He’s got an overpowering fastball and one of the best breaking balls in the league.”

Cliff Pennington had four hits and three RBIs as the A’s did just enough against Fausto Carmona (6-13) and snapped a five-game losing streak.

Afterward, the Indians packed and left for Kansas City, where they’ll open a three-game series today. On Monday, they’ll open a critical three-game set at home against the Tigers. At this point, the Indians might need a sweep to keep their unexpected comeback season alive.

With their next win, the Indians will match their total for all of 2010, when they finished 25 games out of first.

After winning a 16-inning marathon that ended at 12:07 a.m., the Indians took the field at 12:06 p.m.

Their bats never awakened against Gonzalez, who won his third start in a row after five consecutive losses. In four starts in Cleveland, Gonzalez is 4-0.

He has no explanation for how he does it.

“Honestly, I really don’t,” Gonzalez said. “The defense does a great job. Our catchers do a great job studying video. All I try to do is pound the strike zone. That’s it.”

Only hours into the season’s final month, the Indians had to make yet another roster move because of an injury.

Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was placed on the 15-day disabled list, the latest tough break for the South Korean, whose 2011 season has been marred by injuries, an arrest on drunken-driving charges and sub-par stats. Choo strained a muscle in his side on a check-swing last week.

Choo joined the Indians’ ample DL, which includes outfielders Michael Brantley and Grady Sizemore, DH Travis Hafner and starters Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco. Acta has been forced to juggle his lineup for months, and Thursday he had to use two rookie relievers Nick Hagadone and Corey Kluber, who made their major league debuts shortly after arriving from Triple-A Columbus.

“We’re hanging in there,” Acta said. “We’re doing well. We’ve won five of the last seven games, and if you win five out of seven the rest of the way good things can happen. These guys are going to go out and battle and if we get a couple of the cards back in the next couple weeks, maybe it will give us a lift.”

Oakland strung together three straight two-out singles, and got aggressive on the basepaths to take a 2-0 lead in the fifth against Carmona.

That was more than Gonzalez needed to keep the Indians — injured or not — in check.

“That team is fighting for first place,” Gonzalez said. “They can definitely hit a fastball up and any mistake pitches. I’m just trying to do my job. You can’t do anything about it except stay away from the bats.”

Notes: Gonzalez hasn’t given up a run in his last four starts against the Indians, the longest stretch by an A’s pitcher against Cleveland since Bob Welch in 1990. … The Indians said 18 dozen baseballs (216) were used in Wednesday’s game, which featured 14 pitchers, 34 strikeouts and 509 pitches. … Cleveland was shut out for the 12th time, but first since July. … RHP Jason Rice, acquired by Oakland just before the midnight waiver deadline in a deal from Boston, arrived at the ballpark just before game time. … Sizemore is scheduled to play six innings in the outfield Thursday night for Double-A Akron, the next step in his recovery from a bruised knee. He could be back with the Indians next week. … Indians RHP Justin Masterson (10-8) will start the series opener against the Royals Bruce Chen (10-5). Masterson’s 2.83 ERA is the AL’s fourth lowest, and he’s gone at least five innings in 27 of 28 starts.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — I walked into Progressive Field Thursday and asked, “Where did Hannahan’s homers land?”

That’s as in Jack Hannahan, the same Hannahan who batted .237 with only nine homers in Class AAA last season. That’s home runs, as in more than one — in the same game. One hit the top of the right-field foul pole. The other soared over the 410 foot sign in center … over the first row of trees … and came down in Toledo, where Hannahan has played 268 of his 846 minor-league games.

The actual measurement was 432 feet.

That’s why I’ve loved following the Indians this season.

Start with the fact that it’s September, and we can actually discuss the Indians without it being all about “Wait ’til next year.” We may say, “There’s no way they can keep this up, too many injuries to win the division.” Or, “Can you believe where Hannahan hit those homers?” Or, “How about Jim Thome coming back?” Or, “I never even heard of half the guys in the lineup.”

We may say, “I don’t know how they’ve won this many games.”

That question came to mind after watching the Tribe lose, 7-0, to Oakland on a sunny Thursday where it felt as if they could play another 16 innings and not score a run.

The Indians had their typical lineup of late — four guys who spent some time in Class AAA, and four batting under .250. On the entire roster, there are only 10 players who have not been on the disabled list or in Columbus, who have spent all season in Cleveland.

Only two members of the opening day starting rotation are still pitching — Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson.

Not everyone from the minors has helped. Cord Phelps, Luis Valbuena and Jerad Head are a combined 14-of-105 (.133) with five RBI.

Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis were supposed to be starting in the infield, but Chisenhall lost his job to Hannahan, whose .420 batting average since the birth of his child made him Mr. August. Kipnis was their one impact hitter from Columbus, and he played only 18 games before injuring an oblique muscle, then pulling a hamstring during what the Indians called “ballistic stretching.”

The entire starting outfield of Michael Brantley, Shin-Soo Choo and Grady Sizemore is on the disabled list, as is designated hitter Travis Hafner and starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin.

In Thursday’s lineup, only Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana and Hannahan played in the season opener.

Yet, the Indians are 68-66, still 5 1/2 games behind Detroit in the Central Division. Remember, this team won only 69 games all last season and 65 in 2009. They have won in dramatic style — 22 in their last at-bat, 11 with walk-offs such as the 4-3 verdict in 16 innings that ended early Thursday morning.

If I’m Manny Acta, I’m not sure if I’d laugh or cry when writing out some of these lineups.

“I don’t view it that way,” he said. “I come to the park each day trying to figure out how my guys can beat their guys. And my guys have been hanging in there.”

He admitted that right now, there are only four names he can write in ink every game — Cabrera, Hannahan, Santana and Kosuke Fukudome, hitting .293 since August 1.

“Fukudome has been a life-saver,” said Acta. “Jimmy [Thome] has been a big plus. We are 5-0 when he starts. He’s had a direct impact on two games. He homered Saturday to give us the lead. He got the hit to lead off [the 16th on Wednesday]. He’s so positive in the clubhouse. He gives us confidence, and he’s still a threat.”

The Tribe finished this homestand at 6-5 by winning 5-of-7. Their problem is the Tigers, who are 30-21 since July 1 while the Tribe is 26-29.

“We’re not giving up,” said Acta. “This is no time to complain, no time to rest. We keep coming back, and I really like that.”

So do I.

Published: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 4:51 PM     Updated: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 6:01 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Todd Frazier hit a home run and Kris Negron delivered an RBI single Thursday to give the Reds a 2-0 lead against the Indians after six innings at Goodyear Ballpark.

Fausto Carmona did a nice job over six innings, but he couldn’t keep the Reds off the scoreboard. Frazier homered with one out in the fourth for a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, reliever Dontrelle Willis ripped a triple into the right field corner. Negron delivered him with a single through the middle to make it 2-0.

The Indians had scoring chances, but didn’t execute.

Jack Hannahan hit aq leadoff double in the fifth off Willis. Luke Carlin advanced him to third, but Luis Valbuena and Michael Brantley grounded out without delivering the run.

Shin-Soo Choo drew a one-out walk in the sixth, but Carlos Santana fouled out to third on a hit-and-run. Choo stole second and Travis Hafner walked, but Austin Kearns struck out. 

Carmona, who entered the game tied for the spring-training lead with three victories, allowed three baserunners through the first three innings. Zack Cozart reached on an infield single in the first, Jeremy Hermida walked in the second and Kris Negron was hit by a pitch in the third.

The Indians managed one hit against Mike Leake through three innings. Hafner reached on an infield in the second.

Carmona allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out five.

Published: Thursday, March 03, 2011, 4:02 PM     Updated: Thursday, March 03, 2011, 5:10 PM

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Indians had just worked their way back into Thursday’s game at Surprise Stadium against Texas with two runs in the sixth inning when right-hander Johan Pino zigged when he should have zagged.

Pino, with runners on first and second and no one out in the seventh, fielded a bunt back to the mound by Jurickson Profar. He threw to third for the force, but no one was there. Third baseman Jack Hannahan was charging the bunt. Chris Davis, who opened the inning with a double, scored to ignite a five-run inning that ended with Texas leading, 8-2.

Four of the five runs were unearned.

After Pino’s error, Davis Stonecutter hit an RBI single and Erik Morrison hit a three-run homer off Pino.

Asdrubal Cabrera opened the sixth with a double against Seth McClung. Luis Valbuena pinch ran and went to third on Carlos Santana’s single. Travis Buck singled to left to cut the Rangers lead to 3-1.

After Buck’s single, Austin Kearns walked to load the bases. Jason Donald hit into a 4-6-3 double play to take the steam out of the inning even though a run scored to cut the Texas lead to 3-2. 

Texas rocked Mitch Talbot early and led the Indians 3-0 after three innings.

Talbot gave up a leadoff homer to Ian Kinsler to start the game. Kinsler drove
Talbot’s second pitch over the fence in left. After David Murphy singled, Nelson Cruz doubled off the top of the fence in left center. With runners on second and third, Mike Napoli hit a long fly ball to left. Michael Brantley made a leaping catch at the fence as Murphy scored on the sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

In two innings, Talbot allowed two runs on four hits. He threw 33 pitches, 26 for strikes.

Josh Tomlin, who relieved Talbot to start the third, gave up a run to make it 3-0 on consecutive two-out doubles by Napoli and Davis.  Tomlin allowed one run in three innings.

The Indians were held scoreless through the first three innings. They forced starter Neftali Feliz to throw 26 pitches in the first, but couldn’t get a big hit as they left runners on first and second.

Donald and Jordan Brown opened the second with singles against Feliz, but Cord Phelps flied out to left and Lou Marson bounced into a double play.