The
losingest pitcher in the National League last year is now one of the
winningest pitchers in the American League. So far, the Indians are
quite happy with their offseason trade for Derek Lowe.
Lowe
pitched six solid innings Thursday night to get the win in the Indians'
8-3 victory over Boston. Pitching in his former home park, against one
of his former teams, Lowe held the Red Sox to two runs on nine hits with
three strikeouts and one walk.
With the win, Lowe improved to
5-1 with a 2.47 ERA. The five wins tie Lowe with four other pitchers for
the AL lead. Lowe's numbers are in contrast to his record last year
with Atlanta, for whom he was 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA.
The Indians
acquired Lowe in a trade for a minor league pitcher, with the idea that
he could bring some experience, durability and dependability to their
rotation. The 38-year-old veteran has done exactly that in the early
going.
Lowe started the season as the No. 3 starter, but his numbers look more like those of a No. 1 starter.
"Anyone
can be your No. 1 once the season begins," manager Manny Acta said.
"Derek has done a good job of picking up for Ubaldo (Jimenez) and Justin
(Masterson) and giving them time to put it back together."
Masterson
and Jimenez began the season as the No. 1 and No. 2 starters,
respectively, but both have struggled. That has made Lowe's fast start
even more important because he has picked up some of the slack. Had Lowe
gotten off to a poor start, too, it would be difficult to imagine the
Indians being where they are in the standings, in first place in the AL
Central.
NOTES, QUOTES
--CF Michael Brantley became the
third Indians player to have a four-hit game this season when he had two
doubles and two singles in five at bats in the Indians' 8-3 win at
Boston. 2B Jason Kipnis and SS Asdrubal Cabrera have also had four-hit
games this season.
--RHP Derek Lowe pitched six solid innings to
get the win against his former team, an 8-3 victory over the Red Sox in
Boston. Lowe, who lost an NL-high 17 games last year with Atlanta, is
tied for the AL lead in wins with a 5-1 record. "Derek knows how to
pitch with the lead," manager Manny Acta said. "He had a lot of traffic
on the bases but made pitches when he had to."
--LHP Nick
Hagadone, since his recall from Class AAA Columbus on April 17, has
pitched his way into a prominent late-inning role. In a combined 14
appearances between Cleveland and Columbus, Hagadone has a 0.51 ERA,
allowing one earned run in 17 2/3 innings while holding opposing batters
to a .121 batting average. He threw a scoreless ninth inning Thursday
to close out the Indians' 8-3 win at Boston.
--2B Jason Kipnis
was 2-for-5 with a home run in the Indians' 8-3 win over Boston. That
raised Kipnis' career batting average vs. Boston to .381 (8-for-21) with
four home runs.
--1B Casey Kotchman has rebounded from a
horrendous month of April to a have much better month of May
offensively. Kotchman, who hit .149 in April, is batting .308 in May.
--3B
Jack Hannahan, who did not play Wednesday due to a sore left groin, was
back in the starting lineup Thursday. He went 2-for-4 with a two-run
homer.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10-3 -- The Indians' road record, the best in the majors.
QUOTE
TO NOTE: "Michael hit everything from everybody." -- Manager Manny
Acta, on CF Michael Brantley, who was 4-for-5 with two doubles, two
singles and two RBI in the Indians' 8-3 win over Boston.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--3B Jack Hannahan (sore left groin) did not play May 9. He was back in the starting lineup May 10.
--OF
Grady Sizemore (back surgery in March 2012) went on the 60-day disabled
list April 4. He was cleared to begin baseball activities in late
April, and as of May 9, was continuing his rehab at Progressive Field.
He might be able to return as soon as he is eligible.
--LHP Rafael Perez (strained left lat muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 26.
--RHP
Carlos Carrasco (Tommy John surgery in September 2011) went on the
60-day disabled list March 26. He might miss the entire season.
