First, they beat Detroit, 6-5, Friday night. Then they called up outfielder Matt LaPorta and infielders Luis Valbuena and Josh Barfield from Class AAA Columbus. To make room, outfielder Trevor Crowe was optioned to Columbus, reliever Joe Smith was placed on the disabled list with a strained right rotator cuff and utility man Tony Graffanino was designated for assignment.

David Dellucci was activated Friday afternoon from his rehab assignment in Columbus. He started at DH against the Tigers and had four hits.

"Barfield will be in the role that he did in spring training," said Wedge, referring to Barfield's new job as a utility player. "Valbuena will help us on the left side of the infield. LaPorta has been swinging the bat well, and he'll complement Dellucci."

Wedge added that LaPorta, the key player acquired from Milwaukee in July for CC Sabathia, was coming to play.

"He's coming up here for us to watch him play," said Wedge.

During the Indians' poor April, Wedge made veiled threats that such changes could be coming. They were veiled because whenever he expressed his displeasure at what he was watching on the field, he would be asked if he meant making changes at the big-league level.

Wedge always responded, "I'm talking about the players here getting better."

Now the Indians' roster has been shaken, not stirred.

Dellucci's arrival was hardly a bolt from the blue. Especially with DH Travis Hafner going on the disabled list Wednesday with a sore right shoulder.

The arrivals of Valbuena and Barfield aren't shocks, either. The Indians have not been happy with their defense, particularly in the infield.

But LaPorta's arrival is big news. Early in the week, with LaPorta hammering International League pitching, the Indians downplayed any chance of him coming up. But with Hafner's injury and a slow start becoming slower, opinions changed.

LaPorta is hitting .333 (25-for-75) with four doubles, two triples, five homers and 14 RBI. He has an OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.054.

Valbuena is hitting .321 (25-for-78) with four doubles, two triples, three homers and 13 RBI. He has an OPS of .975 and has played 12 games at second, five at third and five at shortstop, while making one error.

Barfield is hitting .306 (15-for-49) with three doubles and 11 RBI. He has an OPS of .701 and has played nine games at second and four in the outfield. Barfield has made three errors.

Wedge said Smith developed some shoulder soreness in spring training. They want to give him a break to get the soreness out of his shoulder.

Thumbs up: Dellucci loved everything about Huntington Park, the Indians' new ballpark in Columbus - except for one thing.

"The wind blows in from right field about 40 mph every day," said Dellucci, with a laugh.

That would make things tough for a left-handed hitter like Dellucci.

"I hit a couple of balls that I felt real good about until I saw the outfielders stop at the wall," said Dellucci. "But the ballpark is very nice. Those guys are set up very well. Good clubhouse, great ballpark. They're very lucky."

Dellucci hit .414 (12-for-29) with one double, one triple and two RBI at Columbus.

"I was swinging the bat really well," said Dellucci. "I worked with [hitting coach] Jonathan Nunnally and our goal was to make up for what I missed out on in spring training. I made some adjustments, took a lot of swings and got a lot of blisters."

Dellucci went on the disabled list late in spring training with a tight left calf. He also missed time because he reported to camp with three stitches in his left thumb after catching it in the tailgate of his truck.

"I missed out on a lot of at-bats in spring, but I think playing in Triple-A during the season is a little better competition than spring training," said Dellucci. "I have a lot of confidence in what I did there. . . . I think I'm in a pretty good spot."

Finally: Wedge on Victor Martinez, who entered the game hitting .386 (34-for-88), "He never takes a pitch off."

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