Carrasco strong in defeat
CLEVELAND — Carlos Carrasco has ditched the training wheels.
The Cleveland Indians pitcher has cleared every hurdle in his journey back to full strength, as he valiantly demonstrated Friday night at Progressive Field. Sometimes, though, it requires more than an admirable effort on the mound to secure a victory.
Cleveland’s bats turned to ice on a brisk, soggy evening, and the Mariners opened the series with a 3-1 win.
The loss doesn’t accurately depict Carrasco’s performance, as the right-hander limited Seattle to three runs and six hits over eight innings. In his last outing, Carrasco — who was limited during spring training because of elbow soreness — blanked the White Sox for eight innings.
He boasts a 2.04 ERA this season, with only 21 hits allowed and seven walks across 35 innings.
Carrasco (2-2) committed only two gaffes Friday.
Robinson Cano tagged him for a two-run home run in the fourth inning on a 93-mph heater on the inside corner. Two innings later, Ben Gamel deposited a fastball beyond the right-field fence.
Otherwise, Carrasco was effective. He didn’t walk a batter and he limited the final five batters in the Mariners’ order to a pair of harmless singles in 15 at-bats.
Of course, run prevention means little without run creation.
Jose Ramirez authored the only Tribe highlight at the plate, and it didn’t come to fruition until after a crew-chief review. Ramirez’s sixth home run of the season narrowly cleared the yellow line atop the 19-foot-high wall in left field. Ramirez initially stopped at second base as the umpires had ruled against a home run.
A 41-second review resulted in an overturned call and in Cleveland’s only run.
Seattle’s pitchers looked sharp, too. Left-hander Ariel Miranda (2-2), who had never faced the Tribe, held Cleveland to one run on two hits over 5 innings. Mariners hurlers amassed 12 strikeouts. Edwin Encarnacion and Ramirez struck out three times apiece.