Clevinger gets nerves out of way in MLB debut

CINCINNATI — Mike Clevinger spent some time lying on a leather couch in the middle of the visitors’ clubhouse at Great American Ball Park on Thursday afternoon. The Indians’ rookie pitcher scrolled through his phone and chatted with Mike Napoli.

One day after his Major League debut, Clevinger was just happy to relax.

“It’s definitely good to put that behind me,” Clevinger said on Thursday. “Yesterday felt more like an event than like another game back to the grind. It’ll be good just to get back into the normal routine.”

Clevinger, the Indians’ No. 7 prospect, had an eventful day on Wednesday to say the least.

Not only did the right-hander throw up prior to his outing in Cincinnati, but he started to head to the wrong bullpen to warm up before the game. Those jitters did not show on the mound, though. Clevinger looked composed and held the Reds to two hits through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth.

“He had a fun day yesterday,” Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said with a smirk. “I think he threw up before the game. So, that was good. Get all those nerves out. I talked to him today. He said, ‘It’ll be nice to be able to pitch the next time, where I can actually feel my legs.’ It was a good day for him.”

Clevinger was given No. 52, which happens to be the number that former Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano wore during …

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