Indians starter Tomlin continues return to form

The news wasn’t all bad Sept. 25 at Progressive Field as the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 3-0.

By losing, they failed to capitalize on the opportunity to clinch the American League Central Division title, the franchise’s first in nine years, at home.

In regard to Indians starter Josh Tomlin, the news was all good despite his taking a tough-luck loss on a day when the Tribe’s offense managed only two hits against White Sox starter Carlos Rodon.

Tomlin (12-9, 4.48 ERA) limited the White Sox to two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He notched only one strikeout but didn’t walk a batter on 94 pitches, 70 of them strikes.

It was the third straight quality start for the 31-yearold right-hander from Texas since he returned to the rotation on Sept. 14 against the White Sox in Chicago. In those three starts, covering 18 1/3 innings, Tomlin has yielded four runs, three earned, on 14 hits.

“I’m happy about it because I’m at least giving

Online: Indians miss chance to clinch at home, but with this team, nothing comes easy. our team a chance to win,” Tomlin said. “That’s my job as a starting pitcher, to go as deep as I can into games and hold the opponents to as minimal runs as I can. To do that in a situation like we’re in right now is very meaningful for me.”

Tomlin was temporarily relegated to the bullpen after a disastrous August that produced six straight poor starts and five losses.

The difference since he returned to the rotation, Tomlin said, is execution.

“When I miss, I’m not missing over the heart of the plate, for the most part,” he said. “For me, it’s staying off the middle of the plate with four pitches to keep them off balance and try to make them pick a direction to go and get out in front of some stuff.”

With the playoffs in the immediate offing, Indians manager Terry Francona is relieved and encouraged by Tomlin’s bounce-back showings in September.

“His stuff had late movement today. It was crisp. I thought he was tremendous,” Francona said. “He’s bumped up (his pitch count) from 72 to 84 to 94. He’s building each start and holding his stuff. That’s really good.”