Bullpen 'gave it everything' after Civale's (1/3 IP) early hook

NEW YORK -- Guardians manager Terry Francona said leading up to Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday that he told Aaron Civale not to worry if he saw the bullpen warming up behind him early in his start. Turns out Civale barely had much of a chance to look over his shoulder, other than watching Giancarlo Stanton’s three-run homer clear the fence.

No sooner had Stanton crossed home plate after that first-inning drive than Sam Hentges began throwing with urgency in the bullpen. After Josh Donaldson’s ensuing infield single, Civale was out.

Even in an era when managers churn through pitchers in postseason games, it was a nightmare scenario for Francona.

“I felt terrible taking him out that quickly,” Francona said after the 5-1 loss that eliminated Cleveland from the postseason. “I just didn’t think we could give up any more. I knew it was a big ask with our bullpen. I thought they did terrific just to hold it to what they did.”

? Guardians' season ends in ALDS vs. Yankees

The Guardians' pitching staff in general did outstanding work for most of the ALDS, holding the Yankees to a .182 batting average -- fifth-lowest for an advancing team in a best-of-five or longer series. But the quality of New York's hits, including nine home runs, was costly.

Not only did Civale’s postseason debut come with an ALCS berth in the balance, it came 13 days after his most recent appearance, in Cleveland’s regular-season finale. He threw side sessions in the bullpen to keep his arm ready, but there was little to simulate a sellout crowd of 48,178.

“Obviously disappointed. Just didn't have great command early on and didn't last very long,” Civale said. “It wasn't lack of effort. I think I just didn't have great control.”

Civale retired just one of his five batters -- ironically, a strikeout of Aaron Judge -- and threw just 12 of 26 pitches for strikes. He became the eighth pitcher to record one or no outs in a winner-take-all postseason start, and the first since Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz in Game 5 of the Braves’ 2019 NL Division Series loss to the Cardinals. Three of the previous seven teams went on to win their game after the quick hook, but the Guardians never caught up.

“He just didn’t come out commanding very well,” Francona said. “Before he had a chance to settle into the game, he elevated a cutter and it’s three [runs].”

Though Civale had been one of the Guardians’ most effective starters in September following his return from forearm soreness, he was out of sorts from the get-go, starting with a four-pitch walk to Gleyber Torres as he struggled to locate his cutter. Judge’s strikeout came on a breaking ball over the plate, but it nearly got Civale back into form. He flipped a couple more for strikes to Anthony Rizzo but then hit him with a 2-2 cutter.

“Strikewise, it is what it is,” Civale said of his cutter, “but I thought the pitch itself was fine. Just trying to feel out that lineup, left a pitch up, and one of the guys that gets paid to hit home runs hit a home run.”

As Hentges stretched in the bullpen, Civale threw his most regrettable cutter, a 2-0 pitch on the outside edge of the plate to Stanton, who crushed it at 107.5 mph on a line to right-center.

“Just tried to call the pitches that he's good at, and it didn't quite go our way today,” catcher Austin Hedges said.

Once Francona pulled Civale, Cleveland’s bullpen procession lurched into motion. Francona had different scenarios depending on how deep Civale pitched into the game, but Hentges was on call for an early exit.

“With Sam, he has the ability, if he can get on a roll, to maybe go multiple innings,” Francona said. “They had a couple really good at-bats off of him when he first came in that lengthened out the first inning [and] hurt his chances to go longer.”

A nine-pitch walk to Harrison Bader particularly taxed Hedges, who threw 16 pitches to get out of the inning. He retired the first two batters of the second inning before hanging a breaking ball to Judge, who belted it to right-center for a solo homer and a 4-0 lead.

Trevor Stephan, James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase -- who locked down late innings for Cleveland during its defining stretch -- were sure to pitch, even if just to keep the game close. The only question was when they’d appear and how many innings they could cover. Once Stephan began the third inning, the trio had the rest of the evening -- seven outs each from Stephan and Karinchak, four outs from Clase. They combined for nine strikeouts over six innings with a run on three hits, all three off Karinchak.

“They gave it everything,” Francona said. “They emptied the tank for us. You start to worry. We try to keep them around 30, under 35 pitches, and they all did that. But that was a big ask, and they did a terrific job. They have done a terrific job all year.”

They’re a big reason why the Guardians should remain formidable in the AL Central next year, but there was only so much they could do Tuesday.