Normally getting that kind of a start is the sign of a sure-fire win, but Bats' starter Ben Jukich was holding up his end of the bargain by throwing scoreless ball until the Clippers broke through in the 6th to tie the game at 1-1. Drew Sutton singled in Jose Constanza and it looked like the Clippers had something going with a run across and men on 1st and 2nd with only one down. However, Jukich induced a pop-up and a strikeout to end the threat. Neither team would sniff an opportunity until the bottom of the 9th when Saul Rivera relieved Aaron Laffey, who had thrown a scoreless 8th. The Bats scored the decisive run on a pair of singles and a walk and the Clippers lost 2-1.
By falling in their final regular season game against the Bats, the Clippers fell to 1 ½ games out of 1st in the IL-West. They will take on Indianapolis tonight and will have to hope for the Bats to lose a couple tin order to get back in the hunt.
Team Hitting: 1R, 6H, 2XBH, BB, GIDP
Not much to report here. Columbus just couldn't get it going. Only four players reached base: Jose Constanza (1-4, 2B), Ezequiel Carrera (1-3, 2B, BB), Drew Sutton (2-4) and Jordan Brown (2-4). The other five hitters in the lineup went 0-17 with 6K. The Clippers only got on base once after the 6th inning.
Team Pitching; 2(2) R(ER), 7H, 2BB, 7K, 70% strikes, 42%GB
Carlos Carrasco pitched beautifully last night. He allowed only 6 base runners (WHIP of 0.86), he struck out 6 (K/9 of 7.7) and walked only one. He induced ground-balls at a high rate and allowed only one XBH. Carrasco has been striking men out, not walking batters and avoiding the big inning for the last few weeks and seems to be hitting his stride as the season draws to a close. This is a great sign for all of us hoping that he will become a front-line starter and workhorse for the Indians' rotation. Especially the fact that he is holding his velocity and improving his performance as the season wears on.
Because we received Carrasco two years ago and he was so close to the Majors; I think we all tend to view him as a flop because he didn't explode onto the scene like some had hoped. He is still only 23 and has the raw talent to be a great pitcher for a long time (and a lot of innings in each of those years). Perhaps, he is finally putting it altogether and better still the Indians will have him under team control into his late 20's.
The Clippers take on the Indianapolis Indians tonight at 7:05pm and will send David Huff to oppose Indy starter Dana Eveland. The Louisville Bats take on the Toledo Mud Hens and we'll all be pulling for the Mud Hens for at least one night.
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3 comments:
No comments? C'mon people....is Carrasco ready to assume a role in the Tribe rotation?
'Assume' as in: have a start at ML level? yes. Probably his next start or the following. But, he still needs to prove consistency at ML level to stay there full-time. Lest we forget; Cliff Lee was sent down to the minors immediately preceding his Cy Young season. Pitchers have to figure things out before they can stick.
Carrasco seems to have it figured out right now, but he's had hot streaks before. The lack of walks and big innings (his previous pitfalls) is certainly an encouraging sign. Regardless, he will only be one part of the 6-7 man rotation that will lead the Indians to another postseason appearance.
Carrasco is in my view the most important player in the short term for this franchise. We need him to take hold of that #2/3 starter spot and be at least a quality innings eating pitcher.
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