Roster Update: Elliot Johnson earned a very well deserved DFA this afternoon after making two errors in last night’s game. The only reason Johnson was on the team in the first place was as a defensive specialist, and since he was incapable of even that, he was designated. Left handed reliever, Nick Hagadone, has been brought back to the Majors in his stead, giving the Indians a nine man bullpen.
In addition, Yan Gomes has been placed on the Paternity List as he expects his first child. George Kottaras, the six year veteran who played last with Kansas City, will take his place on the roster. It was also announced today that Josh Tomlin will be the Indians fifth starter and will be added to the roster on Tuesday.
Player of the Game
Justin Masterson has outdone himself, throwing his best game of the season against his favorite whipping post, the Chicago White Sox. Masterson threw a season high 7.1 shut out innings, striking out six and allowing just four hits. Of the seven base runners total (4 H, BB, HBP and 2 errors), two were erased on double plays. Masterson had his sinkerball working tremendously as he held the White Sox to just six fly balls, all of which were caught besides the Adam Dunn double. His 8.90 POG score was the second highest this season by a pitcher, behind only Corey Kluber’s 10 strike out complete game.
Feathers Up
The Indians don’t own the only lead gloves in the league as the White Sox defense was horrendous as well, today. The Tribe’s first run scored when Marcus Semien dropped an easy pop up by the pitchers mound to score Lonnie Chisenhall from third with two outs. Two bunts also challenged Chicago and, although they were both called singles, both Michael Bourn and Jose Ramirez would have been out at first against an average defense. On Ramirez’s bunt, a Tyler Flowers error allowed him to reach second. He later scored on a Nick Swisher sac fly to give the Indians two unearned runs.
Nick Swisher doesn’t like media negativity, so Burning River Baseball would like to compliment the ultimate bro on his amazing diving double play that ended the fifth inning. Swisher also came through with a sacrifice fly to give the Indians a two run lead in the bottom of that inning. There is nothing negative you could possibly say about the menopausal Swisher.
Feathers Down
The Indians’ offense has started to return, but there has been no break from the poor defense. Asdrubal Cabrera turned a slow routine ground ball into his fourth error of the season. Lonnie Chisenhall then made an even worse play in the fifth, turning another easy grounder into a two base throwing error. Later in the inning, Carlos Santana allowed a ball to pop out of his glove that was somehow called a wild pitch, pushing Dayan Viciedo, who had reached on the error to third. It was only a tremendous defensive play by Nick Swisher, who also has four errors, that kept the White Sox off the board.
Just when he seemed to be heating up, Michael Bourn has felt a twinge in his troublesome hamstring. Bourn reached on a bunt single in the third and ended up stranded on second, but didn’t return to the field for the top of the fifth (he was replaced in the lineup by Mike Aviles and in the field by Michael Brantley). Bourn missed the first 13 games with a strained left hamstring and felt it starting to go that way again, so he removed himself from the game. He is essentially day-to-day as the Indians will have to wait out Bourn’s sensitive muscles.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 2 – Chicago White Sox 0
On Deck: The Indians will look to wrap things up with a sweep at 1:05 PM with Andre Rienzo facing Corey Kluber at Progressive Field.
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