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Season is rehearsal for Indians pitcher, who has third save
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Aug 18, 2008
CLEVELAND: Jensen Lewis: closer.
Sounds pretty good to Jensen Lewis. Some day, it might happen. Technically, it already has, but that's just this season, which is kind of a rehearsal for the future.
Lewis earned his third save of the season the hard way Sunday, as the Indians beat the Angels 4-3 at Progressive Field.
With Grady Sizemore playing very deep to prevent a ball going over his head for a double, Juan Rivera dumped a single into shallow center to lead off the ninth. After a bunt moved him to second, pinch hitter Kendry Morales singled to center, and Rivera had to hold at third.
Lewis warmed to the task and retired the side without allowing the tying run.
''Jensen was outstanding,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''You talk about the definition of a save, that's it. He showed a lot of moxie out there.''
Lewis recognized that he had come through a tough situation unscathed.
''In degree of difficulty, that probably was as high as it gets,'' he said. ''But if Jeremy [Sowers] doesn't do what he did, we don't win that game.''
Lewis cagily brought Sowers' name into the conversation for a reason. Sowers pitched 62/3 innings to get the win. Moreover, Sowers and Lewis were teammates at Vanderbilt.
''We haven't picked Jeremy up all year,'' Lewis said, referring to the bullpen's deficiencies. ''I went out there with the idea that he was going to lose this game over my dead body.
''This is like going back to our college days, when Jeremy would start and I would finish. I told him after the anthem that 'this is your day, and I'm going to finish it.' ''
In his past eight appearances, Lewis has given up no runs in 92/3 innings and has earned all three of his saves. By default, Wedge handed Lewis the ball recently to see whether he could close games.
''He has definitely stepped up for us in his last four or five outings,'' Wedge said. ''I think he wants this; he has the personality. The question is whether he can handle it (long term).
''But this is a great test for him. Even before we put him in the closer role, he was pitching effectively for us.''
How does Lewis feel about his current job?
''This is awesome,'' he said. ''When you're given the opportunity, you want to get the side out and shake everybody's hand. Then everybody goes home happy.''
But Lewis is not counting on winning the closer derby for 2009.
''I leave all those decisions to the important people,'' he said.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: Jensen Lewis: closer.
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