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Reyes strong for five innings. Bullpen, including Betancourt, finishes job. Garko, Sizemore power offense
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
CLEVELAND: The Kansas City Royals are still in the chase, but things are getting dicey.
They arrived at Progressive Field 11/2 games behind the fourth-place Indians, but after a 9-4 defeat Tuesday night, they trail the Tribe by 21/2 games in the Central Division also-ran race.
This isn't the kind of game the networks fight to show to the country and no, you couldn't cut the tension with a knife. In fact, if there were such a thing as a tension detector with a computerized voice, it probably would have groaned, ''You talkin' to me?''
So more important than the standings, from the Tribe's perspective, was the performance of starter Anthony Reyes. Manager Eric Wedge limited Reyes to five innings and 84 pitches, even though he threw 61/3 and six innings in his first two starts for the Indians. Why?
''He worked pretty hard and the bullpen is rested, so I thought it was a good time to get him out of there,'' Wedge said. ''We've kept him to 80-90 pitches in all of his starts.''
Reyes didn't seem to mind that he left the game early.
''I just go out and pitch until they tell me not to do it anymore,'' he said.
As in his previous two outings, Reyes put several runners on base but mostly pitched out of trouble. The Royals nicked him for six hits, including two doubles, and he issued three walks, yet allowed only two runs.
''I think I'm getting there,'' Reyes said. ''I got in a lot of bad habits the last couple of years, so coming here gives me a chance to get rid of them. I'm pretty happy the way I'm pitching. I'm throwing strikes, and I'm throwing the ball where I want to.''
In the first inning, Reyes gave up a run but pitched out of a one-out, runner-on-second jam. In the third, he threw a double-play ball with runners on first and second and one out. In the fourth, the Royals put runners on second and third with two outs, but Reyes struck out Jason Smith.
Reyes gave up a single and a walk to start the fifth, then retired the next three hitters on two ground balls and a fly to
center, though a run scored on the second bouncer.
''I felt like he had to work early on, and he handled it pretty well,'' Wedge said. ''He has some feel out there. He has a good idea of what he wants to do with the ball.''
So what should the Tribe's deep thinkers make of Reyes? Is he a legitimate candidate to make the rotation out of spring training next March?
Obviously, there is no reason to make a decision now, but with a 2-1 record and 2.60 ERA, he is putting himself in position to challenge for a roster spot. He has shown a live fastball and at times a nasty slider and change-up.
Wedge is trying to expand his two-man bullpen — Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis — to three. So after Brendan Donnelly gave up a run in the sixth in relief of Reyes, Perez pitched a scoreless seventh.
In the eighth, it was Rafael Betancourt's turn, Betancourt being the third pitcher Wedge is trying to resuscitate.
(Donnelly is in a different position. Having come off serious arm surgery, he is being given a chance to sharpen his command and regain his arm strength.)
So far, the manager's reclamation of Betancourt is succeeding; he retired the side in order, striking out one batter. Betancourt has not given up a run in his past three appearances, a span of five innings.
''I think he's throwing the ball better,'' Wedge said. ''He's using all his pitches; he has a real good fastball, and he's mixing in some pretty good breaking balls. To me, he looks like he's really figuring out what he has to do to be consistent. It's been a tough year for him, but we hope he can finish strong.''
Tuesday night was the first time he had been permitted to pitch with a lead in the eighth inning since June 20, when he made his entrance holding a 4-0 advantage, with one on and one out. He gave up an RBI double to the only batter he faced.
The Indians received most of their run production from the people who are supposed to do that kind of thing. Ryan Garko hit his 10th home run of the year with nobody on in the fourth and was on base with a single in the second when Kelly Shoppach doubled him home.
Grady Sizemore put the game out of reach in the seventh with a three-run homer to give the Tribe a 7-3 advantage. It was Sizemore's 28th home run of the season.
''Grady has been the one constant in a very trying season,'' Wedge said.
Franklin Gutierrez contributed two hits, including an RBI double. In his past 15 games, he is batting .354.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: The Kansas City Royals are still in the chase, but things are getting dicey.
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