After CC Sabathia left the game in the fourth inning, the Indians used six relief pitchers. This was their collective line:
7.2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 13 SO
Last year, there were maybe two guys I wanted to see in with the game on the line. This year, I don’t care who comes out of the right field bullpen; they all are pitching well.
Aaron Boone looks to have found his hitting stroke again; he had good at-bats tonight, and of course the payoff for him came in the 11th inning. I’ve been ripping on him all year, so I have give credit where it’s due.
Alex Cora better get used to pinch running and being a late-inning defensive replacement, because that’s all he’ll be doing for a while. Jhonny Peralta’s 9th inning home run off Brandon Fuentes (who by the way, has one of the weirdest deliveries I’ve seen) was a great piece of hitting.
After the game the Indians announced a couple transactions, neither of which are too shocking:
Reinstated RHSP Kevin Millwood from the 15-day Disabled List
Optioned RHP Jason Davis to Buffalo (AAA)
Davis needs regular innings, and he’s not going to get them pitching in long relief. I would guess Davis is still starting, although the Bisons might utilize a “tandem starting” system, seeing that they now have seven starters on their roster. I believe they did this the other night, as Kyle Denney pitched the first five innings, and then manager Marty Brown brought in Steve Watkins to start the sixth. Getting Millwood back is obviously a good thing. Kevin didn’t go out on a rehab assignment, so he might be on a pitch count tomorrow. Scott Elarton would probably be available if need be.