UPDATED: Josh Tomlin, even in defeat, shows promise as a starting pitcher. The Indians rookie loses his first big-league game Thursday night because of one bad inning, but makes an impressive recovery.
View full sizePitcher Josh Tomlin was making just his third start for the Indians on Thursday against the Red Sox in Boston.Updated at 11:21 p.m.
BOSTON, Mass. — One bad pitch, delivered in one bad inning, made rookie Josh Tomlin a loser for the first time in the big leagues, but it was the way he recovered that caught the attention of Indians manager Manny Acta and pitching coach Tim Belcher.
Tomlin retired 10 straight batters before the game turned left and he turned right Thursday night at Fenway Park. The result was a grand slam by Adrian Beltre as Boston beat the Indians, 6-2, to split the four-game series against the last-place team from the AL Central.
The Red Sox are trying to remain a factor in the postseason race. They are six games out of first place in the AL East and 5 1/2 games out of the wild card. The Indians made them sweat from the first to the last out of the series.
"I'm proud of my guys," said Acta. "Especially coming in here and being able to split against a club as good as the Red Sox."
Marco Scutaro gave Boston its first hit with a one-out single in the fourth after Tomlin (1-1, 2.79 ERA) opened the game with 10 straight outs. Tomlin retired David Ortiz for the second out, but Victor Martinez and J.D. Drew worked him for walks to load the bases.
After a visit from pitching coach Tim Belcher, Beltre sent a 1-0 pitch over The Green Monster for a 4-1 lead. It was Beltre's eighth career slam and fourth homer against the Indians this year. Three of them came in this series.
"I lost it for a few hitters right there," said Tomlin. "Got out of my game a little bit. That's what happens when you walk two people."
Tomlin, pitching out of the stretch for the first time in the game, said he was out of balance a bit after Scutaro's single.
"I just got ahead of myself," said Tomlin. "I was rushing."
Belcher told Tomlin to relax and get ahead of Beltre. It was easier said than done.
"The pitch to Beltre was a fastball in the middle and a little bit up," said Tomlin.
Tomlin recovered nicely. He held the Red Sox to one hit in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. For the night, he allowed four runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.
"I'll tell you what, the kid can pitch," said Belcher. "He's got great focus. You give up a grand slam in Fenway Park and go back out there and pitch as well as he did, that's pretty impressive.
"That's just moxie. He's mentally tough. That's what it takes to stay here and pitch well. I look forward to seeing him do that."
It was the only run the Indians scored off Matsuzaka (8-3, 3.96) over eight innings. He's 2-0 against the Tribe this season, allowing one run in 16 innings. He's 4-1 in his career against the Indians.
"Dice-K was tough," said Acta. "We're not claiming to be an offensive-machine type of club, but he had good stuff. He was throwing in the low 90s and with the arsenal he has, he was very good tonight."
All of which made for a lonely night for Acta, who coached third base in place of suspended coach Steve Smith. Besides Choo, only one runner reached third base until the ninth inning.
"I've coached third my whole life," he said. "I enjoy it. The only thing I don't like is wearing that stupid helmet."
Boston added two more runs in the eighth on J.D. Drew's bases-loaded single off Frank Herrmann.
The Indians made it 6-2 on Luis Valbuena's single in the ninth. It knocked Hideki Okajima out of the game and forced Boston to use closer Jonathan Papelbon. It was a save situation because the tying run was on deck when he entered the game.
Papelbon struck out Andy Marte but walked Shelley Duncan to load the bases. He earned his 26th save by striking out Trevor Crowe.
The Indians had a chance to win their first season series from Boston since 2006. Instead, they went 4-4.
They missed a chance to win their first series in Boston since 2005. The Indians went 4-3 on the trip through Toronto and Boston.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158