Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber had pitched well in three previous starts this season, but the meager Indians offense prevented him from winning.
Well, the team was blanked again Wednesday with its ace on the mound, this time against the host White Sox. The difference was that Kluber was battered, especially in the middle innings before being removed.
"For me, I can only focus on going out there and trying to prevent the other team from scoring," Kluber said to MLB.com. "Once you start letting other stuff get to you or creep in your mind, it takes away from what you're trying to do. My job is not to worry about things other than me trying to prevent them from scoring. I didn't do that well enough today."
Kluber was hanging tough through five, yielding only a solo home run to Jose Abreu and run-scoring double play grounder. But he allowed six hits and two wild pitches thereafter while retiring just three batters. He finished having surrendered six runs on a career-high 13 hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
He will try again for his first victory of the season Monday against Kansas City.