Stamets making himself at home

What with stretching, batting and fielding practice and video work, it takes several hours for Eric Stamets to prepare himself to play in just one game.

Now that it looks as though he has a chance to be the Clippers’ everyday shortstop, he also will be putting together a lengthy pass list for home games on a daily basis. He grew up in Dublin and graduated from Scioto High School.

“This is home,” he said. “It’s different, that’s for sure.”

Stamets smiled and added, “Only immediate family and friends on the pass list.”

In the Clippers’ tense 5-4 victory Monday night over the Indianapolis Indians, a crowd of 10,100 on Dime A Dog Night saw Stamets hit two doubles in four at-bats. The first double, a liner down the left-field line in the third inning, kept a three-run rally going after Ronny Rodriguez led off with a home run.

This is Stamets’ sixth professional season after being drafted in the sixth round out of Evansville in 2012 by the Los Angeles Angels. He broke spring training with the Clippers before being sent down to double-A Akron and returning.

The Cleveland Indians obtained Stamets, 25, last season when they sent outfielder David Murphy to the Angels.

“It was a shock because they traded the triple-A shortstop a couple of days before they traded me,” he said. “I rolled with it. If there was one organization I would want to be traded to, this would be it. As long as I am progressing offensively and continue to do what I do defensively, that’s all that matters.”

Indians general manager Mike Chernoff has said Stamets has a major-league glove and arm.

But what about the logjam Stamets faces with all-star Francisco Lindor and now ex-Clipper Erik Gonzalez playing shortstop in Cleveland?

“I’m playing baseball and that’s the only thing I can control,” he said. “There is a lot of young talent up there, but whenever my time comes, it comes. I have to find my niche and get my foot in the door. You just play.”

The Clippers, who have won nine of 15 games, got a gutsy start from right-hander Travis Banwart (1-2). He gave up eight hits, but one run in 5 innings in stranding seven runners. He struck out seven.

“(Banwart) came out of spring training not stretched out because of his role and the first couple of outings here were like spring training outings,” manager Chris Tremie said. “He hit his stride and really threw the ball well. He kept the ball down and mixed his pitches. That was encouraging to see.”

The Clippers won for only the fourth time in 13 home games.

“We haven’t played all that well here, but that will change,” Tremie said.