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Bullpen implosion leads Indians to fourth straight loss

Aug 2, 2007 - 4:51 AM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians failed to address their need for bullpen help at Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline. A day later, it came back to haunt them.

The usually reliable Rafael Betancourt squandered a lead in the seventh inning and Jensen Lewis struggled mightily in the 10th as the Texas Rangers rallied to post a 9-6 victory over the slumping Indians on Wednesday.

With several relievers available at the deadline - including Eric Gagne and Octavio Dotel, who both switched teams - the Indians elected to stand pat, hoping their bullpen would be strong enough to help them maintain their lead in the American League wild card standings and possibly overtake the Detroit Tigers for AL Central Division title.

The decision may have been the wrong one as Betancourt, Lewis (0-1) and Rafael Perez combined to allow five runs in a combined three innings of relief.

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, Perez issued a leadoff walk to Nelson Cruz in the seventh. After striking out Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Perez gave way to Betancourt, who fanned Gerald Laird before yielding a single by Ramon Vazquez.

Frank Catalanotto followed with a two-run double to left-center field, tying the game at 6-6.

"It's a good sign that we strung some hits together and kept the inning going," Catalanotto said. "It's good with so many young guys that we put together some good at-bats."

"When (the Indians) took the lead, I had some concern because they have a good bullpen," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "The guys kept battling and (Catalanotto) got the big hit."

Making just his eighth major league appearance, Lewis started the 10th and was greeted with a single by Vazquez. Catalanotto got down a bunt that was fielded by Lewis, whose throw to second base in an attempt to get the lead runner was in the dirt.

"We had a chance to get the out at second and I underthrew it," Lewis said. "We got what we wanted and we just didn't execute. We get that play, it probably kills the momentum."

Ian Kinsler followed with another sacrifice to Lewis, who this time made a low throw that wound up in right field, allowing Vazquez to score for a 7-6 edge.

"I went down to get it and (my cleat) slipped," Lewis said. "It was unfortunate it happened that way."

After an intentional walk to Michael Young, Jason Botts lifted a sacrifice fly and Marlon Byrd delivered an RBI single, increasing Texas' advantage to 9-6.

The rally made a winner of Joaquin Benoit (5-3), who struck out four in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. C.J. Wilson recorded the final out for his second save.

"(The bullpen) did a great job," Washington said. "Each guy we brought in did the job and kept us in."

While the Indians' bullpen has struggled, the Rangers' has thrived this season, and the trend continued Wednesday. Texas relievers tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings en route to the bullpen's 18th win, the third-highest total in the AL.

"Those guys are pretty tough," Cleveland's Casey Blake said. "They have some good guys coming out of the bullpen."

With its fourth straight loss and seventh in nine contests, Cleveland's lead in the wild card standings was reduced to one game over Seattle, which is hosting the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday, and two over the New York Yankees, who posted an 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

"We've hit a bump in the road," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We're not playing good baseball right now. We're not executing. We have to put ourselves in a better position."

The Indians did, however, remain one game behind the Tigers by virtue of Detroit's loss at Oakland on Wednesday afternoon.

"This is the lowest our team has been this year," Blake said. "But we are still all right. If you look at the standings, Detroit isn't too far ahead. We're keeping our head above water, but it would be nice to have gained a couple of games."

Cleveland scored twice in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Blake started a one-out rally with a single to left and went to third on Jhonny Peralta's base hit before scoring on Ryan Garko's single to left.

Travis Hafner followed with a double off the right field wall to plate Peralta.

Blake's two-run homer highlighted a four-run second inning for Cleveland.

With the Indians trailing, 3-0, Jason Michaels hit a one-out solo homer and Grady Sizemore added an RBI double three batters later. Blake followed by hitting a 2-0 offering from Texas starter John Rheinecker over the left field wall for his 15th blast of the season.

The Rangers pounced on Indians starter Paul Byrd for three runs in the opening inning. Texas collected four hits in the first, including a two-run single by Saltalamacchia in his first at-bat since being acquired from Atlanta on Tuesday.

"It feels good to get the first one out of the way," Saltalamacchia said. "That was big for me. I was seeing the ball good tonight."

Paul Byrd settled down after the rough beginning, allowing four runs - three earned - and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The only run Paul Byrd allowed after the first came in the third, when Vazquez hit a one-hopper to Garko. The first baseman misplayed the grounder, allowing Marlon Byrd to score and forge a 4-4 tie.

Paul Byrd left with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, but Perez escaped the jam by striking out Botts and Marlon Byrd.

Rheinecker lasted just 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs and eight hits.