Cruz’ Big Night Powers Texas

Written by: Michael Taylor on 9th April 2009

Cruz' Big Night Powers Texas | read this item

This is not how the season script was written up to start for the Indians. The Tribe’s two top pitchers were to carry the rotation, but after a second straight poor outing from first, Ciff Lee, and now Fausto Carmona, the Indians may have indeed have to worry about their rotation, just not in the back-end of the rotation, at least not yet. The Rangers again made Indians pitchers look silly, powering past the Tribe by a final score of 8-5 at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Carmona was inconsistent with his delivery and at times it left him leaving the ball up and out over the plate against both left-handers and right-handers alike. Carmona, who has a career .238 batting average against versus right-handed batters, allowed four of his seven hits against the righties, including three extra base hits.

The biggest of which was Nelson Cruz’ 414-foot blast over the left-center field wall to lead off the second inning. That hit seemed to be a momentum switcher, forcing Carmona to lose some concentration on a basic come-backer to the mound off of the bat of Elvis Andrus with runners at second and third. Carmona got himself caught in between and watched the play as first baseman Ryan Garko tried to make a running, sliding attempt to get back to first base after fielding the ball, but Andrus made it safely to the base, with both runners advancing on the play. It turned out cost the Indians an extra run, following an Ian Kinsler double, Michael Young grounded out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta scoring Andrus.

But it was not just in the second inning where Carmona ran into trouble, after retiring eight out of nine batters in a row entering the fifth, Michael Young doubled down into the left field corner just ahead of the sweet swinging lefty Josh Hamilton strolled to the plate. He then tripled up the alley in right center field on a Carmona offering in the middle of the zone to extend the Rangers lead to 5-1. The Rangers would score one more off of Carmona in the inning on a Nelson Cruz fielders choice before Carmona was finished for the evening, trailing 6-1.

He finished the evening pitching five innings giving up six runs on seven hits, while striking out four and walking just two.

The Indians would battle back in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run home run by Ben Francisco to cut the lead to 6-3, but the Indians bullpen could not hold the Rangers. Indians relievers Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez each gave up solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings respectively.

The home run allowed by Perez in the eighth was the second hit by Nelson Cruz on the night, a titanic blast that reached the middle deck in left field at the Ballpark in Arlington. He became just the 11th player in ballpark history to hit a ball into that section of the stadium.

Despite three errors on the night defensively, the Rangers were able to buckle down and hold the Indians rallies to a minimum. Rangers pitchers limited the Indians to 1-16 with runners in scoring position, while stranding 10 base runners. The Indians had their opportunities, but some key batters – such as Asdrubal Cabrera with the bases loaded in the fourth inning – striking out in vital situations killed rallies.

Rangers starter Vicente Padilla went 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits to gets the win (1-0). Fausto Carmona gets the loss (0-1), and Rangers closer Frank Francisco notched his first save of the season (1).

The two teams will go at it again on Thursday afternoon, 2:05 ET. The Indians will send Carl Pavano to the mound to make his Indians debut, and the Rangers will counter with right-hander Brandon McCarthy.

Topics: Fausto Carmona, Game Report, Nelson Cruz, Vicente Padilla