Roster Update: In a surprise move, the Indians lost another starter today when the designated Zach McAllister for assignment. If he is not claimed, he will join Columbus in two days. In his place, Tyler Holt was recalled.
Player of the Game
Despite the offensive onslaught, the Tribe’s top player tonight was starting pitcher Danny Salazar, who’s one run allowed was unearned thanks to a David Murphy error. Salazar struck out four in six innings, allowing just seven base runners and one extra base hit. With the win, Salazar has reached .500 at 4-4.
Feathers Up
Two challenges that went the Rangers way were not enough to keep the Indians offense down as they still were able to come through in multiple run scoring opportunities. The Tribe put runs on the board in the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings on their way to 12 total.
The scoring was provided by the entire lineup, but Michael Brantley and David Murphy stood out particularly. In his first three at bats, Brantley hit a double and two singles, knocking in two and scoring another before being removed late in the game. Murphy brought something extra to the table with two doubles, two singles, two RBI and two runs of his own.
The Indians biggest inning of the night, the six run fifth, started with the most common of events, a Carlos Santana walk. Against Jerome Williams, Lonnie Chisenhall and Nick Swisher singled to load the bases with Yan Gomes coming up. As has been the norm of late, Gomes came through with a single of his own to score Santana and keep the bases loaded. Murphy then knocked in both of his runs with a double, giving the Tribe three in the inning and runners on second and third. After Ryan Raburn grounded out for the first out of the inning, Jason Kipnis walked to load the bases again. After all three runners moved up on a wild pitch, with one scoring then and the other two scoring on a Mike Aviles single.
Feathers Down
For some reason, the Indians continue to be an all or nothing team. It seemed tonight that they came through in every conceivable situation, the opposite of last night’s match. While generally an outpouring like tonight’s would be considered a great event, but if the Indians can’t continue through the rest of the series, it will be quickly forgotten.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 12 – Texas Rangers 2
On Deck: Jim Thome will be honored prior to tomorrow night’s game with the unveiling of his new statue in center field. After, the Indians and Rangers will play the second game of this series with the Tribe trying to win the series at 7:05 PM.
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