Lincoln solid in rehab start

Right-hander Brad Lincoln pitched for the Triple-A Indians on Sunday for his first rehab appearance with the ball club.

Lincoln has been sidelined with a right forearm contusion. He suffered the injury during a spring training game when Jimmy Rollins of the Philles hit a liner of Lincoln’s arm.

Scheduled to pitch four innings (about 65 pitches), Lincoln stayed out to pitch a fifth.

Lincoln allowed two runs on two hits (including a solo home run) with no walks and two strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches, 42 for strikes over 4.2 innings.

Lincoln is one of three pitchers being considered to replace Ross Ohlendorf (15-day DL for right shoulder posterior strain) in the rotation. Jeff Karstens and Brian Burres are the others.

Lincoln was coming off a great spring before getting injured. He allowed four runs on six hits over 10.2 innings, with four walks and five strikeouts in six games (three starts).