Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Added @ Fangraphs
Highest WPA:
Asdrubal Cabrera .276
Rafael Betancourt .218
Aaron Laffey .179
Lowest WPA:
Joe Borowski -.398
Jhonny Peralta -.100
Kelly Shoppach -.082
Felix Hernandez is already a good pitcher, and he's not that far away from being a great one. The Indians couldn't really touch his fastball, but they did take advantage of his early breaking ball mistakes. Victor Martinez provided the only offense in regulation by guessing right and hitting an outside slider over the center field fence, a rare instance of good hitting beating good location. After the first inning, the Indians had a couple more opportunities to score, including a bases loaded scenario in the seventh, but couldn't add on.
Joe Borowski in 2007 has been a good closer, but not necessarily a good pitcher. Closing is a results-oriented position, as it should be, but that doesn't mean future results will match current performance. Most of the time the bullpen configuration has worked well, with Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez pitching more innings, and in some cases, more important innings. In last night's game, he made a bad mistake over the middle of the plate to Seattle's best power hitter. And just like that, on the day before a doubleheader, there were more innings to play.
After the Indians were given a gift run in the top of the twelfth, Rafael Betancourt shut the Mariners down to save the game. It's too late in the season to make any major changes in the bullpen pecking order, especially given Borowski's success at closing games. But next year should be quite another issue.
Next Up: The last home game of the season. Carmona vs. Feierabend, 7:05 PM