Record-Courier staff report
Cleveland Indians relief pitchers Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano have been selected to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
Team USA will open play on March 8 in the event that will take place in Mexico.
The pair of eccentric relievers initially announced the news on their official Twitter pages.
Pestano (@VinnieP52) tweeted: "Just got the second best phone call of my career. I'm going to be wearing the Stars and Stripes in the WBC. #trulyhonored #childhooddream."
Perez (@ChrisPerez54) tweeted: "I am happy to say that I will be pitching for Team USA in the upcoming 2013 WBC. #Honored #Humbled #Ready."
Perez has been the Tribe's closer since the end of the 2009 season, when he was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis that sent Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals. In his three-and-a-half seasons with Cleveland Perez has 99 saves and a 3.23 ERA.
Pestano was called up to the big leagues in 2010, but only appeared in five games. His big season came in 2011 when he appeared in 67 games and had a 2.32 ERA with 84 strikeouts. He followed that year up in 2012 with 70 games and a 2.57 ERA with 76 strikeouts.
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