Right-hander Jake Westbrook was activated off the disabled list Wednesday and made his first start since April 19. Westbrook pitched five decent innings, but the Indians lost 6-5 to the White Sox.
The loss featured two familiar themes for the Indians: a lack of clutch hitting and a poor bullpen. Cleveland began the day last in the American League with a .234 team batting average, a full 13 points lower than the mark of any other team in the league. A lack of overall hitting, and a lack of timely hitting, has plagued the Indians throughout the first two months of the season. Manager Eric Wedge continues to bemoan the lack of a solid offensive approach by his hitters.
For example, in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday, the Indians, trailing by one run, had runners at second and third with one out.
But Ben Francisco swung at the first pitch and popped out, and Victor Martinez swung at the second pitch he saw and popped out, ending the game.
The lack of selectiveness and patience by the hitters, particularly in clutch situations, has been one reason the team has struggled to score runs.
That lack of offense has been particularly noticeable recently. The Indians have lost 10 of their last 12 games.
WHITE SOX 6, INDIANS 5: Right-hander Rafael Betancourt gave up back-to-back doubles in a three-run Chicago rally in the seventh inning as the Indians blew a late 5-3 lead to lose for the 10th time in the last 12 games. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta had a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
