The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • C5

Akron Beacon Journal Ohio.com INFORMING. ENGAGING. ESSENTIAL. Sunday, August 25, 2019 C5 By Ryan Lewis Beacon CLEVELAND It was just about the last thing Brad Hand wanted to see when he stepped on the mound Friday night to begin the ninth inning after three consecutive blown- save chances (and a fourth appearance that too pretty, either). Alex Gordon, leading off the inning for the Kansas City Royals, made weak contact (78 mph exit veloc- ity), but it found the right spot to squeak through the Indians infield for a rela- tively cheap hit.

Hand said later his response anything along the lines of, here we go but considering his recent struggles, it ideal. Hand has clearly been off lately, but a reliever have as many chances to work through issues or make adjustments like start- ing pitchers who have side days built into their regular routine. The only real solu- tion is to get back out on the mound and work things out on the fly. And for a closer pitching in the ninth with the game on the line, that ideal, either. want to go out there and throw bull- pen after bullpen, because going to wear yourself out that Hand said.

just got to really focus in on your catch game and when you get up in the game and getting ready, bear down and those things. you get out in the game, you really think about anything mechani- cally. just going out there trying to get outs and finish the A few weeks ago, Hand was dealing with an issue with his slider, and it led to another poor stretch of outings. That pitch nor- mally rolls off his hand in an effortless way, and he actively trying to give it some extra movement. As it started to feel off, though, Hand began doing just that and, instead of the slider breaking off the plate, it was staying in the zone, and he and the Indians were paying for it.

This time, Hand says, a mechanical issue that been trying to work through. a little thing in my he said. been working on it. Other than that, the other day, my previous one against the Mets I felt like I threw the ball well. Just trying to build on that one into this one.

It was nice to get the job done, for Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters in New York that the Indians run from Hand. The bullpen has performed much better as a unit than expected on Opening Day, but Hand remains a vital asset, both now and in October should the Indians get there. On Friday night, all things considered, a squibber through the infield was a poor start, but Hand recov- ered to induce the double play ball he needed and ended up with a pretty clean ninth inning and save No. 30 in the 4-1 win. have that trust in him and to keep giving me the ball in the ninth inning is huge.

Obviously, I done well and cost us a few wins these last few out- ings but to have his trust, it for sure Hand said. you blow a few in a row, you want to keep get- ting out there, keep getting opportunities and right the ship. Obviously, my past few been great. Just gotta grind and keep with it and keep the same Pitchers near return possible Indians pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Dan Otero could be activated when rosters expand Sept. 1, assuming all goes well over the next week.

Carrasco, who has been fighting chronic myeloid leukemia, and Otero, who is on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflam- mation, are progressing in their rehabs. Francona said Saturday that if all goes well, Otero will be activated Sept. 1 when the Indians are in Tampa Bay. The Indians also hope to activate Carrasco that day, and the first time a date has been discussed as at least a possibility. It will still depend on how Carrasco feels as he adds rehab assignments.

slated to pitch two innings or so with Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, take a few days off, then throw another rehab outing and so on. If Carrasco feels good, he could become a key compo- nent of the Indians bullpen, potentially through the last month of the season and the postseason. is on schedule where come off on down in Francona said. think hoping that the same way. kind of the plan.

And that can change. But been Ryan Lewis can be reached at nal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/ indians. Follow him on Twitter at Indians closer works on delivery Indians catcher Roberto Perez congratulates closer Brad Hand after they defeated the Kansas City Royals on Friday night in Cleveland. ASSOCIATED By Brad Bournival correspondent RubberDucks hitting coach Justin Toole know what life is without baseball largely because he never left the game.

And he have it any other way. The 32-year-old went right from a life as a minor-league player to coaching at the same level. actually been a big plus for Toole, who compiled a .249 batting with 61 doubles, six triples and a home run in seven seasons in the Indians farm system. a tough transi- Toole said. was in the organization long enough where I knew a lot of the staff and a lot of the expectations of the organization.

I think I actu- ally made the transition pretty good. When you get into a new role, you kind of have to prove yourself as a person. I felt like I did that as a player. "The transition have gone better. The only difference is as a player you have to get yourself prepared.

As a coach you have to get 12 or 13 other players Those players have grown with him whether it was in Mahoning Valley in 2016, Lake County in 2017 and Lynchburg in 2018. come to trust the hit- ting coach who once played all nine positions in a nine-inning game. Some of that is because the age difference drastic, some of it is because not that far removed from the game, play- ing his last contest with the RubberDucks on Sept. 7, 2015. has been one of the biggest influencers in my pro- fessional outfielder Mitch Longo said.

remem- ber the first day I met him in Mahoning Valley in our short season, it was right after I was drafted. I sure what was going on and he came up to me and was like, Justin. I just want you to know that been through everything going through now. I know scary and there will be a lot of questions. Anything you need, your how he deals with all his players and given him instant respect in the clubhouse.

Just four years removed from playing ball himself, Toole need a refresher course on the lingo because the same language used when he played. Speaking of languages, taught himself enough Spanish that he can communicate in their native tongue. makes it easier in terms of having a Toole said. what guys are working on and what language they like to speak. The hardest thing about having a new player is understanding my language and my terms for hitting and their terms and meeting in the The Ducks rank fifth in bat- ting average (.241) in the Eastern League, but are third in runs (1,019) and fourth in home runs (97) and total bases (1,565) very knowledgeable in terms of how the body works and how it out- fielder Trenton Brooks said of Toole.

speaks the language. He did it for seven years of pro ball and four years before that in college. Having a guy around that understands how we talk and how we think is hugely What brings even more respect is willingness to go the extra step with his hitters. Before games, you can find him in front of a computer showing his hitters exactly where things are going right and wrong in an at-bat. Should they struggle at the plate and he sees an instant cor- rection, pull them aside in the dugout and fix things right there.

say enough good stuff about Brooks said. have a bad at-bat and talk to him and giving me instant feedback. I probably drive him nuts asking him about what- ever, but awesome. very hands on, very involved. He really wants to see his play- ers Ducks have right Toole for the job Former minor-league player makes seamless transition to hitting coach Tough outings are adding up for reliever Brad Hand RubberDucks 2, Flying Squirrels 0 The RubberDucks picked up their third win in a row Saturday against the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Akron's Canal Park.

The Ducks (59-72, 25-37) scored all the runs they needed on a single by Ernie Clement and double by Nolan Jones in the fifth. Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer went 0-for-3 and fin- ished his four-game rehab assignment 4-for-13 (.308) with a home run, two doubles and three RBI. Indians right-hander Jefry Rodriguez pitched two score- less innings, giving up one hit and striking out two. In two outings with the Ducks this past week, Rodriguez allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts in 3 innings. David Speer (3-3, 1.81) picked up the win after retiring the only batter he faced.

The four-game series con- cludes at 2:05 p.m. Sunday when left-hander Tanner Tully (7-11, 4.72) faces Flying Squirrels right-hander Brandon Lawson (5-8, 3.56). Brad Bournival, com correspondent A trainer and manager Terry Francona came out to check with Ramirez, who after a few moments walked to the dugout and left the game. The Indians termed it as right wrist discomfort. Ramirez has been one of the hottest hitters in the baseball in the second half of the season, hitting .327 with an OPS of 1.068, 13 home runs, 18 doubles, 40 RBI and six stolen bases in 40 games entering Saturday night.

Mike Freeman took his place and had a productive night, including an RBI hit in the third inning on which his bat traveled farther than the ball. With Oscar Mercado on third base after a double and a wild pitch in a scoreless game, Freeman splintered his bat on a ball that traveled 27 mph and never reached the infield dirt. But it happened to be in the perfect spot, and Freeman reached with an infield single to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. a i i i Franmil Reyes had a run- scoring hit of his own, but he certainly got his money's worth. Freeman's single was followed by Jason Kipnis' walk.

Reyes then pummeled a pitch from Royals starter Glenn Sparkman for a three- run homer deep into the Home Run Porch, extending the Indians' lead to 4-0. The Indians (76-54) brought home all four runs with a bloop and a blast in the bottom of the third inning. And with Clevinger and the bullpen dealing, it was enough. Clevinger pitched 5 innings, allowed one run on four hits and struck out eight. He also registered career strikeout No.

500 during the game. A a i Clippard and Brad Hand each threw a scoreless innings to close the Royals (45-85) out. For Hand, it was save No. 31 and his second consecutive converted save chance. Saturday's game was the first sellout at Progressive Field since the home opener.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at nal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/ indians. Follow him on Twitter at INDIANS From Page C1 ON DECK SUNDAY: Royals at Indians Time: 1:10 p.m. TV: STO Pitchers: Jorge Lopez (2-7, 6.25) vs. Shane Bieber (12-6, 3.26) MONDAY: Off TUESDAY: Indians at Tigers Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: STO Pitchers: Adam Plutko (5-3, 4.54) vs. Daniel Norris (3-10, 4.70) WEDNESDAY: Indians at Tigers Time: 7:10 p.m. TV: STO THURSDAY: Indians at Tigers Time: 1:10 p.m. TV: STO FRIDAY: Indians at Rays Time: 7:10 p.m. TV: STO SATURDAY: Indians at Rays Time: 6:10 p.m.

TV: STO Indians starter Mike Clevinger delivers during the first inning Saturday against the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland. THE ASSOCIATED.