If Justin Masterson keeps pitching like he did Tuesday night, he could keep his spot in the Indians' rotation for 2011.
UPDATED: 11:21 p.m.
Working into the eighth inning and allowing just one run to the Chicago White Sox, Justin Masterson made another strong pitch toward keeping his starter's role in 2011 on Tuesday night. "Going into next year, I think I'm a starter," said Masterson. "We've put together some good ones."• Manny Ramirez joins the White Sox
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last week, Justin Masterson said he felt as if he'd done enough to be considered a starter for next season. Tuesday night he pitched like it.
There is much debate about Masterson. Is he a starter or reliever? Boston reportedly tried to reacquire him just before the July 31 trade deadline to make him a set-up man again.
Tuesday night he was all starter. Hard-luck starter, true, as A.J. Pierzynski hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Frank Herrmann to give the White Sox a 4-3 victory over the Indians.
While Masterson was in the game, however, he was large and in charge. He and Chicago right-hander Edwin Jackson were a sight to behold.
Masterson took a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning. He walked Mark Kotsay to start the inning. Brent Lillbridge pinch ran and went to second on Alexei Ramirez's sacrifice bunt. Mark Teahen singled to center to make it 1-1. When Masterson walked Juan Pierre, he was done.
Jackson (3-0, 4.37) kept pitching. He struck out 11 and was one strike away from his second complete game of the season when the Indians staged a rally that almost matched Pierzynski's tie-breaking blast. Jason Donald hit a two-run single to make it 4-3 and end Jackson's night. Closer Bobby Jenks relieved and pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta singled.
The rally ended when Michael Brantley bounced back to Jenks for the final out and Jenks' 25th save. Jackson allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked one and threw 129 pitches. It's the second-most pitches he's thrown this season. He threw 149 on June 25 when he no-hit Tampa Bay while pitching for Arizona.
"I'm extremely proud of these guys," said manager Manny Acta. "We're facing a team that was in first place and is battling for the division. We've got six kids playing for the first time in the big leagues and we just continue to put up a fight."
The fight reached the final round in the ninth. Joe Smith (1-2) started the inning by walking Alex Rios. He struck out Paul Konerko, but walked Carlos Quentin. With Pierzynski waiting at the plate, and Manny Ramirez on deck to pinch hit, Acta didn't have a lefty to counter Pierzynski.
In came the right-handed Herrmann. Lefties are hitting .329 (24-for-73) against him and Pierzynski showed why. He hit Herrmann's 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a 4-1 lead. It was the fourth homer Herrmann has allowed to a left-hander this season.
"I was ahead 0-1 and tried to throw a slider in the dirt," said Herrmann. "I left it up and he made me pay."
Masterson allowed one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two in 102 pitches.
"It was an outstanding effort by Masterson," said Acta. "Especially with the state our bullpen is in. He really went deep and saved us."
This was one of those nights where Masterson showed that the Indians' commitment to start him this season was not in vain. He's allowed three runs in 13 2/3 innings over his last two starts. This is how he pitched against Boston on June 9 and Aug. 4. He did the same thing against the Yankees on May 30 in the Bronx and against Toronto on July 1.
"Nights like tonight keep a lot of people thinking he could be a pretty good starter," said Acta. "He hasn't had the great year, but he's had a few games like this."
Masterson is 5-12 with a 5.04 ERA.
"Going into next year, I think I'm a starter," said Masterson. "We've put together some good ones. We've shown when we repeat ourselves we can throw strikes and keep us in the ballgame."
Shelley Duncan's leadoff homer in the seventh gave the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
"The way Justin was throwing I was hoping that would be enough," said Duncan. "But Jackson was filthy. He was throwing 98 mph fastball with a filthy slider."
The Indians have walked more batters than any team in the AL. Masterson's leadoff walk in the eighth and Smith's two walks in the ninth showed how painful they can be.
"We doomed ourselves with the walks," said Acta.
The Indians ended August with a 10-18 record. They have lost 16 of their last 22 games.