Justin Masterson has been more enigma than ace this season for the Indians. Stellar one game and searching the next, the sinkerballer has served as a symbol for Cleveland’s historic slide.
That continued to be the case on Thursday afternoon.
“I’m just as perplexed as anybody,” Masterson said.
Masterson unraveled and the Tribe limped to a 12-7 loss to the A’s at Progressive Field. The Indians’ offense finally showed some life, but it was not enough to sidestep a four-game brooming at the hands of a surprising Oakland club that is trying to crash the postseason party.
The defeat was the fifth in a row for the reeling Indians and the 14th in the past 15 games. There is still one game left in August, but Cleveland — now 5-23 for the month — has already suffered its highest loss total in a calendar month since going 15-23 in August 1938. The Tribe has not lost 24 in one month since July 1914.
“I’ve never been through a month like this anywhere,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “Not in the Minor Leagues, winter ball or in the big leagues, as a coach or as a manager.”
Masterson also cracked the Indians’ record book with his latest outing.
He surrendered eight runs on eight hits in four innings, marking the fifth time this season he has given up at least eight runs in an outing. That ties Mel Harder’s 1936 club record for games with at least eight runs surrendered.
Masterson’s seven starts with at least seven runs allowed this season are the most since Harder had seven outings of that nature, also in 1936. The club record for that dubious feat is nine such games by George Uhle (1924) and Sherry Smith (1925).
It has been a strange season for Masterson, who has pitched on the far ends of the spectrum. Consider that despite his 4.91 ERA and record of outings gone awry, the righty has allowed two runs or fewer in 14 starts and has notched a quality start 16 times this year.
“It’s been basically command,” Acta said. “Overall, he’s been a warrior for us. He hasn’t been what we were expecting, or what he was expecting, but he has thrown some good games for us when we’ve needed him.”
Following a breakout 12-win season a year ago, the expectations were that Masterson could develop into an ace. That is why Cleveland honored him with his first career Opening Day start this season.
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