GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) - If Shelley Duncan was nervous under the watchful eye of his father, it didn't show.

Duncan, playing in front of his father - former pitching coach Dave Duncan - for the first time since he was in college more than a decade ago, drove in two runs to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Monday.

Advertisement

``He had some good at_bats,' Indians manager Manny Acta said of the 32-year-old Duncan, who is trying to win a starting job in the majors for the first time.

Arizona starter Joe Saunders left after being hit on the left shin by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Santana in the first inning. The left-hander said he was taken out as a precaution.

Duncan singled home Santana from second base off Saunders' replacement Joe Martinez. Duncan later scored on Ryan Spilborghs' single and got an RBI in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk as Cleveland broke a five-game losing streak.

Duncan admitted that playing while being watched by his father and retired St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa probably would give him some butterflies.

``It's great. It's family time,' Shelley Duncan said. ``Anytime you can have him here is special.'

It was also a special day for Dave Duncan to see his son, who hit 11 homers in each of the past two seasons in a part-time role with Cleveland:

``I think it is really neat,' he said. ``I'm excited that he's getting more opportunity to play.'

Shelley has two homers and a team-leading eight RBIs this spring.

LaRussa retired after managing St. Louis to the World Series title last fall. Duncan, his longtime pitching coach, is on a leave of absence from the Cardinals to be with his wife, who had a brain tumor removed in August.

``She's doing good and responding to treatment,' he said.

Duncan's wife missed the game to go shopping for baby clothes with her daughter-in-law, who is expecting twins.

Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run and three hits in three innings - the best of his three spring outings.

``He was much better, especially with his breaking pitches,' Acta said.

Jason Kubel and Willie Bloomquist drove in runs for Arizona.

Saunders got two quick outs before Santana lined a shot up the middle. Saunders scrambled after the ball and threw wildly to first, sending Santana to second on the infield hit and error.

``I should have made the throw,' Saunders said. ``Catching it was another story. You see it and say, `This is either going to hit me or go through my legs.' You have no chance to react.

``It hit me in the side of the shin. If it was in the front, I would have been toast. They will check me (Tuesday). It is probably a bone bruise and is going to be sore.'

NOTES: Indians OF Felix Pie and 1B Casey Kotchman are day-to-day. Kotchman missed his second game with tightness in his lower back. Pie was dizzy after he ran into an outfield wall on Sunday. ``Kotchman is much better, but Pie had a little soreness on the left side of his neck,' Acta said. ... Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez, out since Feb. 23 because of a strained left oblique, played catch from 120 feet. So did RHP Carlos Carrasco, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Perez threw much harder than Carrasco and said he felt great. ... Cleveland LHP Rafael Perez (sore shoulder) threw a bullpen session and reported no problems. ... Ex-Indians RHP Jensen Lewis, struck out one in a perfect inning for Arizona. ... Diamondbacks CF Chris Young went 2 for 2 with a stolen base. He is 6 for 12 with two homers this spring.