CLEVELAND, Ohio – Early run support can be a starting pitcher’s best friend.
The Indians’ offense spotted Jean Carlos Mejia three of them in Monday night’s 4-3 win over the Orioles.
While he didn’t factor into the official decision, he left the game with the Indians up 3-2 in the fourth inning and handed his bullpen a lead they did not relinquish.
It was a stark contrast from his last outing, where he only lasted 2/3 of an inning against the Cardinals and frankly, the Indians will need more of Monday’s version of their 24-year-old pitcher.
“I think I was basically able to execute my pitches better this time,” Mejia said. “The key was in preparation. I had that confidence I was going to do my best and also the confidence that my teammates would do their best to help me out.”
Prior to the game, manager Terry Francona said the Indians would have to get creative with how they utilize their pitching staff after losing ace Shane Bieber to the 10-day Injured List.
That could mean pulling pitches early, throwing arms on short rest, anything to keep the ship afloat as the Tribe endures a storm of injuries.
“We’re going to have to play it by ear every night. If a guy is rolling and we stay with him, that’s okay, too. Just know that he’s not going to be available for a while,” Francona said.
The Indians have used 10 starting pitchers already this season. The team used 8 starters during the 60-game, pandemic shortened season in 2020 and 12 starters during the last full season of 2019.
Mejia’s start didn’t come without a few tense moments. He threw a wild pitch in the first inning and bounced another slider in front of the plate.
The defense picked him up in the second and third innings, with a pair of double plays before he found a little trouble in the fourth inning.
After surrendering a leadoff walk to Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander immediately followed with a double that put runners at second and third with no outs.
A pair of groundouts pushed two runs across the plate, but Mejia recovered with a strikeout of Ryan Mountcastle to preserve the Indians lead. It was also the end of his night.
“I thought his fastball had life. I thought he kept it down in the zone, it allowed him to get the double plays,” Francona said. “He got through four innings, and we probably could’ve gotten another one but we’re trying to keep him available for Friday.”
Nick Sandlin earned the win for the Indians, earning the first victory of his career.
Sandlin will be one of the arms Francona looks to when looking for innings to eat. Monday night tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out three.
“We’ve had some guys go down recently and we’ve been kind of banged up,” Sandlin said. “I think we’ve been resilient all year, it shows in some of the comeback wins.”
One of those was just two days ago, and the bullpen again played a starring role. After Triston McKenzie couldn’t make it out of the first inning, the relieves had a tough task ahead of them
“That’s our job, to be ready whenever the phone rings. Whether it’s for one out or three innings, it doesn’t matter,” Sandlin continued.
Even Emmanuel Clase saw action for the first time in six days. The Indians closer came into slam the door for his 10th save of the season. But with the pitching staff currenly in “figure it out as we go” mode, his deployment could be changing in the coming days, too.
“We’re asking a lot of young guys to do things that maybe they haven’t done before, pitching on short rest, or starting a game but not being terribly stretched out,” Francona said.
NOTES – Jose Ramirez finished the night 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
His RBI double in the second innings proved to be the game-winning run and it came after Orioles' 2B Stevie Wilkerson dropped what would've been a pop-out in foul territory. Two pitches later, Ramirez laced a double to right field that scored Cesar Hernandez.
-Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was ejected after arguing an overturned managerial challenge by Cleveland. A pitch to Amed Rosario was initially called a foul ball, but Rosario was awarded first base on a hit by pitch when video replay confirmed the ball hit Rosario in the hand. It appeared Hyde took issue with whether or not Rosario swung.