Reyes, Perez and J Lewis Shut Down Jays

Indians 5, Blue Jays 2 (box)

Baltimore may have a flat-brimmed closer, but we may be looking at a guy who can rock the non-curve for six-plus innings. Newly acquired Anthony Reyes fanned four and allowed one earned run in six and a third. That, my friends, is a quality start. But like said start made by Jeremy Sowers not so long ago, this one was finsihed the right way with Jensen Lewis earning his first career save.

Rafael Perez? Well, he came out for an inning and two-thirds to set up the save. Though allowing a run, he struck out two more hitters – his 17th “hold” of the season for you stat-heads out there.

Admittedly, I’m still a bit mixed on Reyes given the splits we’ve seen throughout his career between Triple-A and the bigs. But in smiliar fashion, he was stellar for Buffalo; except he carried that up to the Indians during his first start. Can he keep it going, or is this one of those Game 1 of the World Series type wins that is followed up by an epic collapse? Only time will tell.

Now, about this closer situation. A very sad statistic: that save was the 19th save of the season. Total. Worst in the majors. And if you don’t think closing is as much mental as it is physical, Jensen Lewis begs to difffer.

“Home plate looked to be about 120 feet away when I came in the game,” said Lewis. “I was as nervous as I was when I made my big-league debut. But after I threw the first strike, it seemed just like another game.”

Eric Wedge said that he had Lewis’ name pegged to close this game regardless of what happened. And oddly enough, Wedge says that there is in fact a “process,” and that Lewis’ name is at the “top of the list.” Funny, I wonder what the process has been over the past four months. Masa Kobayashi is still looking to record an out. I assume that the job is Lewis’ until a Kobayashi-like collapse comes to fruition. Unfortunately, Wedge seems comfortable with Perez tossing an inning or two of relief to get to that ninth inning.

And as long as we get to the ninth with the lead, Perez did his job. He may not be racking up the saves, but he’s easily been our best arm in that awful, awful pen this year. And he’s still young. Thankfully.

No minor league update today, but I figured I would link to the Olympic baseball schedule in case you would like to get an on-air shot of Matt LaPorta and company.