Player of the Game
Michael Brantley won his first ‘Player of the Game’ award of the season, by almost hitting a home run. Brantley went 1-4 with a two-run double and a fielder’s choice for a ‘POG’ score of 2.90. Brantley also made a nice running catch in left field, early in the game. This is the first ‘Player of the Game’ to be won by any left-fielder and leaves third base as the only position yet to win one.
Before today there were only 4 players left who had yet to get a negative ‘Player of the Game’ score in 2011, but now that number is down to two. Rafael Perez allowed his first run (unearned) of the season, giving him a blown save and the loss for a ‘POG’ score of -2.15. Lou Marson also had his first negative score of the season.
Feathers Up
Shin-Soo Choo made two fantastic throws to nail runners at the plate in the third inning, increasing his number of outfield assists to 5. Both runners (Alexi Casilla and Justin Morneau) ran right past the third base coach who was trying to tell them to stop. Apparently, nobody told the Twins before the game that Choo has a cannon, comparable only to the likes of one, Chris “Pure Rage” Perez.
Going into this series with the Indians, Justin Morneau had hit exactly zero home runs and that number remains the same going out of it. While Indians pitching didn’t exactly shut down Morneau, they kept him in the ballpark, which is a feat in itself.
Apparently, without announcing it, Vinnie Pestano has become the new right-handed set-up man. Early in the season the Indians were mostly going with a combination of Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp late in close games, but in the last three close games Manny Acta has given Pestano the ball when the other pitchers faltered. In those three games, Pestano has pitched 2.1 innings earning himself 2 holds while stranding 4 runners and striking out 3. The only run Pestano has allowed in his last 4 games was an inherited runner that was charged to Josh Tomlin.
Jeanmar Gomez came to the rescue today when Carlos Carrasco felt tightness in his pitching (right) elbow. Gomez’s start is being skipped this week, because of the rain-out, so he was available. Jeanmar pitched 3 innings, allowing only 3 hits and one run that was actually scored off Rafael Perez, after Gomez was removed from the game.
Feathers Down
Carlos Carrasco felt tightness in his pitching elbow. Right now that’s all we know, but that’s bad enough. With Mitch Talbot already on the DL, there aren’t many Major League ready options left for the Indians if this injury is serious.
Michael Brantley had a home run turned into a double thanks to MLB’s instant replay policy. This isn’t a feathers down because he didn’t get the home run. It’s because it took the umpires much more time than it should have to make the correct call. It still would have been nice if it was a few years ago and that fourth run would have counted.
Final Score: Indians lose 3 in a row for the first time this season.
Cleveland Indians 3, Minnesota Twins 4
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