The Indians found a closer Friday night. Whether he remains the closer the rest of the season is still to be determined, because there have been false alarms before.
But for one night, anyway, Jensen Lewis was able to get the last three outs in a game the Indians were leading, this one a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. It's the first career save for Lewis, and it comes in the Indians' first game since a disastrous 10-7 loss to Tampa Bay in which two Indians relievers gave up six runs without getting an out in the ninth inning. Neither of those pitchers, Edward Mujica nor Masa Kobayashi, so much as warmed up in the bullpen Friday night. Manager Eric Wedge was intent on giving Lewis a chance to close the game, and this time it worked.
The Indians added another body to their bullpen Friday, purchasing the contract of veteran Brendan Donnelly from Class AAA Buffalo. Although Donnelly has never been a full-time closer, he may get that opportunity with the Indians, who haven't had a designated closer since they released Joe Borowski just prior to the All-Star break.
Since then, virtually everyone in the bullpen has gotten an opportunity to save a game, the latest being Lewis, who was successful. It likely means he will remain in that role for the time being.
INDIANS 5, BLUE JAYS 2: RHP Anthony Reyes pitched into the seventh inning, allowing one run in his Indians debut, and OF Shin-Soo Choo had two clutch hits in the victory. Choo had two-out RBI hits in the Indians' three-run fourth inning and two-run eighth. Reyes, acquired from St. Louis in a minor-league trade a couple weeks ago, gave up seven hits, with four strikeouts and one walk in getting the win in his first American League appearance.
