CLEVELAND, Ohio – Zach Plesac in his first start to the season had no choice but to follow the lead of those who pitched before him. That is exactly what he did Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
Plesac became the Indians’ sixth straight starter since opening day to pitch at least six innings while allowing two or fewer runs. In doing so, he not only agreed with what Shane Bieber, Mike Clevinger, Carlos Carrasco, Aaron Civale and Adam Plutko did before him, but they did a little more.
The only thing missing from the game was the offense. It didn’t come until the ninth inning, which is a testament to how well Plesac and Lucas Giolito of Chicago and their bullpen threw. When he did, the White Sox piled on Brad Hand for a 4-0 victory.
The hand (0-1) started the ninth and allowed four runs on a hit in 1/3 of an inning. He allowed a double start to Tim Anderson, walked with Yoan Moncada and hit José Abreu to start the inning. Yasmani Grandal made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly. Adam Cimber was relieved and allowed a sacrifice fly to Eloy Jiménez and a two-run single to Luis Robert.
The last time the Indians had six starters open this season with six or more innings and allowed two or fewer runs was in 1905. That was 115 years ago and the pitchers were named Otto Hess (twice), Addie Joss, Earl Moore and Bob Rhoads. . It hasn’t been done in the big leagues since the 1993 Atlanta Braves.
Plesac pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out a personal record of 11. He allowed three hits and did not score a hitter in 98 pitches.
The Indians’ turnover is 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA in six games. The starters struck out 53 batters and walked three in 39 innings.
“That is exactly what we are doing: feeding each other,” said Plesac. “I think we have a healthy competitive rotation. This group of boys, with the work they’ve been doing, are really smart about what they want to do when it’s their turn to take the mound.
“Every time I see one of my boys shoot the day before me, I get excited and get ready to pitch.”
Plesac and Lucas Giolito were the focal point of the game until the ninth.
Giolito, wrecked by the Twins in his first start to the season, pitched six scoreless innings. He struck out six and walked two to lower his ERA from 17.18 to 6.52.
“I thought Zach was tremendous,” said Indians manager Terry Francona. “It was really difficult to see the first five or six innings, but both pitchers matched each other. Plesac hit the strike zone. He changed speed. He was efficient. He was tremendous and so was his man.”
Like all good headlines, they were at their best when it meant the most.
The White Sox put runners first and third with two outs in the third thanks to singles by Leury Garcia and Anderson. Garcia should have gone out while trying to go from first to third with Anderson’s single to left, but Bradley Zimmer threw a change to third and José Ramírez couldn’t handle it. Zimmer was charged with his second mistake in two days.
Plesac finished the inning by having Moncada appear before Ramirez.
He retired the next seven hitters before No. 9 hitter Adam Engel started the sixth with a double. Plesac, mixing the speeds well, struck out Anderson, retired Moncada on a liner to second and pitched Abreu short. Anderson was so upset about hitting an off-speed shot that he hit his bat on the ground, breaking it from the handle to the barrel.
“I was really trying to attack,” said Plesac. “I didn’t want to play too much with the top of the lineup coming back. I knew I had to lock myself back in and face the heart of their lineup. ”
Giolito was just as good.
César Hernández walked and Ramírez connected him to third to start the fourth. Giolito struck out Francisco Lindor and induced Carlos Santana to hit on a double play 3-6-3.
The Indians loaded the bases with two in the sixth. Hernández singled, Ramírez doubled it to third and Lindor walked. Carlos Santana flied out to center.
In Tuesday’s double-headed sweep of the White Sox, the Indians were defeated, 19-15, but won with a big shot. The big pitch reappeared on Wednesday, but it’s hard to win if you don’t score.
The Indians finished with six hits, three by Ramírez. Aaron Bummer (1-0) was the winner with an eighth goalless.
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