DETROIT -- Indians right-hander Blake Parker heard the boos. How could he miss them from a crowd of over 32,000 Saturday night at Comerica Park?
The crowd was there to see Miguel Cabrera hit his 500th home run. But Parker started the fifth inning by hitting Cabrera with a 2-1 pitch.
“A few of the guys were joshing me saying I may need a body guard to get out of the ballpark,” said Parker on Sunday morning with a laugh.
Parker said the last thing he wanted to do was hit Cabrera. He wanted to get Cabrera out, but he wanted to give him a competitive at bat. If he hit No. 500 against him so be it.
“I was trying to go inside on him, which is something I’ve been doing a lot lately with some success against some good hitters who have faced me a few times.,” said Parker. “I’ve got to keep him off balance, got to keep him honest.
“It’s something that ate at me last night. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I have a lot of respect for him as a hitter and as a player. Sometimes when you try so hard not to hit someone, you kind of come out of what you’re trying to do.
“I was trying to give him a competitive at-bat, 100%. I have respect for him. I have respect for the game.”
The Indians lost the game, 6-4, but Parker’s leadoff walk to Cabrera did not figure in the loss. Jeimer Candelario hit into a double play and Parker struck out Renato Nunez to end the inning.
“I told him after I got the double play ground ball, ‘That’s on me,’'’ said Parker. “I know he knows I didn’t do it on purpose. But I felt bad all night. I didn’t want to be that guy. I want be the guy that goes out there and competes and lays it on the line. If he hits a homer, he hits a homer. But that’s not going to stop me from executing my pitches.”
Parker did enjoy the rush of facing Cabrera in a big moment.
“Those are some of the most fun moments you get to experience in the big leagues,” he said. “I was on the Angels when Albert (Pujols) hit his 600th homer and 3,000th hit. Great moments like that are especially fun. Not only are there two teams competing for second place, but you’ve got a packed-out crowd, they’re on their feet and you’re facing one of the best hitters in his generation.
“You want to hang a zero, you want to get him out, and at the same time you don’t to give up a home run. It’s just a fun situation to be a part of.”
No. 1: That went well
Shane Bieber, after throwing off the mound Saturday for the first time since June 13, is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Tuesday at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Bieber threw 20 fastballs Saturday at Comerica Park and impressed those who watched.
“He could command the baseball in his sleep,” said Ruben Niebla, assistant pitching coach.
Niebla served as the Indians pitching coach Saturday and Sunday as Carl Willis attended the 30th anniversary celebration of the 1991 Twins World Series championship team.
Bieber’s throwing session was described as “high-intensity.”
“It was exciting,” said Bieber. “Twenty fastballs and everything felt good. Looking forward to the next one.”
As for commanding the baseball in his sleep, Bieber laughed and said, “I don’t know about in my sleep, but it was coming back pretty good. It’s something I’ve been focusing on playing catch and in my sessions over the last few weeks. It’s something I want to continue to refine and keep once I return to game action.”
Bieber’s last start was June 13 against Seattle. He was placed on the injured list the next day with a strained muscle in his right rotator cuff.
No. 2: The next step
Aaron Civale will throw a two-inning simulated game on Tuesday for Class A Lake County at Classic Park in Eastlake. He threw a bullpen/simulated game Friday at Classic Park as well.
If all goes well Tuesday, Civale is expected to begin a rehab assignment. He has been on the injured list with a sprained middle finger on his right hand.
No. 3: Double duty
The Indians, starting on Sept. 14 in Minneapolis, will play three doubleheaders in nine days. After their day-nighter against the Twins, they will play a traditional doubleheader against Kansas City on Sept. 20 and a day-nighter against the White Sox on Sept. 23. The last two doubleheaders will be played at Progressive Field.
It’s going to make for a busy September for the front office because the days of teams having the right to expand their rosters to 40 players on Sept. 1 are over. For the last two years rosters can be expanded only from 26 to 28 players come September.
It means front offices will be making transactions through the final month of the season. The good thing is that the Class AAA season has been extended deep into September so teams will still have an active pool of players to draw from.
Teams will also be able to add an extra player for doubleheaders.
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