Well, that hurts

I don't want to overstate the importance of a game played April 11 by a team that doesn't figure to contend for the playoffs anyway. But when you go into the bottom of the sixth with a 7-1 lead against the first-place team in your division, after getting six runs off Justin Verlander, you've just got to win. But the bullpen gave it up. After Jake Westbrook pitched into the sixth, surrendering three runs, five members of the Indians' pen finished it up, and only one of those five did his job.

• Jensen Lewis pitched an inning, giving up one run on two hits and two walks. He's lucky it was only one run, with four baserunners.

• Aaron Laffey pitched to one hitter, whom he walked.

• Joe Smith pitched to one hitter, getting Magglio Ordoñez to fly out to center. (He's the one guy who did his job.)

• Rafael Perez pitched to five hitters and only got two outs — on a double-play ball — giving up four hits and two runs in the process. The hits were all singles, and he didn't walk anybody, implying bad luck; but he also didn't strike out anybody, which is not bad luck.

• And the capper was provided by interim closer Chris Perez, who relieved Rafael in the eighth. He did get out of the eighth without any further damage, which left the score at 8-6. But in the ninth, the poor guy totally fell apart. He retired pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn on a ground ball to short. Then Ordoñez singled. Miguel Cabrera walked. Carlos Guillen doubled to drive in Ordoñez, making it 8-7. Brandon Inge grounded out, putting Perez within one out of a shaky save. Ramon Santiago walked, loading the bases, but Perez still just needed one more out. But he then walked Johnny Damon to force in the tying run. (How does a major-league closer, interim or not, walk in the tying run?) While pitching to rookie Scott Sizemore, Perez uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Guillen with the winning run. Catcher Lou Marson probably should have blocked that ball, but it was in the dirt, which is on Perez.

And the Indians are now 2-4 instead of 3-3. Not good.