Carlos Carrasco Dominates Astros in 2-0 Victory

Sep 12, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (59) pitches in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Carrasco Nearly Unhittable in Must Win Situation

Better late than never. After years of waiting for Carlos Carrasco to finally get it as a major league pitcher, it appears the Indians patience is finally being rewarded. In what is quickly becoming more the norm and less the exception, Carrasco guided the Indians to victory on Wednesday night with a performance that rivaled anything Corey Kluber has done this season.

By the time Carlos Carrasco registered the 27th and final out of the game, he had put together the following stat line – 9 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 1 walk, and 12 strikeouts. Oh, and those two hits? They were both infield singles by Jose Altuve that under any other circumstance with any other player running would have been outs. In the process, Carrasco also lowered his ERA to 2.65.

Since August 10th, a stretch spanning eight starts, Carrasco has allowed 1 or fewer runs seven times. Wednesday night was the second time in his last four starts that he had struck out at least ten batters. And while this was Carrasco’s first complete game, it was only two starts ago that he pitched a dominant 8.2 innings against the White Sox for another 2-0 victory.

Folks, it’s finally beginning to look as if Carlos Carrasco has figured something out. With his electric arm, now paired with pin point control, he is beginning to reach his full potential as a starting pitcher. So many time previously the Indians could have cut ties and counted their losses, but their persistence in developing Carrasco into a starter finally seems to be coming to fruition. That is an enormous success not just for the remainder of this season, but also heading into 2015.

Meanwhile, the Indians scored both of their runs off of the bat of Yan Gomes. In the fourth inning, Gomes drove in Carlos Santana with an RBI single to center. Two innings later in the top of the sixth, Gomes tripled, his third of the season, to scored Michael Brantley and push a much-needed insurance run across the board.

With the victory, the Indians managed to keep pace in the wild card race. With Kansas City victorious, the Indians will remain 5 games back as they head into Thursday’s series finale against the Astros. Scott Feldman will get the ball for Houston while the Indians will counter with Danny Salazar. First pitch is set for 8:10 PM from Minute Maid Park.

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