Cleveland reliever Fausto Carmona needs to be kept away from sharp objects.

July 31: Carmona comes in to try to close out a win for Cleveland at Fenway Park. But,
- A. Cora singled to left
- K. Youkilis walked, A. Cora to second
- M. Loretta popped out to shortstop
- D. Ortiz homered to deep center, A. Cora and K. Youkilis scored
Final: Boston 9, Cleveland 8

August 2: Eric Wedge tries Carmona again in Boston in the 9th. But,
- W. Pena struck out swinging
- C. Crisp struck out swinging
- D. Mirabelli hit by pitch
- G. Kapler ran for D. Mirabelli
- A. Gonzalez hit by pitch, G. Kapler to second
- K. Youkilis walked, G. Kapler to third, A. Gonzalez to second
- M. Loretta doubled to left, G. Kapler and A. Gonzalez scored, K. Youkilis to third
Final: Boston 6, Cleveland 5

August 5: Wedge sends Carmona out for the 9th in Detroit. But,
- B. Inge reached on bunt single to first
- C. Granderson struck out swinging
- P. Polanco grounded into fielder's choice, B. Inge out at second
- I. Rodriguez homered to deep left, P. Polanco scored
Final: Detroit 4, Cleveland 3

Followup: The Indians were saying the right things after the game about Carmona.

"We just have to take a look at everything," Wedge said. "We still feel like Fausto's got closer's stuff."

Afterward, Carmona said he felt he had been on track but picked a bad time to fall off course.

"I just missed that pitch," Carmona said. "I was feeling good, I was throwing the ball well. I just missed that pitch."

Cleveland's latest setback spoiled starter Paul Byrd's 6 2/3 innings in which he allowed two runs -- one earned -- and picked up his third consecutive no-decision. Byrd last won a 7-6 decision over the Angels on July 19.

Byrd did not blame Carmona, however. After all, Byrd surrendered seven runs on 10 hits in the three innings he pitched on July 25.

"[Carmona's] been pitching great for what three months now?" Byrd said. "There's not a lot of 22-year-olds that pitch up here but he is. I've been around for over 10 years and played since '91 and my [previous] two outings [were] disastrous. You gotta pick yourself up."

Because Byrd has been in similar circumstances, he had an idea how to reassure the Indians closer.

"I told Fausto that he's going to be fine," Byrd said. "If you can't deal with failure in this game, you don't stick around very long so you give it your best, you hold your head high and just wake up in the morning and come back to work."

Based on Carmona's overall performance this season, Byrd believes good things are still to come for the closer.

"He's going to be fine," Byrd said. "He has too good of stuff and is too good of a competitor to not be able to get guys out over the long haul. I like his aggressiveness too. He goes right after it."