Player of the Game
Trevor Bauer set a new career high by pitching eight innings for the first time. This was huge for the Tribe, who lost a turn of T.J. House through the rotation due to last night’s debacle. It is also a good stepping point for Bauer, who had pitched less than five innings in two of his three previous starts. In today’s eight, he allowed just two runs on four hits and two walks. Bauer struck out nine for a POG score of 6.60, but was unable to earn the win in the game.
Feathers Up
Trevor Bauer was almost flawless through the first five innings, allowing just a single runner via a walk, who he later picked off. The Diamondbacks first hit came in the sixth and lead to a run, coming after a Jake Lamb walk, pushing the Arizona third baseman to third. A run scored on a double play, but Bauer limited the damage by ending the inning with a 1-0 score.
The Tribe gave Bauer some backing in the bottom of that inning and everything was started by the newest Tribesman, Zach Walters. Walters singled for the first time as an Indian, then Jason Kipnis moved him to third with a single. Kipnis reached second on the throw to third, then both runners scored on a Michael Brantley single. Carlos Santana added a double, but Brantley was unable to score and the Indians ended the inning with a one run lead.
Tyler Holt came through today with both his first career hit and his second with singles coming in the third and seventh innings. While he has been on the roster for eight games, it has generally been as a pinch runner/defensive replacement and his three at bats in today’s game give him four on the year. In his one other plate appearance he was hit by a pitch giving him a .500 AVG and .600 OBP.
Zach Walters not only had his first hit as an Indian in this game, but his first home run as well and it was a big one. Walters came up in the bottom of the ninth in the tie game with one out and took a 1-2 pitch for a walk-off home run to right. The home run was even bigger than just the win as it saved the Tribe bullpen for the night game, placing them in a better chance to sweep the double header and the series.
Feathers Down
Despite what the players who played it and fans who watched, there actually was not a game last night. Tyler Holt did not make an outstanding catch and T.J. House did not pitch three shut out innings. Jason Kipnis didn’t knock in a run or slide across the tarp into home. None of it happened, so don’t pretend it did.
The Tribe had a magnificent chance to score in the seventh with the game tied, but squandered it when Walters couldn’t get a sacrifice bunt down. After two walks put Chris Dickerson and Lonnie Chisenhall on first and second, Walters missed on a bunt and Dickerson was thrown out at second. Walters was then safe on a fielder’s choice, but the Indians’ best chance had already been ruined. Holt’s second single would have scored Dickerson, but instead, the inning ended with the game still tied when Kipnis struck out.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 3 – Arizona Diamondbacks 2
On Deck: Stick around Tribe fans, game two of this double header will begin in less than an hour.
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