Roster Update: Michael Bourn’s leg injury was as serious as it seemed last night and he has since been placed on the 15 Day DL with a left hamstring strain. This is a very safe time to place someone on the DL as it includes the All-Star break, meaning he won’t miss as many games as he would normally during the season. Tyler Holt was called up in his place, jumping from AA Akron to start the season all the way to the Majors in just one three months. It would likely have been Tyler Naquin to be called up here, but Naquin recently broke his wrist and will be out for the remainder of 2014.
Player of the Game
Continuing his success from his last two starts, Corey Kluber was incredibly today, striking out ten Royals in eight innings. Kluber gave up just a single run on a Mike Moustakas home run and allowed just two singles and a double otherwise. He didn’t allow his first walk until the seventh inning, then settled down to retire the side in order in the eighth. Kluber made an attempt for the complete game, but gave up a double to start the ninth, then was pulled after striking out Salvador Perez for the first out of the inning. Even so, he earned his team high eighth win of the season and made a strong bid to be included on the AL All-Star team that will be announced tonight at 7 PM.
Feathers Up
There was much worry that the Indians would have a hard time scoring against the flame throwing left hander, Danny Duffy, but that worry seems to have been overstated. Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes each hit home runs in the second inning to put three runs on the board early. Gomes shot to center came with Ryan Raburn on base for the other run. Jason Kipnis, Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley singled consecutively to add another run in the fifth, leading to a season high ten hits against Duffy.
While the Indians remain in third place, this was a huge win for Cleveland as they gained a game on Kansas City during the series and are now sitting just two games out of second.
Feathers Down
Mike Moustakas may not be able to hit anyone else, but he owns the Indians as he hit his fifth home run of the season against Kluber in the fifth inning. He has just ten on the year and was recently sent down to AAA because he was struggling so much offensively, but nothing could get him back on track quite like Chief Wahoo. The pitch he hit the solo shot on was terrible, a fastball equal distance from each corner, one of the only poor pitches thrown by Kluber on the night.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Kansas City Royals 1
On Deck: Get ready for Nick Swisher Day tomorrow as the Indians begin a three game series with the New York Yankees. The first game will start at 7:10 PM after a ceremony honoring Mike Hegan.
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