Raburn staying productive in limited role

CHICAGO -- Ryan Raburn has continued to produce offensively for the Indians despite playing in just three games since Aug. 18 because of right calf and left heel injuries.

Raburn -- who went into Friday's game hitting .286 with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs in 203 at-bats, including a 3-for-3 performance with a homer and five RBIs Thursday -- said it was all a matter of understanding his role on the team and maintaining a relaxed approach at the plate.

"I'm just trying to keep [my hitting approach] as consistent as possible," Raburn said. "I try to keep the same routine, and I think the biggest emphasis when I get to the plate is that I'm not trying to get hits every time; I'm just trying to have a good at-bat and just let the results take care of themselves."

Going into Friday, Raburn had played in 73 of Cleveland's 146 games, used by manager Terry Francona particularly against left-handers. Raburn's recent injuries have further decreased his playing time, but he has managed to continue to make the most of his plate appearances, citing that he has been used in the same role before.

"It's just that you know how [Francona] is going to use you," Raburn said. "It's nothing to be surprised [about]. I've done it for five or six years now, so it's not something I'm starting just this year. It's tough; not a lot of guys can do it. Thankfully I've been able to have some success at it, and it'll keep me around the game a little longer.

"I've been prepared for everything they've thrown at me, and I think the longer the season progressed, the more I started getting onto my helm [about] kind of when I'd be going into certain situations, and then start preparing for it. And if I got in, I was ready, and if not, [I'd] sit back down and wait for another shot."