AKRON, Ohio — Cleveland Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco continued the comeback from his battle with chronic myeloid leukemia when he came on in relief for the second time in the last four days for the organization’s Double-A affiliate, the Akron RubberDucks.
Carrasco pitched the fifth inning and made it through two-thirds of the top of the sixth in Akron’s 5-4 extra-innings victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Canal Park in Akron Thursday night.
“It feels a little bit different,” Carrasco said following his outing.
“I went two innings. I think it is great because I was able to work with a lot of pitches against a couple guys, maybe six, seven pitches and just get them out. That’s what we want. We just wanted a little bit longer innings so I can get into my body a little bit more. That’s what happened, but I feel great.”
Carrasco came into the game to start the fifth inning and promptly struck out infielder Zach Houchins and outfielder Bryce Johnson, needing just four pitches to finish off the first batter and worked around a three-ball count for the second punchout.
Carrasco got catcher Jin-De Jhang to fly out to center field for the final out of the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, lead-off hitter Ryan Howard reached on a fielding error charged to Akron shortstop Ernie Clement, but Carrasco settled in and struck out outfielder Johneshwy Fargas swinging on just three pitches.
Then, Carrasco set down outfielder Heliot Ramos swinging for the second out of the inning before being pulled from the game.
“It was great because I could tell my pitches were working, and that’s what I’m looking for,” Carrasco said of the early strikeouts. “When you go out in the big leagues, that’s the type of pitching that I need to get to, to get some guys out, and that’s what I did tonight.
“My curveball, I got surprised a little bit today. It was really, really good, my change-up, too. Those were the two main pitches. My curveball and change-up were great.”
Over his 2.2 innings of work in two rehab appearances this week with the RubberDucks, Carrasco recorded five strikeouts with no hits or home runs and only one walk allowed.
Not sure yet what the next step in the rehabilitation assignment will be, Carrasco is focused on doing whatever he can to ready himself to rejoin the Indians’ 25-man roster before season’s end.
“I just want to work through everything,” Carrasco said. “I’m trying to get my body ready to go into the big leagues, and that’s what I’ve been doing right now. Everything that I did these two games right here, that’s what I’m looking for, be in control, throw all of my pitches and just get ready for the big leagues.
“I’m really happy to be pitching again. It’s great. I was out for two-and-a-half months, and now, I’m back to the mound. It’s been great.
“Everything feels great. I feel great, happy, the same guy I’ve been before. I’m glad to get the opportunity to pitch again.”
