Indians Join Arms Race, Get Hill From Cardinals

The Cleveland Indians, looking to bolster their pitching staff for the pennant stretch, acquired Ken Hill from St. Louis on Thursday for three minor leaguers.

The Indians, leading the AL Central by 15 1/2 games entering Thursday night and holding the best record in baseball, are intent on plugging any remaining weaknesses in the last half of the season.

“We made this trade based on the fact that we’re trying to win this thing,” general manager John Hart said. “I think this sends a very clear message that we’re serious about what we’re doing.”

Hill, a free agent after this season, was 6-7 with a 5.06 ERA after being acquired from the Montreal Expos in April. Although Hill has not pitched well, Hart said the Indians remain impressed with his ability.

“It’s a good opportunity to win,” Hill said Thursday. “I’ll just go over there and do the best I can to help that team win.”

He gets his first chance Friday night. The Indians are playing four games in Seattle and Hill will start the second game of the series, replacing Mark Clark.

“We feel over the next several starts we can get this guy turned back around, and as we head down the stretch, we’re going to have a veteran, solid pitcher who is going to add to our staff,” Hart said.

Hill, 29, was the NL’s starter in the 1994 All-Star game. In his sixth big league season, he had allowed 125 hits, 71 runs -- 62 of them earned -- and 45 walks over 110 and a third innings. He is 70-60 overall, with a career ERA of 3.50.

To get Hill, Cleveland gave up Triple-A third baseman David Bell -- son of Indians infield coach Buddy Bell -- along with with Class-A right-hander Rick Heiserman and rookie-league catcher Pepe McNeal.

Both of the Bells understood the situation, Hart said. David Bell, in particular, knew that Indians third baseman Jim Thome was a real obstacle to his moving up, and so was glad for a chance to go somewhere where he might move up more quickly, Hart said.

Bell, 22, was Cleveland’s seventh-round choice in the 1990 free-agent draft. He was hitting .272 at Triple-A Buffalo with eight home runs and 34 RBIs. Last season, he hit .293 with 18 homers and 88 RBIs at Double-A Charlotte.

“We feel David Bell is the key to the deal,” Cardinals general manger Walt Jocketty said. “He has been successful at each level in Cleveland’s minor league system.”

Heiserman, 22, is 9-3 with a 3.74 ERA at Class A Kinston of the Carolina League. McNeal, 19, is batting .281 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 27 games with Burlington of Appalachian League.

Bell will join the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate, Louisville. Heiserman will be assigned to Class A St. Petersburg, and McNeal will report to Johnson City in the Rookie League.

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Kevin Appier, who pitched two hitless innings in the All-Star Game and was 11-2 at one point this season for Kansas City, went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a sore right shoulder.

Appier (11-7), has lost his last five decisions. He was bombed by the New York Yankees and gave up three home runs in an 8-1 loss on Tuesday.

“I don’t know if I’ve had before what’s causing this dead arm,” said the right-hander, who seemed to be on the road to his finest season before encountering problems. “They’re concerned enough about it to put me on the disabled list.”

Trainer Nick Swartz said an examination revealed inflammation in the rotator cuff “which we pretty much suspected is causing the fatigue.”

The move was retroactive to Wednesday.

Outfielder Joe Vitiello was called up from Triple-A Omaha to take Appier’s spot on the roster.

Vitiello opened the season with the Royals and was 0-for-11 in eight games before going down to Omaha, where he hit .279 with 33 runs scored, 14 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs and 42 RBIs.

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Outfielder Lenny Dykstra was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of problems with his right knee, the Philadelphia Phillies announced Thursday.

Dykstra will go to California where he will see Dr. Lew Yocum on either Monday or Tuesday for a thorough examination.

“We need him healthy,” said Phillies general manager Lee Thomas. “He’s reluctant to do it because he thinks he’s letting down his teammates, but it’s something we have to do. It hurts him when he throws and it bothers him at the plate.”

Dykstra is hitting .264 in 62 games.