Indians reliever needs some relief
Spokane Indians reliever Dario Beltre had an earned-run average of 1.80 a little more than three weeks ago. A lot has happened since then. Read game story
The Indians led 3-2 Thursday when Beltre relieved Peter Fairbanks in the seventh inning. The 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic allowed two singles to right field, a perfect bunt to move the runners up, and Kevonte Mitchell's game-tying RBI ground out for the second out of the inning. Donnie Dewees broke the tie with a double to center field, and Frandy De La Rosa and Andrew Ely followed with RBI singles for a 6-3 lead. Beltre's night ended when he hit the next batter, Ian Rice, with a pitch.
"He's just been struggling with his command lately, everything he throws," Indians manager Tim Hulett said. "It looks to me like he's really slow to the plate and then right at the last second he goes really fast and he's falling off the mound really bad."
In his last five appearances, Beltre has allowed 14 earned runs in three innings, ballooning his ERA to 11.08.
"He's a guy who can help us get to our closer," Hulett said. "We need a guy who can throw an inning or two, put up a couple of zeros and get to (Jeffrey) Springs."
