Hold the champagne and don't block off Euclid Avenue for a ticker-tape parade just yet, but the Indians clinched fourth place in the AL Central despite losing to the White Sox on Saturday night. Manager Manny Acta says that's progress.
View full sizeThe Indians' Andy Marte, top, bobbles the throw while the White Sox's Juan Pierre slides safely into third base during the first inning Saturday in Chicago.It's about time they backed into something that didn't push back.
They did that Saturday night in the wind and rain of U.S. Cellular Field. In losing to the White Sox, 6-2, in a game called after six innings because of rain, they clinched fourth place in the American League Central in conjunction with Kansas City losing to Tampa Bay.
Fourth place might not seem like much to those on the outside looking in, but when a team spends the season in a crowded life raft like the Indians have, no one complains because all they can see beyond the rubber sides of the raft are shark fins.
"It's important to me," said manager Manny Acta before the game when talking about fourth place. "It's very important. Last is a four-letter word that carries a lot of weight. Now these guys don't have to carry that around with them."
Acta and his coaches have talked to the players about this over the last few weeks of the season. Perhaps it was the incentive behind the Tribe's seven-game winning streak which ended Saturday.
"We've been scoreboard watching the last few days," he said. "Everybody needs to play for something, especially when we're not going to be playing in [the playoffs]. These guys take pride in that, too."
The Indians (69-92) end the season today against the White Sox. The Tribe was 65-97 last year.
What would have happened if Kansas City had won its last two games and the Indians had lost? It would have marked the second straight year the two teams tied for last place.
"I was ready for that, too," said Acta, with a laugh. "I was going to say we still finished fourth because they had to tie us.
"We feel like we've made some progress over the last five months. You usually want to go from last to first place, but if you go from last to fourth, and win a few more games than you did the year before, some progress was made."
The game was called after six innings and a 1 hour and 3 minute rain delay. Mark Buehrle (13-13, 4.28) earned the victory, and Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 3.83) was the loser. They both went six innings in the wind, rain and cold.
It was 47 degrees at game time, and 43 degrees when the game was delayed.
Carrasco, 10-6 at Class AAA Columbus, made seven starts for the Tribe after his September call-up. The first six were quality starts -- three or fewer earned runs in six or more innings. Carrasco struck out a career-high nine batters Saturday, but allowed six runs on five hits.
"I think this was a good season," said Carrasco. "This month in the big leagues was really important for me."
Carrasco is planning changes for next year. He is going to scrap his slider and start throwing a cut fastball. He is also going to make subtle changes in his delivery.
"I need something harder instead of the slider," said Carrasco.
Chicago led, 2-0, after two innings without the benefit of a hit. Carrasco walked the leadoff hitter in both innings, and they turned into runs.
In the first, Juan Pierre opened with a walk, took second on shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's error on Omar Vizquel's doubleplay ball and eventually stole home on the front end of a double steal.
Tyler Flowers drew a leadoff walk in the second, took third on two ground outs and scored on a wild pitch.
The Indians tied it in the third on Cabrera's single and Buehrle's balk to score Michael Brantley. The White Sox responded with three runs in the fourth. Dayan Viciedo hit a leadoff homer in the sixth.
Carrasco walked three batters, and they all scored.
"The conditions were tough to pitch in, but it was equal for both sides," said Acta. "Carrasco had good stuff again. He struck out a bunch of guys, but the leadoff walks, as usual, ended up scoring.
"But six out of seven quality starts isn't bad."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158