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Indians manager Terry Francona said he wanted
left-hander Oliver Perez to warm up in the bullpen when the
Reds, who entered the ninth inning trailing 7-0, began to rally
against right-hander Cody Allen. The Cleveland closer was in the
game in a non-save situation.
So with three runs in and lefty-hitting Joey Votto stepping to
the plate with the bases loaded, Francona went to the mound to
summon Perez, or as the coaches refer to him, "OP."
Instead, Dan Otero, or "OT," a right-hander, emerged from the
bullpen. Votto was hitless against Otero in four career at-bats
and also had been hit by a pitch.
"When I saw OT coming through the gate, it was not the guy I was
expecting," Francona told reporters.
Votto and Otero went to a full count before Votto hit a long
double to right field that cleared the bases and gave the Reds a
6-4 lead. Votto then scored on a single by Eugenio Suarez.
After the game, Francona and pitching coach Carl Willis both
tried to take the blame.
"I made the mistake. I brought the wrong guy up," Willis said.
"Not that (Otero) can't get the job done, just wasn't the right
matchup."
According to Francona, "That one lands squarely on me. There's
no getting around it. I've got to be responsible for that."
Francona likely wanted Perez because Votto is hitting .216
against left-handers this season vs. .332 against right-handers.
But in their career matchups, Votto is hitting .308 (4-for-13)
with a home run and six RBIs against Perez.
Also, Tuesday's appearance was Otero's fourth in the past five
days.
--Field Level Media
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