Losing stretch does not shake Francona's belief

CLEVELAND — Terry Francona might have raised eyebrows when he talked this week about his Cleveland Indians team as it came off seven losses in eight games, including five in a row.

Francona actually said he felt better about the Indians after the losing streak than he did before it started.

And he made that statement before the Indians won two in a row at Progressive Field over the Cincinnati Reds — 7-1 on Thursday — and after the Indians had blown late leads and seen their closer go on the disabled list.

“I’ve seen the fight in them,” Francona said. “And we’re pulling together.”

Pollyana? Not based on the last two nights results.

On May 20, the Indians left town after four wins over Seattle, two on dramatic home runs. They were 26-17. But they went 1-7 on the road trip and returned with the second-half collapse ghosts getting off their chairs to start rattling some chains.

The Indians didn’t let them in.

“There was no fear,” pitcher Justin Masterson said after beating the Reds in the first of two games on Wednesday. Thursday night it was Scott Kazmir going seven innings and giving up just one run, proving yet again that a losing streak lasts as long as the starting pitching.

“The Indians have been hitting since the beginning of time,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It’s just a matter of how they pitch. They’ve got an improved team, big-time. They’re not the same team we faced last year.”

And Francona was not shy about his feelings.

“Through this tough week, I’ve grown to have more appreciation for our ball club; I think we’re getting better,” Francona said.

Kazmir had his longest outing since May of 2010 and got Joey Votto to ground into a bases-loaded double-play in the third. In the fourth, the Indians got six hits in a row with two outs to score seven times, giving them a league-best 114 runs scored with two outs.

Those are the things Francona looks at when judging his team. A win or a loss can come down to a good pitch or good play — the same bullpen that blew leads recently was holding them earlier — but smart and consistent baseball in the long run will be to a team’s benefit.

Walk into the Indians clubhouse before the last two games, and the same things were happening that were happening during the winning streak. Some guys played cards. Mark Reynolds sat impassively at his locker. Pitchers would amble through to get ready. Michael Bourn would joke with a teammate.

There was no sign that anything had changed (though in the 50 minutes the media are allowed in it might not always show).

The consistency is what Francona wants, and advocates.

“From a staff, the more consistent we are I think it makes it easier to play the game,” he said. “Sometimes the game is hard. Sometimes it’s harder than others. So I think as a staff if we’re consistent that helps.

“And to be honest with you, you know there’s ups and downs during the year. You just know it. It doesn’t make the downs any easier. You just have to fight through it. And the more you fight, you’ll get through it.

“I’m confident that we will.”

Francona mentioned Bourn diving for a ball in the outfield with the Indians way behind, or Nick Swisher hustling to first with the team losing after a dropped strike three.

“Things like that you hang your hat on,” Francona said.

He was proud of his team beating the Phillies when they were worn out after a long stretch, and for beating Boston in the first game at Fenway after losing to Detroit and arriving in Boston at 4 in the morning.

“We haven’t allowed ourselves to get tired mentally,” Francona said.

After Thursday, he could have mentioned disciplined at-bats with two outs, or Bourn beating out an infield ground ball with a six-run lead.

“Yeah, we make mistakes,” he said. “Everybody does. But I’m very proud of their effort and I’m very appreciative.”

He even hinted that at some point he might look back and say that losing stretch taught him more about his team than the winning weeks.

“People talk about chemistry and things like that; I think when you’re going through difficult periods, that’s when you find out about chemistry,” Francona said. “That’s when you get tested. In my opinion, and I get to see it in a different perspective than a lot of people, I think we’re coming through with flying colors.”