Jimenez roughed up early in Tribe loss

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif.

As much as manager Manny Acta hopes Roberto Hernandez’s return to the mound will give the Cleveland Indians’ struggling rotation a boost, he knows it won’t happen right away.

Ubaldo Jimenez tied a career worst Tuesday night by giving up eight earned runs over four innings. Jimenez (9-12) gave up eight hits, struck out four and walked two. He is 2-7 with a 5.62 ERA over his last 10 starts.

Acta was upset with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi for issuing a warning to both dugouts, after Zack Greinke hit Indians cleanup hitter Carlos Santana with a pitch on the backside in the fourth inning.

Howie Kendrick was hit by Jimenez seven batters into a four-run first by the Angels, and Greinke evened things out before earning his first victory with his new club.

“There’s so much inconsistency with that rule, it’s sickening,” Acta said. “I mean, I think the whole ballpark knew that Kendrick wasn’t hit on purpose — but I think the whole ballpark knew that he hit Santana on purpose. So if the umpires assume that he hit him on purpose, then what’s the ruling?

“Now we’re going to give a warning so that we can’t retaliate? It’s not fair,” Acta said. “I understand that they’re just trying to cover themselves, but that’s not right. The rule says if you’re sure that a guy hit a batter on purpose, you can throw him out. But you’ve got to give the other guy a shot to do something about it.”