Indians notebook, 4.27.2011
Justin Masterson continues to be the most surprising starter in one of the most surprising rotations in the majors.
On Tuesday night against Kansas City, the Indians right-hander pitched into the seventh inning, leading Cleveland to a 9-4 victory.
Masterson has started five games this season and won them all. He's more than four months ahead of his pace of last year, when he was a disappointing 6-13. Last year, Masterson didn't earn his fifth win until Aug. 26, in his 26th start of the season.
This year he has anchored a rotation that has been the biggest strength in the Indians' march to the top of the American League Central standings.
Manager Manny Acta points to Masterson's consistency in the strike zone, and his efficiency and rapidity in correcting mechanical flaws in his delivery, whenever they crop up during the course of a game. A good example of that came in the middle innings of Tuesday's game.
After retiring the first 10 batters he faced to start the game, Masterson in the fourth inning gave up four hits in a row, and two runs. But he was able to get back into a rhythm almost immediately.
Starting with the last out of the fourth inning, Masterson retired nine of the next 12 batters he faced before being removed from the game. In his five starts this season, he has been very good at limiting the damage, pitching out of jams and staying away from big innings.
NOTES, QUOTES
--CF Grady Sizemore had a home run and two doubles Tuesday night. Sizemore is now the only player in Indians history with at least 200 doubles, 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. Since Sizemore came off the disabled list, nine of his 13 hits are for extra bases (six doubles, three home runs).
--RHP Justin Masterson, who beat Detroit on Tuesday, has made five starts this season and won them all. Last year, he didn't pick up his fifth win until his 26th start, on Aug. 26. He allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Tigers.
--RHP Carlos Carrasco may avoid a trip onto the disabled list. Manager Manny Acta said results of an MRI on Carrasco's right elbow were clean, and Carrasco is scheduled to make his next start Saturday, pending how he throws and feels in a bullpen session Wednesday. Carrasco was removed from his last start, Sunday in Minnesota, after three innings due to tightness in his elbow.
--OF Shin-Soo Choo, who has hit .300 in each of the last two years, entered Tuesday's game hitting .207, but manager Manny Acta said it's still too early to be worried. "If he's hitting .200 at the All-Star break, then I'll be concerned," Acta said. Choo went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and an RBI groundout Tuesday.
--LHP Nick Hagadone, acquired from Boston as part of the Victor Martinez trade two years ago, was selected the Indians' minor league player of the week. Hagadone pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for Class AA Akron, striking out eight and walking one. For the season overall, Hagadone hasn't allowed a run in 13 2/3 innings, and opponents are batting .149 against him.
BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- Consecutive wins by the Indians at Progressive Field. It's the Indians' longest home winning streak since they won eight in a row at home in April and May of 2007.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He was overpowering at times." -- Manager Manny Acta, on RHP Justin Masterson, who pitched into the seventh inning to pick up the win, improving his record in five starts to 5-0 in a 9-4 Indians victory over Kansas City on Tuesday night.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Carlos Carrasco (right elbow tightness) left his start April 24 start after three innings. An MRI showed no structural damage. If he has no problems in an April 27 bullpen session, he will start April 30.
--RHP Mitch Talbot (strained right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 12.
--3B Jason Donald (broken left hand) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Akron on April 10, and moved his rehab to Class AAA Columbus on April 14. He likely will miss the season's first month.
--INF Jared Goedert (strained abdominal muscle) went on the 60-day disabled list March 30.
--OF Trevor Crowe (right shoulder surgery in March 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 30. He will be out until at least late July.