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Trevor Bauer holds a teammate, but not the lead, in Indians victory

Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer checks the scoreboard during a rough fifth inning against the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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It was the third inning of a scoreless game when Trevor Bauer felt inspired, stood up from the bench in the visitors’ dugout at Dodger Stadium and gave Indians center fielder Michael Brantley a hug.

“Just kind of felt like he could use a hug,” said Bauer, the Indians’ starting pitcher in a 5-4 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon. Brantley, he noted, has run into a streak of bad luck at the plate.

Maybe Bauer, a star at Hart High in Newhall and an All-American at UCLA making his first start at Dodger Stadium, was also looking for some karmic assistance.

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The third overall selection in the 2011 draft has made strides this season. At home in Cleveland, Bauer owns a 4-3 record and an earned-run average of 3.48. But on the road, a win has eluded him. After a no-decision on Wednesday, Bauer is 0-5 in nine career road starts. He’s 4-3 in the same number of home starts.

If there were a place to break the streak, it would be in Los Angeles. Friends and family were at Dodger Stadium to watch the game, as well as his unique pregame long-toss routine.

Before the game, Vin Scully mused, “Maybe he’ll think it’s home and pitch a gem.”

He did for four innings. His curveball grew teeth by the second inning, and he settled into a groove. He limited the walks that have proved destructive.

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Of all things, it was a mistake to his opposing pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu that temporarily unglued Bauer in the fifth inning. Pitching with a 2-0 lead and two outs, Bauer gave up a double down the line to Ryu that scored Miguel Rojas from first base.

Bauer walked the next two batters. He then gave up a two-run single to Andre Ethier. There were three mound visits in the inning.

“I just felt a little out of sync that whole inning,” he said.

“When Ryu got that hit, it seemed like he started elevating a little bit,” said Indians Manager Terry Francona. “It cost him three runs.”

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Bauer exited with two outs in the sixth inning, trailing 3-2 — close enough for a decisive eighth-inning rally for the Indians. After the game, he appeared pleased with the result.

But even here, so close to home, even after a string of several quality road starts, he remained winless away from home. For that, maybe Bauer is the one in need of a hug.

Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter: @zhelfand

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