Roster Update: To make room for Kelly Shoppach, Jose Ramirez, Nick Hagadone, Preston Guilmet and Blake Wood, the indians had to remove a couple of players from the 40 man roster. Tim Fedroff and Juan Diaz were the victims of the first days cuts with more expected in the coming days as Clay Rapada is not currently on the 40 man roster.
Player of the Game
Mike Aviles provided all the fire works the Indians needed tonight, knocking in four runs in the top of the ninth with a grand slam against Joaquin Benoit. He was out in his other three at bats, but the game winning hit was enough to win him the Player of the Game with a score of 6.69. Danny Salazar came in a close second with a POG score of 5.54.
Feathers Up
The Indians don't have to face the Tigers again during the regular season. They went just 4-15 record against Detroit in 2013 after winning two of the first three games of the year. Cleveland can now finally put the Tigers out of their mind and focus solely on their single remaining chance at the postseason, one of the two Wild Card positions.
Danny Salazar showed why he is considered the Indians top pitching prospect again today as he threw six shut out innings against the Tigers. He was pulled due to a pitch count limit after the sixth, but was dominant all day, pitching with great command that allowed him to keep out of trouble. He allowed just six hits (only one of which went for extra bases) and struck out four during his start.
Two players got their Major League debuts today, courtesy of the September Call-Up rule. Nick Castellanos for the Tigers pinch hit and played left field while Jose Ramirez pinch ran for Carlos Santana in the ninth inning. Neither did anything spectacular, but Ramirez stole 38 bases for the Aeroes this year and did a good job in distracting closer Joaquin Benoit when he was on first. Ramirez did score his first run of his career, placing him just 1,153 runs away from the All-Time Indians record, currently held by Earl Averill.
After eight scoreless innings for both teams, Mike Aviles finally broke through with a grand slam in the ninth inning against the Tigers closer. It was his first career grand slam and saved the Indians pride if nothing else. The blast ended the Indians five game losing streak.
Feathers Down
The Indians weren't able to get on the board early enough to get Salazar his second win of the season, instead the decision went to Joe Smith, who pitched just a single inning and allowed two base runners.
Despite outscoring the Tigers 4-0, the Indians were outhit 11 to 5 and essentially had just one hit that mattered when Aviles homered after Benoit walked the bases loaded.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Detroit Tigers 0
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