The Indians have been all about hitting the baseball lately, but they've received some good work from their starting rotation as well.
View full sizeWith five shutout innings Wednesday, Trevor Bauer extended the recent series of solid efforts by the Indians' starting pitchers. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lost in the flurry of 33 runs and 45 hits accumulated during the Indians' offensive bender from Sunday through Tuesday was three quality starts by a rotation that ended April with a 5.09 ERA.
Corey Kluber started it Sunday night in the second game of a doubleheader against Kansas City. In his first start of the year, Kluber allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter in 97 pitches.
Ubaldo Jimenez followed Monday night against the Royals with seven scoreless innings for his first victory over the season. He struck out four, walked two and combined on a three-hitter with Nick Hagadone and Cody Allen.
Tuesday night, Zach McAllister allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings against the Phillies. He struck out four and walked one. The Indians won those games by scores of 10-3, 9-0 and 14-2, which would ease the stress on any starter. Still, it was the first time this year the rotation has produced three straight victories.
"I think Kluber started that," said pitching coach Mickey Callaway. "To go seven innings in his first start of the year, that set the tone for a lot of other guys ... especially guys who had been here and hadn't gone seven innings yet.
"There's a pride factor in guys in the rotation and wanting to live up to what other guys are doing."
Jimenez and McAllister went seven innings for the first time following Kluber's victory.
Testing, testing: Brett Myers, who opened the season in the rotation but is on the disabled list with inflammation and a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, will be re-examined this weekend to see if he can start a throwing program.
"They want me to rest for a few more days," Myers said Wednesday afternoon. "I felt it in spring training, but I thought the soreness would get out of there, but it never did.
"It just kept getting worse. I never felt it on the days I pitched. It's not like I was in pain when I was pitching, but the next couple of days after that weren't good for me. So it was affecting my throwing program."
Swisher update: Cleanup hitter Nick Swisher didn't play for the second straight game to rest his sore left shoulder. Swisher, counting Thursday's off day, will have three days' rest going into Friday's series opener against the Twins.
Swisher didn't know if he irritated the shoulder from bouncing back and forth between first base and right field.
"It could have been the swing," said Swisher. "We've been playing in some cold weather. I had a little bit of it in spring training and it went away."
Swisher was on the bench for Tuesday's seven homers against the Phillies.
"I was telling myself, 'I don't like this. These guys are bombing away. I better get back in there,'" he said. "We've got a good vibe going here."
Action, reaction: To clear a spot for Trevor Bauer, Hagadone was optioned to Class AAA Columbus. It was the second time Hagadone has been optioned this season. He has pitched well, striking out eight and walking six in 7 1/3 innings. He doesn't have a record, but owns a 2.45 ERA.
"We didn't want to send Nick down," said manager Terry Francona. "We had a short visit with him after the game on Tuesday to explain to him that unfortunately this is what we have to do."
Past power: Tuesday's long-ball celebration was the fourth game of at least seven homers in team history. Here's who went deep in those games.
July 17, 1966 vs. Detroit (7): Max Alvis, Chuck Hinton (two), Leon Wagner, Rocky Colavito (two), Bob Booker.
April 25, 1997 vs. Milwaukee (8): Matt Williams (three), Manny Ramirez, David Justice (two), Sandy Alomar Jr., Chad Curtis.
July 16, 2004 vs. Seattle (8): Victor Martinez (three), Travis Hafner, Casey Blake, Ben Broussard, Jody Gerut, Matt Lawton.
April 30, 2013 vs. Philadelphia (7): Ryan Raburn (two), Mark Reynolds, Carlos Santana, Drew Stubbs, Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall.