Player of the Game
Francisco Lindor gave the Indians a small sign of hope by taking advantage of some late wildness from starter Edinson Volquez. The Royals righty walked Giovanny Urshela and Jason Kipnis to start the seventh and was replaced by Joe Blanton. Lindor took the first pitch from Blanton out of the ballpark to right center to bring home three, more than the Indians have scored in each of their past four games.
Other than this play, Lindor had a forgetful game, going 0/4 with two runners stranded in scoring position, a double play and an error in the ninth inning. This was Lindor’s first award of the season.
Feathers Up
Carlos Santana continues to heat up, although slowly, as he hit his second home run of July tonight, just his 11th on the season. The solo shot gave the Indians their first run of the night in the second and was a long shot to center.
Jeff Manship and Austin Adams each pitched well tonight, throwing two scoreless innings to allow the Indians at least a chance of a comeback. Manship inherited runners at second and third and, while a sac fly scored one, he was able to strand the other. Adams pitched the final two frames for the Tribe and struck out one batter, allowing no hits, walks or runs.
Kipnis continues to scorch, even if the rest of the lineup can’t quite keep up. Kipnis was on base four times tonight with three singles and a walk, but scored just once on the Lindor home run.
Feathers Down
LOB Watch: The Indians had runners on first and third with two outs in the first, bases loaded with two outs in the second and runners on first and second in the third with none out and were unable to score in any of these early game situations.
Cody Anderson continues his slide back to mediocrity as he allowed multiple runs for the second game in a row after not doing so during his first four. Today he allowed seven, more than double the total of his first four games combined, on eight hits, two home runs. He got behind very quickly in the first thanks to a three run, Eric Hosmer home run and things never really turned around.
Marc Rzepczynski came in to relieve Anderson in the sixth and was originally successful, retiring Mike Moustakas to end the inning and strand a runner on third, but he wasn’t so lucky in the seventh. Left in to face the first three batters, he allowed singles to all three, two of whom scored.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 9 – Kansas City Royals 4
On Deck: Game two between the Royals and Indians will take place tomorrow night at 7:10 PM in Cleveland. Trevor Bauer will look to rebound after two poor starts since the All-Star break against Chris Young.
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