CLEVELAND, Ohio – Rank manager Terry Francona when he hears what he calls “so-called experts” refers to Aaron Civale as a fourth or fifth starter. Francona thinks Civale has lead dog potential when it comes to his place in the rotation and Wednesday night he put it that way.
Civale threw a total of five hits in the Indians’ 6-1 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park. He did not allow a run until the ninth inning, while hitting six out and not running a bump.
On 109 field battles, 70% of their battles, he did what the top of the rotation stars does. Civale, knowing the bullpen needed a while after giving up 12 innings in the last two games due to short starts by Adam Plutko and Carlos Carrasco, gave the relief a chance to rest with his first full game since high school .
He is the first pitcher of Indians to throw a full game this season and just the fourth overall to do so in the major leagues.
“It’s fun to give the bull a while,” Civale said. “Every time a starter can do that it’s a plus.”
Catcher Roberto Perez challenged Civale for the game, saying he had to go eight innings. Civale added another for good measure.
‘That was great, man. That was exactly what the doctor ordered there, ”said acting manager Sandy Alomar. ‘It was a big game. We gave him the chance to finish the game because he had worked so hard and on top of that our bullpen needed a rest.
“It was a great achievement. No walks, knocked out six boys and threw a lot of strikes. ”
Civale came out for the ninth and let a leadoff double Cole Tucker kneel. Adam Frazier ran out to short, but Kevin Newman finished with Tucker finishing third. Josh Bell’s sacrificial fly scored Tucker for Pittsburgh’s only run. Civale ended the night with getting Colin Moran on a flyball to center.
Throughout the match, Civale and his teammates were serenaded by a stiff beat from the dugout.
“We have our captain cheerleaders in the dugout – Carlos Carrasco and Franmil Reyes,” Alomar said. ‘They cheer for the boys. They’ve done that for the last three or four boys. They keep the boys motivated. ”
The cheering section includes Greg Allen and Yu Chang pounding with their hands like empty water bottles on the dugout gate. After Carlos Santana reached the dugout after his second homer with three runs in as many nights in the fifth inning, he showed his dance moves.
Civilians enjoyed it.
“Everyone plays with a clear head,” Civale said. ‘We all enjoy it. It feels like baseball should be. We are grown men playing a little kids game.
‘At the end of the day, that’s the kind of approach we’ve taken. Everyone is there just to have fun. Clear heads to the plate, clear heads in the field, clear heads on the mound. It’s fun to be around. It’s fun to be in it. ”
Perez sat behind the plate for just the second game since returning from the injured list with a sore right shoulder. He watched every game during his downtime, calling the games from his bench of the room.
By doing so, he realized that Civale was throwing his fast fastball more than fastball. For Monday’s game, he asked Civale to throw more fastballs.
“I was so happy for him,” Perez said. ‘I think he has great stuff. And he just showed it last night. But I take a lot of pride in it (the entire game of Civale). I am always ready for these situations. I always try to call it a no-hitter.
‘But I told him before the game, I said,’ you know what, I’d rather you throw nine innings, hit three or five, then go three innings or five innings and have 10 strikeouts. ‘He agreed with me. He’s a great kid, man. He has a great future. I’m just glad I’m behind him. ”
The Indians ride on a winning streak of six games, including a 5-0 record on this trip through Detroit and Pittsburgh. Civale (3-2, 2.91) has won two of those five games.
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