CLEVELAND, Ohio — Logan Allen might want to petition Major League Baseball to start every game in the second inning, because right now he’s finding himself too “amped up” in the first.
When Allen settles into his groove, the 23-year-old lefty has been pretty dominant, but early on Sunday it looked like Allen wouldn’t be around long enough to get his first career Indians win. Against Detroit, he hit two batters and walked another before surrendering an RBI single in the first inning.
Luckily for Allen, everything clicked into place after that. He allowed just one hit and one walk the rest of the way, striking out five in a 5-2 Indians victory.
Allen said early struggles in his last few outings have more to do with his adrenaline level than anything else. He said his body has been giving him more energy than he needs in order to throw effective pitches, and he just needs to settle himself down a little earlier.
“I wouldn’t say it’s like emotions or anything,” Allen said. “I was locked in, but maybe a little too locked in I guess is the best way I can describe it.”
Pitching coach Carl Willis visited Allen on the mound following a walk to Wilson Ramos that loaded the bases. The result was a swinging strikeout to Jonathan Schoop on a 2-2 slider that hung tantalizingly over the outside part of the plate.
Allen said Willis encouraged him to keep throwing the slider because he was executing it well, even if he wasn’t seeing early results.
“He just came out and said I was throwing really good pitches, they’re not swinging at them or they’re fouling them off,” Allen said. “I was making pitches that were just around the zone instead of going right after them.”
Allen also credited catcher Austin Hedges for helping him navigate Detroit’s lineup and get through five innings despite throwing 33 pitches in the first. Sunday’s outing marked a career-high in total pitches (92) for Allen, surpassing his previous high of 90 set June 18, 2019, against Milwaukee as a member of the San Diego Padres.
Allen has completed five innings in both starts this season while allowing no more than two runs in either appearance. He became just the third Indians left-handed pitcher along with Ryan Merritt and Aaron Laffey to begin the season with two consecutive starts of at least five innings and two or fewer runs allowed since 2010.
Allen’s win Sunday was the latest in a string of quality starts by Cleveland’s rotation that has fueled the club’s four-game winning streak. Indians starters have a 2.52 ERA through the season’s first eight games. That’s the second-lowest rotation ERA through eight games since 2013. Only last year’s 2.12 ERA was better during that span.
Opposing hitters are batting just .169 (29-for-172) with a .538 OPS against Cleveland starters.
Allen also praised the effort of relievers Bryan Shaw, Nick Wittgren, James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase, who held Detroit to one run over the final four innings and preserved the win.
“Our ‘pen has it,” Allen said. “We have the dudes. We have the ability, and it’s going to be exciting how this turns out over the next five or six months.”
-
New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.
More Indians coverage
Indians hit five homers in 11-3 pounding of Tigers
Emmanuel Clase is hard to ignore and 3 other things
Did a good outfield get away from the Indians? Hey, Hoynsie
Protecting the bullpen and 9 other things: The week in baseball
Reyes’ breakout two-homer game came with family in the stands
Reyes’ two HRs, Plesac’s seven scoreless innings key 4-1 win over Detroit
Peace of mind from Amed Rosario in CF and 5 other things
Should Indians, MLB require players to take the COVID-19 vaccine?
What former Tribe players are doing has me talking to myself: Pluto
"juice" - Google News
April 12, 2021 at 06:57AM
https://ift.tt/3dSKZMo
Logan Allen figuring out how to turn down the juice after the first inning for Cleveland Indians - cleveland.com
"juice" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2yYYfhU
https://ift.tt/3aVawBg
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Logan Allen figuring out how to turn down the juice after the first inning for Cleveland Indians - cleveland.com"
Post a Comment