Carmona snaps a six-start losing streak with his gem against the Twins.
View full sizeCleveland Indians' Fausto Carmona raises a fist after pitching a gem, a 3 hit shutout over Fausto Carmona has a good reason to celebrate after throwing a three-hit shutout against Minnesota on Friday at Progressive Field.CLEVELAND, Ohio — Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona has struggled with the Twins the past three years, but he owned them Friday night.
Carmona pitched a three-hitter and Matt LaPorta homered as the Tribe won, 2-0, at Progressive Field.
Thanks largely to Carmona and Twins starter Carl Pavano, the festivities wrapped in 1 hour, 57 minutes -- second-fastest for a nine-inning game in ballpark history. On Aug. 29, 2004, the Tribe and White Sox needed 1:56.
Friday's game ranked among the fastest in the majors this season. The fastest entering Friday was 1:44, when the Indians fell to Armando Galarraga and the Tigers, 3-0, June 2, in Detroit. Carmona was on the losing end that near-perfect night.
In the Indians' previous game, Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., they lost to the Angels, 4-3, in 16 innings. Time elapsed: 4:57.
The Tribe (58-83) pulled within 25 games of first-place Minnesota (83-58).
The Twins, who had a six-game winning streak snapped, are 38-20 against division opponents but just 7-6 against Cleveland.
Carmona (12-14, 3.86 ERA) snapped a six-start losing streak, during which he posted a 5.00 ERA in 39 innings.
"Fausto was filthy," Indians manager Manny Acta said.
Carmona had not beaten Minnesota since Sept. 5, 2007. He was 3-8 with a 5.52 ERA in 16 previous games (12 starts) against them in his career.
Interestingly, Carmona's first career shutout came against the Twins on May 17, 2007.
"Fausto had a good sinker -- he was staying on top of the ball really well -- and a good changeup," Acta said. "The changeup has been the difference-maker for him."
In mid-August, Acta and pitching coach Tim Belcher told Carmona he needed more speed variance between the fastball and changeup.
"Teams were hitting the changeup like it was another fastball," Acta said.
Belcher and bullpen coach Scott Radinsky worked with Carmona on pushing the ball more into the palm. Now Carmona can throw the pitch with full arm action and not worry about it going too fast, thereby flattening out.
A changeup is important for pitchers throwing to the opposite hand. Lefties have given Carmona trouble in his career, but he did a terrific job with them Friday. The most dangerous, three-time American League batting champion Joe Mauer, went 0-for-3.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the second. LaPorta smacked a Pavano changeup over the left-field wall.
Carmona escaped his only legitimate trouble in the third.
J.J. Hardy led off with a single. Drew Butera chopped to the mound, where Carmona triggered a double play. After Denard Span tripled to right, Orlando Hudson lined to third.
In the Tribe half of the third, Michael Brantley tripled to right with one out, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. The throw from relay man Hudson was in time but third baseman Danny Valencia failed to secure it. Asdrubal Cabrera grounded to first, where Michael Cuddyer made a dive toward the line, snagged the ball and held Brantley. Shin-Soo Choo walked and Travis Hafner whiffed.
The Indians made it 2-0 in the fifth. Jason Donald singled to right and moved to third on Lou Marson's double to left. After Brantley lined to second, Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to left. Delmon Young caught the ball in foul territory near the railing and had no shot at Donald.
Carmona has thrown two straight complete games. On Sept. 3 at Seattle, he gave up one run on four hits in eight innings of a 1-0 loss.
Pavano (16-11, 3.47) went the distance, giving up the two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out three.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664