Tomlin injury puts more strain on struggling rotation

The Indians lost 12-1 to Boston Sunday. It was the Indians' third loss in a row. That marked the first time this season that the Indians have lost three games in a row.

The losing streak coincides with some upheaval in the Indians' starting rotation that does not bode well for the immediate future. On Saturday the Indians placed right-hander Josh Tomlin on the disabled list with a sore right wrist.

The loss of Tomlin compounds the woes of a rotation already struggling with two under-performing Nos. 1 and 2 starters, Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. In losing Sunday to the Red Sox, Masterson, the Indians' opening-day starter, gave up six runs in six innings as his record fell to 1-3 and his ERA rose to 5.40.

Masterson and Jimenez now have a combined record of 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA. Jimenez is 3-3 with a 5.18 ERA. The combined numbers of Masterson and Jimenez look more like what would be expected of the Nos. 4 and 5 starters in a rotation, not the Nos. 1 and 2 starters.

Masterson was a 12-game winner last year, and just two years ago with Colorado Jimenez was a 19-game winner and the starter for the National League in the All-Star Game. Coming into this season, Indians officials believed they basically had two No. 1 starters at the top of their rotation.

Six weeks into the season, neither Masterson nor Jimenez has performed like a No. 1 starter. Couple the slow starts of Masterson and Jimenez with the loss of Tomlin to injury and the Indians' starting rotation is facing its first crisis of the season. Team officials must hope Tomlin's stay on the DL will be short, and that Masterson and Jimenez quickly start pitching to the level that was expected at the start of the season.

NOTES, QUOTES

--RHP Zach McAllister struck out a career-high eight, with no walks, over seven innings, but still got tagged with a 4-1 loss to Boston Saturday. McAllister is replacing injured RHP Josh Tomlin in the rotation. "He's a big strong kid. I could see him being a durable 120-pitch guy," said manager Manny Acta of McAllister, who was 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts at Class AAA Columbus.

--INF Jose Lopez's contract has been purchased from Class AAA Columbus. He replaces INF Jason Donald, who was optioned to Columbus, as the Indians' utilityman. Lopez started the year with the Indians, but was demoted on May 3 to Columbus, where in six games he hit .522 (12-for-23), with four doubles and four RBI.

--RHP Justin Masterson's record fell to 1-3 and his ERA soared to 5.20 Sunday as he gave up six runs in six innings in a 12-1 loss to Boston. "He was inconsistent in throwing quality strikes," said manager Manny Acta. "Eight of the 16 left-handed hitters he faced reached base. When he's not locating, left-handers hurt him. That's what happened today." After going 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA last year Masterson is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA this year.

--OF Michael Brantley was the Indians' only dependable hitter in the Boston series, during which the Indians lost three of four games. Brantley, however, hit .500 (9-for-18), with four doubles and four RBI in the series.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5.40 -- RHP Justin Masterson's ERA through his first eight starts. Masterson's ERA through his first eight starts last year was 2.73.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Michael Brantley carried the whole load. We need to get one, two or three guys hot at the same time." -- Manager Manny Acta on the team's struggling offense, after the Indians were outscored 16-2 in losses to Boston Saturday and Sunday.