Cliff Lee, a day removed from his ride in an F-16 fighter jet, wasn't going to go that route. His Cactus League debut against the Brewers on Friday was a dud, as he was socked for a pair of runs on three hits in his lone inning of work.

But it was just that -- a Cactus League debut.

"I have no concerns," said Lee, who was slated to go two innings but used up the majority of his pitch count in one. "I got behind in the count a couple times, so I threw strikes, and they got hits. It's a long Spring Training, so there's plenty of time for me to get where I need to be."

It was where Lee was a day earlier that was a little more intriguing. He was invited by retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dick Bethurem, who also happens to be his spring landlord, to fly in the F-16 Fighting Falcon at Luke Air Force Base in nearby Glendale, Ariz.

Of course, before he could take part in the hourlong flight, piloted by Major Dan "Dutch" Munter, Lee had to check in with his bosses. Fortunately for Lee, the Indians didn't worry about the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner making 7 G-force turns, because he was in capable hands.

"As long as he's not the one flying it," general manager Mark Shapiro said, "I'm OK with it."

Then again, this might be fodder for future considerations in the Tribe's player contracts. Teams will often write in a clause preventing players from riding motorcycles. Those clauses usually don't say anything about F-16s.

But Lee, for one, isn't worried about such a clause in his next deal.

"If I went down, I wouldn't have to worry about it," Lee said. "I'd be done pretty quick. I'd be more worried about my life insurance policy."

Lee didn't feel he had much to worry about Thursday. And just in case, he was subjected to some emergency training lessons before takeoff. He also took a complete physical to ensure his body could handle the intensity of the flight. In a 7-G turn, the force of gravity is seven times greater than usual, so the 190-pound Lee felt more like 1,330 pounds.

Not only did Lee handle those rigors, he also survived the flight's dizzying loops and twists without losing his lunch, which is more than can be said for most people who fly in an F-16 for the first time.

"I did not puke," Lee proudly proclaimed.

Now that he's back down to earth, Lee has a season to prepare for. No one's expecting the left-handed Lee to repeat the 22-3 record he put together last season, when he became the Tribe's first 20-game winner in 24 years, but Lee is certainly going to give it a shot.

The Indians have been careful not to overwork Lee this spring after he tossed a career-high 223 1/3 innings in 2008. That's why his first start was pushed back more than a week into the start of the club's exhibition slate. He's been throwing bullpens on the side, and he threw a two-inning simulation earlier this week.

"I've been getting my work in," Lee said.

It was a short work day for Lee on Friday. He gave up a leadoff single to Lorenzo Cain, followed immediately by a double to Craig Counsell down the first-base line. A Mike Cameron sacrifice fly brought in one run, and, after Lee hit a batter, a Casey McGehee single brought in another. Lee's inning was extended when right fielder Trevor Crowe dropped an easy fly ball off the bat of Trot Nixon.

"I could have done without Counsell hitting that double down the line," Lee said. "But overall, I threw strikes, and I was working on some things. I didn't walk anybody. It's still early."