Indians' Carrasco not fazed as he dominates in first start of 2015
HOUSTON -- If Carlos Carrasco was feeling any stress about signing a contract extension, his wife having a baby two weeks ago or a report about his heart ailment last year, he certainly didn't show it.
In his first start of the season, Carrasco dominated with 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball and 10 strikeouts as the Indians beat the Astros 2-0 to pick up their first win of the season. It is the seventh time since 2001 that a Tribe starter has had a double-digit strikeout game in April.
"I just try to come out here and have fun," Carrasco said. "I don't try to worry about anything. I just try to do my job."
Since rejoining the rotation last August, Carrasco is 6-3 with a 1.20 ERA. In 75 1/3 innings, he has allowed only 11 runs (10 earned) with 88 strikeouts and only 12 walks. It was also the second straight time that the right-hander has posted a double-digit strikeout game against Houston. He struck out 10 in a complete-game win on Sept. 17.
"He just found himself and understood how good he was because he has unbelievable stuff," said Cody Allen, who got his first save. "He's just attacking guys and he's really good. He deserves everything he has got."
Before Wednesday's start, Carrasco was still in the headlines after telling Fox Sport's Ken Rosenthal that he underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic last October for heart palpitations. He also said that there was a recurrence during spring training that has been regulated through medication.
Carrasco told his story hours after signing a four-year extension worth $22 million. During the Indians' season-ending press conference last Sept. 29, general manager Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona said that there was a player who might need surgery. They did not address it further or reveal who it was because it was non-baseball related.
In discussing the matter with Cleveland reporters for the first time after the game, Carrasco said that he would feel it at home and sometimes on the way to the stadium but never when he was pitching. He also said that it showed up for the first time during a physical in 2011 and that doctors recommended him having the surgery at the end of last season.
"There was a little bit of a scare but everything is fine. I just take my pill," he said.
Because he had only one start over the final two weeks of spring training, Carrasco started to feel a little fatigued in the sixth inning. After Carrasco struck out Chris Carter to open the seventh, Terry Francona decided to put it in the hands of the bullpen, which took care of things the rest of the way.
"He came out with explosive stuff. Knowing how much he missed in spring training it wasn't surprising that he was tired but he pitched so well," Francona said.
Carrasco got strikeouts using every pitch in his arsenal, including three each with his slider and four-seam fastball. Early on, he was regularly hitting 97 and 98 on the radar gun with the four-seamer. Carrasco has regularly credited Corey Kluber as the impetus for his turnaround, and it was obvious that Carrasco followed the game plan well. In Monday's opener, Kluber held the Astros without a hit for 6 1/3 innings before he allowed two runs on three hits.
Wednesday night Carrasco ended up getting run support in the form of solo home runs by Carlos Santana and Mike Aviles.
For Carrasco, things should be a little more sedate going into his next start, which is likely to be on Tuesday against the White Sox. Considering how well Carrasco pitched against the Astros with everything happening around him, no one expects him to alter his approach now.
"I put my family first and I'm doing my job. Now everything is good," he said.
