Triston McKenzie has a start to remember as Cleveland Indians beat Tigers, 6-1

CLEVELAND, Ohio – If this was a one-time start, well, it’s a one-time start that should leave a lasting impression on the people who make the decisions with the Indians.

Triston McKenzie, in his big league debut on Saturday night, struck out 10 in six high-speed innings against the Tigers at Progressive Field. He made two mistakes, one of which he had no control over, but all went well.

McKenzie gave his former minor league teammate Willie Castro a first homerun and he made his debut on a night when the Indians were feasting or the starvation offense was on a hunger strike. At least, that’s what it looked like until the sixth inning, when the Indians scored four runs en route to a 6-1 win over the Tigers.

The points came just in time to make McKenzie (1-0, 1.50) a winner because he didn’t come out for the seventh inning after throwing 80 pitches. McKenzie’s 10 strikeouts are the second-strongest in franchise history by a debuting pitcher. Luis Tiant holds the record with 11 strikeouts in nine innings against the Yankees on July 19, 1964.

“Wow, that was awesome, man,” interim manager Sandy Alomar said. “He was very impressive. I was talking to Roberto Perez (receiver) during and after the game. He said McKenzie could throw back even though he had a good fastpitch because they were attacking him really early with the fastpitch.

“He’s figured out the situation, going back and forth, that way he takes them off the fastball.

When asked what’s next for McKenzie, a trip back to Classic Park or another Big League starter, Alomar said, “They’re still working on this. Carl (Willis, pitching coach) talks to Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff. But with this performance, I don’t see why he wouldn’t have another opportunity. But it’s a decision the organization has to make. “

McKenzie’s beginnings last a long time. The 6-5, 165-pound right-hander hasn’t pitched in a game he has scored for points since the second half of the 2018 Class AA Akron season. He missed the entire 2019 season with a tight rotator cuff and pectoral muscle. He’s been participating in intrasquad games at the Indians’ second training site in Eastlake since Spring Training II began on July 3.

He was the Indians’ second choice in 2015.

Castro gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with a home run from the first pitch in the fourth. He hit an 88 mph change of 445 feet, so he didn’t miss it. Unlike the other Tigers hitters, Castro had a sense of what McKenzie had pitched.

They played together in the Indian minor league system in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Indians traded Castro to the Tigers for Leonys Martin in the 2018 season.

McKenzie started the round by pulling out Victor Reyes on a fast 94 mph ball he lined up in the middle. Castro hammered out McKenzie’s change, but he didn’t blink. He hit Miguel Cabrera on four throws, including three fast between 95 mph and 96 mph. The round ended when Jonathan Schoop, who had four hits on Friday night, lined up to cross on a fast 95 mph.

Matthew Boyd (0-4, 8.48) held the Indians scoreless for the first five innings. Boyd entered the game with a 1-3 at Progressive Field and an ERA over 9.00, so it looked like the offense was in another frustration study, but they did something about it in the sixth.

Jose Ramirez started with a first step. Francisco Lindor struck right for his third hit of the game. After Carlos Santana lined up on the right pitch, John Schreiber relieved Boyd. He knocked out Franmil Reyes, but Jordan Luplow, still trying to get his batting average above .100, walked six lengths to charge the bases. Domingo Santana, down in the 0-2 count, managed to come back even before sending a three-point double into the left center gap.

Roberto Perez called with a single to make it 4-1. Carlos Santana added a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Cesar Hernandez and RBI single in the eighth to complete the scoring.

“I’m just happy that we were able to score a few points to give him the chance to take the win,” said Alomar.

Pitching coaches Carl Willis and Ruben Niebla said McKenzie would rely heavily on his four-seam fastball and curveball. He did not disappoint. He threw 46 fast balls at an average of 94.5 mph. He followed with 18 curves, nine changes and seven sliders, according to baseball savant.com.

The Indians have won seven of their last eight games. They have improved to 21-1 against the Tigers over the past two seasons.

Center fielder Delino DeShields left the game in the fifth inning with pain in his left hip.

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