Carlos Carrasco continues redemption tour after injury-riddled 2021 with another gem

Carlos Carrasco's 2021 season was the definition of "add insult to injury."

After missing a bulk of time with a hamstring injury, Carrasco pitched to a measly 6.04 ERA. While not the primary piece of the trade that sent him here in early 2021 (that was Francisco Lindor), it was understandable to question that part of the acquisition.

But Carrasco is on a redemption tour, and it continued on Thursday with 7.2 innings of two-run ball against the defending NL West champion San Francisco Giants en route to a 6-2 win.

“Last year was last year. I had so many injuries last year, couldn’t figure it out. But this year, I’m good, healthy, and I think that’s more important," Carrasco said after the win.

Buck Showalter could sense something special was coming from Carrasco during spring training.

“He didn’t make an excuse, didn’t give in, and [last year] was frustrating for him" Showalter said. "He had a little look in his eye in the spring; he was all business. Not that he hasn’t been before, but you don’t become a prisoner to the past by dwelling on it. You just kinda move forward….

"I always admired him from afar, because he was such a strike thrower and competitive guy, but it’s good for everyone to get a reminder of why he has been one of the best pitchers in the American League for a long time with Cleveland. We wanted no part of seeing him.”

At one point, Carrasco retired 18-straight batters, and he hopes that can build into something more.

“I’m confident... every pitch is working. When I have those two outings retiring 14-plus, all those pitches have been working. That’s what I want for the postseason, too.”

Showalter added: “That’s a really good lineup. You see a guy continue to be successful a third time around an order, it tells you he’s got a lot of weapons at his disposal that day…. That was fun to watch."