Indians place Marson on DL, call up Gomes and Barnes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Indians put catcher Lou Marson back on the disabled list because of an inflamed right shoulder and recalled catcher Yan Gomes and

Lou Marson has been limited to only three games with Cleveland this season because of injuries :: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Indians put catcher Lou Marson back on the disabled list because of an inflamed right shoulder and recalled catcher Yan Gomes and left-hander Scott Barnes from Triple-A Columbus.

The Indians made the moves before Sunday's doubleheader against Kansas City.

Marson went on the DL on April 9 with a strained neck. He was activated Wednesday and appeared in three games before landing back on the disabled list.

"He tried to work through it all spring. He had it going back to last year,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. "His biggest strength is catching and throwing, and we sat him down and said, `Hey man, this isn't fair.' We need to try to get him back, in fairness to him.''

Marson has only appeared in three games this season, going 0 for 3 with a pair of walks. He hit .226 in 70 games for the Indians last season.

Gomes, who broke into the big leagues last season with Toronto, is back with the Indians after filling in during Marson's first stretch on the DL. He went 4 for 19 with two homers in six games, and was hitting .300 at Columbus.

"Whatever we've thrown at him, he's handled great,'' Francona said. "We're trying to win here, but also balance his development. It's a balancing act.''

League rules allow teams to carry a 26th player for doubleheaders. Barnes gives Cleveland an extra arm after going 2-0 with a 4.70 ERA in seven minor league relief appearances.

In other news, Francona said that outfielder Michael Bourn could progress to hitting off a tee after taking dry swings. Bourn landed on the DL retroactive to April 15 after his right hand was stepped on by White Sox reliever Matt Thornton during a head-first slide.

Bourn needed five stitches to close the wound. He's eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday against Philadelphia, though Francona indicated that might not happen.

"I don't think he's as comfortable as he wanted to be,'' Francona said. "I kind of grabbed him and said, `Hey, the artificial time table of the DL is what it is. We'll get you back when you're ready.''