UPDATED: The Indians, with just two games left in the season, stretch their winning streak to seven games. It's their longest since 2008. The offense scores early and Fausto Carmona ends his year on a winning note.
View full sizeIndians starter Fausto Carmona finished this season undefeated against the White Sox.In 2007 Carmona helped the Indians win the AL Central and reach the seventh game of the ALCS. But he was just a big guy throwing the same pitch time and time again.
Friday night, after two years of toil and trouble, Carmona pitched six innings in his final start of the year as the Indians beat Chicago, 7-3, at U.S. Cellular Field for their seventh victory over the season.
"I'm more happy with this year than in 2007," said Carmona (13-14, 3.77). "I learned a lot from last year. I went to the minor leagues. I kept working.
"This year I've pitched in a lot of close games. It's been tight, tight, tight. In 2007, I was just throwing sinker, sinker, sinker. Now I've been throwing my slider and change up more and more. I'm very happy with 2010."
Carmona threw 210 1/3 innings, just 4 off his 215 innings from 2007. He made 33 starts, including 24 quality starts.
"I'm glad to see Fausto finish the year this way," said Manny Acta. "He's been very consistent for us all year. Tonight, he once again put us in position to win."
After six innings and 93 pitches, the TV cameras showed Carmona smiling in the dugout. The smile was well earned, but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
"He wasn't that happy," said Acta. "He was trying to fight me for one more inning. He's had enough. He's thrown over 200 innings. He's done enough for us this year."
Said Carmona, "I said, 'Manny, come on, let me go one more. He said, 'no, no, no.' "
Typical Indians, right? With two games left in a season lost months ago, they go on their longest winning streak since winning 10 straight in August 2008.
It's hard to figure, but if the Tribe is rolling, why not enjoy it? Based on the last two years, and the immediate future, such streaks could be few and far between.
"I'm not going to say I believe in finishing the season strong because it's going to carry into next year . . . five months down the road," said Acta. "Still, it's important. It's been a long year for these kids . . . and they're finally getting to feel they belong up here.
"It's also good for our fans. We're trying to put together a bunch of kids who are relentless . . .who play hard with passion."
The Indians started quickly, taking a 3-0 lead off Tony Pena (5-3, 5.10) in the first. Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera opened with doubles, Brantley doubling past first and scoring on Cabrera's double to right for a 1-0 lead.
Shin-Soo Choo followed with a two-run homer to center to make it 3-0. It was Choo's 22nd homer of the season. He is coming off a sizzling September in which he hit .333 (33-for-99) with six homers and 25 RBI.
"Choo is a stud," said Acta.
Chicago scored once in the first and second against Carmona to make it 3-2. Luis Valbuena let Dayan Viciedo's bouncer get past him behind second base with two out in the first as Mark Teahen scored. Brent Morel hit a leadoff homer in the second off the left field foul pole. Carmona made an adjustment and stopped Chicago cold.
He's 3-0 against the White Sox this year and 7-0 in his last seven starts against them. For his career, he's 7-3.
"That's a good stat, especially with Chicago being in our division," said Acta, "but I don't think Fausto worries about that. He attacks everybody pretty much the same way."
The Indians stretched their lead to 6-2 with three more runs in the third. Pena wild pitched Brantley home with the bases loaded. Jayson Nix followed with a sacrifice fly and Trevor Crowe singled home Nix.
The Tribe out-hit Chicago, 12-7. Cabrera led the way with three hits. Choo and Crowe had two each.
It was another good night for the pen as Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and rookie Vinnie Pestano combined to allow one run over the last three innings.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158