Acta has four candidates for middle relief, but they've all been reluctant to do the job.
View full sizeJeriome Robertson, 33, who pitched for the Indians in 2004, died in a motorcycle crash Saturday in California.
DETROIT -- Manager Manny Acta is looking for a bridge builder. No, he's not looking for a politician to bring feuding sides together.
He's looking for a relief pitcher to unite his starters with his late-inning relievers. He has four candidates, but they've all been reluctant to do the job.
The pitching staff breaks down this way:
Starters: Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, Mitch Talbot, Justin Masterson and David Huff.
Late-inning relievers: Setup men Tony Sipp and Chris Perez, and closer Kerry Wood.
Potential bridge builders: Rafael Perez, Jamey Wright, Jensen Lewis and Hector Ambriz. The position is wide open.
In losing three out of four games to the Yankees in a four-game wraparound series over the weekend in the Bronx, the Tribe's bullpen allowed 24 runs on 27 hits in 11 innings.
Said Acta: "I think a lot of it has to do with the Yankees. They're good and we're not claiming to have a great bullpen.
"Actually, from Day One we've been pretty solid at the back end with Tony Sipp, Chris Perez and Kerry Wood. We have struggled to get to the ball to them. Basically, we have to have someone step up because we're not going to be bringing those guys in when we're trailing just to keep the game close.
"We really want to use those guys in high-leverage situations. We've got four other guys right now who are having trouble getting the ball to Sipp, Perez and Woody."
Ambriz has no record and a 4.30 ERA in 11 appearances. He's struck out 11, walked seven and the opposition is hitting .349 against him. The Indians selected him from Arizona's roster in the Rule 5 draft in December.
Rafael Perez is 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in 19 appearances. The Indians are trying to find a way for him to return to his dominant form of 2007, but they haven't had a lot of success. The opposition is hitting .387 against him. He's walked 10, struck out 10 and allowed 24 hits in 15 innings.
Wright is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in 19 appearances. The opposition is hitting .294 against him. He's struck out nine, walked nine and allowed 25 hits in 21 1/3 innings.
Lewis is on his second tour with the Tribe this season. He's 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA in 11 appearances. The opposition is hitting .256 against him. He's struck out nine, walked nine and allowed 11 hits in 11 1/3 innings.
Tragedy: Former Indians left-hander Jeriome Robertson was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday in his hometown of Exeter, Calif.
Robertson was drafted and developed by Houston. Acta managed him in the Astros' minor-league system and in winter ball in Venezuela.
"I think I managed him four years and took him to winter ball with me in Venezuela," Acta said. "I'm very shocked. The fact that in less than 10 days, two guys who were there with me on the Mets in 2006 are gone. . . . Jose Lima and Jeriome Robertson. We had Jeriome in major-league camp and in Triple A."
Acta was a coach for the Mets at that time.
The Indians acquired Robertson from Houston on March 31, 2004 for Luke Scott, who has turned into a solid, power-hitting outfielder/DH. Robertson didn't pitch well for the Tribe, going 1-1 with a 12.21 ERA.
"It's shocking. The guy was 33. Full of life. Very competitive," Acta said.
Sizemore update: The Indians are expected to hear today about when center fielder Grady Sizemore will have surgery on his left knee. It's expected to take place Thursday or Friday in Vail, Colo.
He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday to make room for right-hander Shane Lindsay, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees. Lindsay was placed on the 40-man roster and sent to Advanced Class A Kinston, N.C.
In other injury news, Andy Marte could go on a rehab assignment this week. He's been on the disabled list since May 15 with an infected ingrown hair on his stomach that required surgery.
Finally: The Yankees were able to recover Jhonny Peralta's 100th home run ball, which he hit in Monday's game.
"I'm going to put it in my collection and show my daughter when she grows up," Peralta said. Analise Marie Peralta was born last October.