Girardi goes to Robertson, not Joba, in eighth

CLEVELAND - Joe Girardi said it would be a "misinterpretation" to take from last night's eighth inning that he has lost confidence in Joba Chamberlain as his primary eighth-inning pitcher.

But his actions didn't lead to any other conclusion.

Girardi brought in David Robertson to protect a 3-2 lead after Javier Vazquez walked Michael Brantley to start the eighth. Robertson got Asdrubal Cabrera to hit into a double play before Girardi brought in lefty Boone Logan, who struck out lefthanded-hitting Shin-Soo Choo.

Girardi said it was strictly a case of liking the matchup of Robertson against Cabrera and Logan against Choo. When pressed, however, he said that if Chamberlain, who allowed a walk and a two-run homer in Sunday's eighth inning, had been pitching better, he wouldn't be as inclined to look at matchups. "It's probably fair to say that, but he's struggled a little bit," Girardi said. "I went with what my gut told me."

Once Phil Hughes grabbed last year's setup role, it didn't matter who was coming up, Hughes was coming in.

Chamberlain said he "wasn't surprised" at not pitching the eighth after seeing Robertson and Logan get up when Vazquez started the inning. He added that he isn't upset about what appears, at least for now, to be a demotion. "You have to be ready from the sixth inning on for any situation that may happen," he said. "You have to be ready for any situation and hope the guys that go out there get the job done."

Before the game, Girardi had said of Chamberlain, "We have to continue to pound on him and get him where he needs to be. Keep working with him, that's what I mean by pound, and get him to where he's consistent."

Moseley replaces Mitre

Girardi said Dustin Moseley - not Sergio Mitre, who pitched poorly Saturday - will start against the Indians on Thursday. "I just didn't see the crispness in his pitches," Girardi said of Mitre, who had been on the DL with a strained oblique. "I don't think he's physically ready . . . so we're going to try and get him right in the bullpen."

Girardi said results will dictate whether Moseley starts beyond Thursday. "We'll evaluate it after every start and see what we need to do," he said.

Extra bases

Lefthander Damaso Marte (left shoulder inflammation) played catch at 60 feet Monday, a sign of progress, but Girardi said, "I don't really have a timetable for him." . . . Alfredo Aceves (back), who has had two setbacks since going on the DL on May 12, played catch in the outfield and will throw in the bullpen Tuesday or Wednesday. "We've had more positive news this time," Girardi said.