Civale shines yet again in second career start

CLEVELAND -- It wasn’t long ago that Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger was sitting at his locker, recalling how nervous he was before his big league debut -- so nervous that he was unable to keep his lunch down as first pitch neared. He sat and told a group of reporters that the young, inexperienced arms the Indians have called on this year don’t seem to have an anxious bone in their bodies.

Aaron Civale continued to prove that statement true in the Indians’ 1-0 loss to the Rangers on Monday at Progressive Field, giving up one run on three hits over six innings in the series opener against the Rangers.

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“I thought he battled his rear end off,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He had such good movement, kind of both ways, even though the first three or four innings he was almost even strike-to-ball [ratio]. I thought the last couple [innings] he really started getting a lot more comfortable. But like we’ve kind of been saying about all the young guys, he’s not afraid, he competes.”

The 24-year-old set a high bar for himself in his June 22 start for the Tribe -- his first Major League outing -- in place of an injured Clevinger, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. And while Civale's stint with the big league club was short-lived, he proved that the Indians could turn to him if they ran into another desperate spot. That situation arose again on Monday, after Danny Salazar landed back on the injured list (right groin strain) after making his first start since 2017 on Thursday.

“Yeah, definitely,” Civale said when asked if having one start under his belt helped him in his second outing. “[I was] able to eat this time going into the game.”

Not only has Civale proven he can patch the temporary hole in the rotation, the righty has thrived in his first two career starts. His first career earned run scored on a sacrifice fly after a leadoff triple by Elvis Andrus in the fourth inning that proved to be a challenging play for Oscar Mercado in center field.

“[Civale’s] got really good movement on his offspeed pitches, especially,” Francona said. “He’s still learning to try and elevate his fastball, when to do it and how to do it. But man, when it’s all said and done, he gave up one run and Oscar, it hit off the end of his glove, or it would have been no runs.”

The Indians nearly bailed Civale out of his first loss in the bottom of the ninth after Jose Ramirez led off the frame with a double down the right-field line. Tyler Naquin, who replaced an injured Jordan Luplow (right hamstring cramp), bunted Ramirez over to third for the first out. Jason Kipnis then grounded out and Franmil Reyes flied out to end the game.

“[Naquin] had the ability [to swing], we just told him that guy needs to be at third when it’s over,” Francona said. “We didn’t give him a bunt, he just -- the guy’s throwing 97 [mph]. Sometimes you almost have to defend yourself. I thought he did a great job.”

Civale may have picked up an undeserving first loss, but he was able to make a solid case to remain in the rotation until Corey Kluber (fractured right forearm) makes his expected return toward the end of August.

Shane Bieber paved the way last season, breaking into the bigs in May 2018 after beginning the year in Double-A, and he has carried the Tribe’s starting rotation throughout the '19 season. A loaded starting five that was supposed to consist of Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger, along with Bieber, was hit with a rude awakening when Kluber, Carrasco and Clevinger all landed on the injured list at different points throughout the first half of the year. But Bieber’s fellow '16 draftees have seamlessly stepped in.

Zach Plesac (12th-round pick in 2016) has gone 6-3 with a 3.41 ERA and five pickoffs in 12 big league starts, while Civale (third-round selection in '16) has turned in two six-inning outings of three hits or less. Both began '19 at Double-A Akron.

“I mean, they’re playing like veterans,” Kipnis said. “They’re awesome. They’re low maintenance. You don’t really have to tell them too much, other than when they do encounter a little bit of the frustrations, which everyone will if they’re playing this game. … These guys are handling themselves like professionals, they’re playing like professionals and it’s really fun to watch, because like I said, they’re low maintenance. They’re doing things the right way.”