Rookie Ryan Merritt impresses in second-ever start as Indians shut out Blue Jays

TORONTO – Ryan Merritt smiled only slightly when answering reporters questions in the Cleveland Indians clubhouse, even as teammate Trevor Bauer slowly poured the entire contents of a champagne bottle on his head.

Although Merritt claimed to be nervous, his demeanour was no different on the mound as when ice cold sparkling wine was trickling down his hat and soaking his American League Champion shirt.

The 24-year-old Merritt retired the first 10 batters he faced in only his second Major League start, giving up two hits and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings to help Cleveland shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Wednesday.

“The emotions out there were kind of crazy at first, a little nervous,” said Bauer as his teammates celebrated the Indians first World Series appearance since 1997. “But it settled down, just trusted myself, stayed within myself, didn’t let the — tried not to let the crowd get to me too much, trusted my defence and just be myself out there.”

Merritt had pitched 11 innings in the majors before Wednesday, including a five-inning start on Sept. 30. He had a 1.64 earned-run average with six strikeouts in that limited experience, prompting Blue Jays right-fielder Jose Bautista to predict that Merritt would be “shaking in his boots” facing Toronto’s formidable lineup in a packed Rogers Centre.

The left-handed rookie, however, said it didn’t take long for him to calm himself on the mound.

“I was definitely nervous the first inning, but I definitely got confidence after you get through the first inning,” said Merritt. “You see where you’re at with your pitches. You say, ‘Okay, I can get these guys out.’

“And we got an early lead. Our team put up runs early so it gives you confidence to go out there and pitch and just relax, not try to do too much.”

Merritt’s teammates faith in him never wavered. Fellow pitchers Bauer and Andrew Miller insisted that knowing how grounded Merritt is that he’d be unflappable despite the pressure of his first post-season season.

“I don’t think anyone in here is surprised,” said Bauer. “If you know anything about Ryan Merritt, if you know him at all, if you’ve spent any time around him, his demeanour is perfect for this situation. We knew he wasn’t going to be rattled.

“He went out there and did exactly what he does. He executed pitches, spotted the ball, competed. Fantastic job by him.”

Miller, who pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Merritt, agreed with Bauer’s assessment.

“He went out there and for whatever reason we believed in him. And it says a lot about this team and a lot about him,” said Miller. “What a special day for him. What a guy. For him to go out there and face those big hitters and never seem to get out of his speed and never seem to fall out of his comfort zone, it was incredible to watch.”

Cleveland manager Terry Francona stopped Merritt in the bowels of Rogers Centre before the young pitcher entered the large interview room in the stadium to address media. Francona reassured him that this round of interviews would be easier than his pre-game scrum.

According to Merritt, that rapport between manager and pitcher had helped set the tone for Wednesday’s win.

“Probably two hours, three hours before the game (Francona) just pulled me into the office and he said, ‘Hey, no matter what, good or bad, when you go out there we’re behind you,’” said Merritt. “He said, ‘I’m behind you. Your team is behind you. Everybody is behind you. So just go out there and be yourself, control what you can control and just have fun, just enjoy it.’”

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