All afternoon, Danny Salazar wound up and pitched as if this outing was like any other.
Of course, Salazar had completed the throwing motion countless times in his life. But this time, he did so over and over again during his Major League debut, a start that Salazar opened in captivating fashion, as the 23-year-old held Toronto hitless through five innings.
Although Salazar’s no-hit bid and shutout hopes ended with a pair of line drives to left field in the sixth, the Indians’ lineup plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to keep their young talent in line for the win. The bullpen held onto the lead, and Cleveland pulled out a 4-2 victory on Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field, clinching the series.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, like, seven years — since I signed,” said Salazar, who flashed a 99-mph fastball. “Once I got to the dugout and I [saw] all the guys there, I was just thinking, like, ‘I’ve been preparing myself for this.’ So I didn’t have to be nervous.”
“I was pleased,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “From the first pitch of the game, he had his poise. Obviously, he attacked the zone with above-average pitches across the board. When there were runners, he controlled the running game. His tempo was quick. Not fast, but he got the ball and threw strikes.”
Across his first six innings in the Major Leagues, Salazar gave up just the two hits and one run. He set down seven hitters on strikes while issuing a single walk, using 89 pitches (64 strikes) in his introduction to The Show.
Dominican native Salazar said that everybody in his hometown of Cabrera was watching his performance. After signing with Cleveland as a 16-year-old, the righty had Tommy John surgery in August 2010 and missed most of 2011. This season, the organization has been cautious with its No. 8 prospect, as Thursday marked the first time all year that Salazar had pitched six innings.
“He’s better than pre-surgery,” said Indians vice president of player development Ross Atkins. “I think, on average, he’s probably pitching two to three mph harder. But it’s not just post-surgery. I think it’s also strength, development, maturity, learning how to maximize his athleticism and a pitching delivery.”
Offensively, the Indians supported their upstart hurler with a solo shot by Asdrubal Cabrera in the first inning, a pair of runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth. Toronto starter R.A. Dickey loaded the bases in the sixth by hitting Michael Brantley with a pitch and walking Ryan Raburn and Mark Reynolds.
With one out and the count at 0-2, Lonnie Chisenhall singled, bringing home Brantley. Toronto left fielder Rajai Davis fielded the ball and unleashed a high throw toward home plate that sailed over catcher Josh Thole, allowing Reynolds to score.
In the eighth, Cleveland scored its fourth run when Carlos Santana tripled in Drew Stubbs, pinch-running for Raburn, who had led off with a walk. Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista lost his footing on Santana’s hit and the ball rolled past him.
Closer Chris Perez gave up one run in the ninth and put the tying run aboard, but he eventually managed to lock down his 11th save of the season and preserve Salazar’s first career victory.
Salazar will be demoted to Triple-A Columbus after his Thursday outing, but he can’t wait to return to the Majors. After Thursday, the Indians probably share a similar sentiment. They were impressed by his results, but not surprised.
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