A.J. Pierzynski popped up a pitch from Indians left-hander Rich Hill in the sixth inning and then slammed his bat to the ground in disgust. For Cleveland, and for the team’s bullpen in particular, it has been nice to see frustration finally find its way to the other dugout for a change.
On a muggy Wednesday night at Rangers Ballpark, the Indians pulled off a 5-2 victory over Texas that resembled the kind of win that had gone missing during the Tribe’s recent losing streak. Ubaldo Jimenez led the way to the win column with a solid start, the offense found its form and the bullpen shut the door when it mattered most against the Rangers.
That last element to this win felt especially important on the heels of a grueling road trip.
“This is how we’re supposed to perform,” Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano said. “I know it’s a surprise, the way we’ve been playing these games lately, but this is the way this bullpen is supposed to get the job done. When we’re handed the ball, especially with a four-run lead, let alone anything smaller, it’s our job to go out there, get outs and win the ballgame.”
That has been easier said than done of late for the Tribe’s relief corps.
Over the past few seasons, even when Cleveland struggled as a whole, the team’s bullpen remained reliable. The group had bordered on becoming a liability in recent weeks, considering it headed into Wednesday’s contest with a Major League-worst 7.21 ERA dating back to May 21. During that time period, the Indians dropped 16 games in a span of 21 contests, including eight in a row before the past two wins.
All-Star closer Chris Perez is on the disabled list recovering from a right shoulder injury, Pestano has dealt with his own health and velocity issues throughout the season and the team’s left-handed options have fallen far short of expectations. Given the wave of adversity that has hit the bullpen, Wednesday’s win was a welcome development for the staff.
“Definitely,” Jimenez said. “That’s definitely going to make them feel better and more confident, any time they have a game like this. That was good for us.”
The win was the second in a row for Cleveland (32-33), which claimed a series on the road for the first time since taking two out of three in Detroit on May 10-12. On the season, the Tribe has gone 12-2 against teams in the American League West, and the club wrapped up this three-city tour of New York, Detroit and Texas with a 2-7 record.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
