After losing the season opener to Texas, 9-1, on Monday, Lee said, "If Victor Martinez lays out and is able to catch that ball, those runs don't score."

Lee had two out in the second inning with runners on second and third when Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled past Martinez at first base. Martinez dove for the ball and it went off the end of his glove into right field as both runs scored for a 2-0 lead.

Texas added two more runs that inning to take control of the game.

"I never meant to imply that Victor should have caught that ball or anything of that nature," said Lee. "Victor is a very good defensive catcher and he made a valiant effort for that ball.

"What I was trying to say is that this is a game of inches. A couple of inches like that is the difference of hits and runs."

Lee and Martinez talked before Wednesday's game.

In 2007, Lee and Martinez argued at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington after Lee hit Sammy Sosa in the head with a pitch. Martinez reportedly felt Lee should have come off the mound to see how Sosa was.

Trot Nixon, then with the Indians , called a players-only meeting after the game.

Last year, Kelly Shoppach caught Lee almost exclusively. The big reason was because Martinez was hurt.

Lee, coming off a rough Cactus League season, gave up seven runs on 10 hits in five innings. The Rangers scored all those runs after Hank Blalock hit Lee in the left forearm with a one-hopper in the second inning.

The defending Cy Young winner said it had nothing to do with the way he pitched. Lee threw a full bullpen session Wednesday with no problem and will start Saturday against Toronto.

A National League scout, who watched Lee a lot last year, said, "I'm sure the Indians aren't going to overreact over one bad start. As for a bad spring, especially for a pitcher in Arizona, that gets thrown out the window.

"Lee is best when he uses all his pitches. He has a lot of deception. He throws the glove and elbow at you, and the ball gets on you quick. He throws the cutter to his glove side and the slider to his arm side. Hitters could never get comfortable against him because they never knew what he was going to throw."

Pitching coach Carl Willis says Lee has a full arsenal of pitches, including a two- and four-seam fastball, cut fastball, slider, change-up and curveball. He usually throws between 89 and 91 mph.

Testing, testing: Anthony Reyes joined the Indians on Wednesday morning after making his final exhibition start Tuesday.

Reyes, who pitched to Class A Kinston batters, struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings.

"I was able to work on some things," said Reyes, who allowed one run on two hits.

Reyes will start against Toronto on Sunday at Progressive field.

Hand jive: Utility man Jamey Carroll, on the disabled list with a broken bone in his left hand, will not need surgery. "He'll have the hand put in a splint," said manager Eric Wedge.

Carroll will be out four to six weeks.

Hall of Famers: Right-hander Wes Ferrell, catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. and former owners Bill Veeck and Dick Jacobs will be inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame on Aug. 1 at Progressive Field before the Indians play Detroit.

Veeck and Jacobs form the inaugural class of nonuniformed men and women who made a significant contribution to the team.

Finally: Omar Vizquel will start at shortstop today for Texas in the final game of this three-game series against his former team. . . . Former Tribe pitcher Mike Bacsik, who has a radio show in the Arlington/Dallas area, was in the locker room talking to Martinez before the game. Bacsik, pitching for the Nationals, gave up Barry Bonds' record-setting 756th homer on Aug. 8, 2007.

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