Chris Perez comes undone in 9th

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' plan to get healthy at the expense of the lesser lights began with a thud Monday night against the Seattle Mariners.

Not that the Indians are heavyweights at the moment, or since late May. But they seemingly are in a division race and are supposed to beat the non-contending Mariners at home, especially when Felix Hernandez does not start.

Instead, Seattle received strong pitching from lefty Jason Vargas and capitalized on wildness by Tribe closer Chris Perez to win, 3-2, at Progressive Field.

Vargas gave up two unearned runs in seven innings as the Mariners (54-72) defeated the Indians for the first time in five games this season. The Tribe (62-62) has lost four straight and fell into a tie for second with the White Sox in the AL Central. Both are 5 1/2 games behind the Tigers, who won at Tampa Bay.

The Tribe has not been in third since April 3.

With the score tied at 2, Perez opened the ninth by plunking right-handed batter Miguel Olivo with his first pitch. Perez hit right-handed Brendan Ryan with a 3-1 pitch, which the Indians thought might have ticked the bat.

"I guess I was flying open to righties, and the ball was taking off," Perez said. "By the time I made the adjustment, it was too late."

No. 9 batter Trayvon Robinson bunted toward the mound, where Perez fumbled the ball attempting to throw to third.

"I tried to do too much, too fast," Perez said.

Ichiro Suzuki whiffed. Former Indian Franklin Gutierrez popped to shallow center, where Ezequiel Carrera caught the ball and threw a strike to the plate with decent velocity. Olivo slid under the tag of catcher Lou Marson in a bang-bang play.

Tribe manager Manny Acta, who has seen more than a few calls go against his club, argued briefly with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.

"I watched it on replay," Acta said. "It was very, very, very close -- but he was right."

Perez walked Dustin Ackley, then struck out Mike Carp swinging.

"It was one of those bad outings, and it's unacceptable," Perez said. "I gave up a run without giving up a hit. That's pretty embarrassing."

Perez has been a superb closer this year, but several non-save situations have ended ugly.

"I think it's more coincidence than anything," he said. "The game is still on the line. I'm mentally in it. I'm still trying to get three outs without a run scoring and get my team back in the dugout."

The Indians threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Brandon League. With two outs, Jack Hannahan singled to left and sprinted to third on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall's single up the middle. Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan should have made the play on Chisenhall's grounder, but the ball went under his glove.

With Carrera at bat, Chisenhall stole second unopposed. Carrera fouled three full-count pitches before grounding to first.

"Our pitching gave us a chance one more time; we just couldn't execute offensively," Acta said. "We had plenty of opportunities but couldn't take advantage."



(cleveland.com)