The Indians' starting pitching is starting to improve.
Tribe starter Jeanmar Gomez allowed two runs in six innings Sunday, another quality start for the Indians' pitching staff. Seattle -- The Indians still aren't winning a whole lot of games, but their starting pitching is getting better.
Rookie right-hander Jeanmar Gomez allowed two runs in six innings in Sunday's 3-0 loss to Seattle. Gomez filled in for Justin Masterson, who left the team because of a family matter. It's the sixth time in eight big-league starts that Gomez has allowed two or fewer runs.
In the four-game series with the Mariners, Indians starters Josh Tomlin, Fausto Carmona, Mitch Talbot and Gomez went 2-2 with a 2.03 ERA (six earned runs in 26 innings). They did it against the lowest scoring team in the American League, but the numbers still count.
In the last 11 games, Tribe starters are 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (25 earned runs in 70 innings).
"Our starting pitching continues to give us a chance," said manager Manny Acta. "These guys are going out there. They're getting deep into the game and not allowing the other team to jump on top of us and force us to use the bullpen.
"It's a nice trend so far. In this series, the four starters threw the ball well. I hope we can take this into Anaheim and build on it."
Tomlin, Carmona, Talbot and Gomez threw quality starts against Seattle -- allowing three or fewer runs in six innings. Tomlin, Talbot and Gomez threw at least 67 percent of their pitches for strikes. Carmona, who lost 1-0 Friday, threw 61 percent (63-for-103) of his pitches for strikes.
Head to head: Asdrubal Cabrera and Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez had a good give-and-take going Sunday.
In the first inning, Cabrera sent a liner back to the mound that Hernandez had to catch in self-defense. If he didn't, the ball would have been in center field for a single.
Advantage, Hernandez.
In the eighth, Cabrera lined another ball straight at Hernandez. This time it knocked him over as Cabrera beat out an infield hit.
Advantage, Cabrera.
It was Cabrera's second career hit in 11 at-bats against Hernandez.
"He was pretty good," said Cabrera, referring to Hernandez's eight scoreless innings. "I was afraid I'd hit him [with the second line drive]. He's very aggressive. He likes to intimidate hitters." Stop thief: Indians catchers have done a good job slowing the opposition's running game this season.
Lou Marson leads AL catchers with a 33.9 (20-for-59) percent success rate throwing out potential base stealers. Backup Chris Gimenez is at 30 percent (7-for-23) and Carlos Santana, before he was injured, threw out 29 percent (9-for-31) of the base stealers he faced.
First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. is the Indians' catching instructor.
Alomar stresses footwork first because "your arm is always going to be there." He has Marson and Gimenez turn double plays at second base to get their feet and hands working together.
Marson has been a catcher since his senior year in high school. He knows the ins and outs of the position.
Gimenez is a utility player, who is still new to catching.
"I used to reach out to get the ball," said Gimenez, 1-for-3 throwing out runners Sunday against Seattle. "Sandy has worked with me to wait until the ball gets to me, catch it and then push the ball and the glove into my throwing hand.
"It's a continuous arm motion and it has locked everything in for me. I feel like everything is synched up."
Said Alomar: "He's been doing a good job. The most important thing is to be accurate. That's the thing I try to tell all our catchers, 'Don't try to rush. Just keep your same composed throw all the time and eventually you're going to be throwing guys out.' " Finally: The Indians made three errors, two by third baseman Jayson Nix and one by Cabrera, to give them 103 for the season. Cabrera has 10 and Nix 14. He's made nine with the Indians.