Indians bullpen loses it again

By Paul Hoynes

Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

Kerry Wood threw a bullpen session before Monday’s home opener. It might have been as important as the ninth inning Chris Perez tried to throw in the game.

Wood, who opened the season on the disabled list, could be facing hitters in a simulated game or a minor-league rehabilitation assignment as early as this weekend, said pitching coach Tim Belcher. After the Indians bullpen collapsed for the second time in as many days in Monday’s 4-2 loss to Texas in 10 innings, it’s clear the pen needs to be reshuffled.

The key card is Wood, who has been on the disabled list since mid-March because of a strained muscle underneath his right shoulder.

“He really threw the ball well today,” said Belcher.

Wood is getting paid $10.5 million to be the Indians closer. Perez took over the job when Wood was injured and the results have been mixed. He saved two games against Chicago last week in the first series of the season. On Sunday he turned an 8-6 lead in the ninth inning against Detroit into a 9-8 loss by giving up three runs on three walks, one hit and a wild pitch.

Manager Manny Acta brought Perez into the ninth inning Monday with the score tied, 2-2, a move most managers make in a tie game at home. Joaquin Arias hit a leadoff double on a 3-2 pitch. Taylor Teagarden bunted back to Perez to advance Arias to third. Perez had a chance to get Arias, but his throw was wide and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who was covering the bag, had to stretch to make the catch.

Perez’s day ended when he walked Elvis Andrus to load the bases. The Indians escaped when Tony Sipp retired pinch-hitter Ryan Garko on an infield pop up and Jamey Wright induced former teammate Michael Young to hit into a first-pitch double play at second base.

The magic did not last. As Wright said, “This game can make you laugh and make you cry.”

Josh Hamilton started the 10th with a single. Wright retired Vladimir Guerrero, but Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer over the left field wall.

Neftali Feliz, the Rangers’ new closer, retired the side in order for his first save.

Shin-Soo Choo gave Carmona a 1-0 lead with a first-inning homer. The Rangers scored twice in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead on Young’s RBI single and a wild pitch. The Indians tied the score on Jhonny Peralta’s sacrifice fly in the sixth. They had a chance to take the lead in the same inning on Matt LaPorta’s single to center, but Julio Borbon threw out Travis Hafner at the plate.

“You hate to see Fausto pitch like that and not get a win,” said Belcher.