Player of the Game
After his early mistake, Carlos Carrasco really starting to set things down. He took advantage of the Royals aggressiveness by pitching out of the strike zone, starting his great breaking pitches within the zone, before the moved to unhittable locations. This lead to nine strike outs across six innings and he allowed just four hits beyond the home run in that span as well. All those hits were singles and he didn’t allow another run after the home run. While there was a blip in the sixth when he walked two to load the bases, he was able to induce an easy ground ball to end the threat.
Feathers Up
Alex Gordon hit the first pitch of the game out to right center, placing the Indians in a hole to start, but the lead wouldn’t last long. Carlos Carrasco got a pick off and a strike out to end the first, then Jason Kipnis homered in the Indians first at bat of the game as well to match Gordon and tie the game.
The Indians added single runs in each of the innings from the third through the fifth thanks to a Giovanny Urshela home run, a Lonnie Chisenhall bases loaded sacrifice fly and double. Chisenhall’s double may have been the most impressive of the three (no offense to Urshela’s bomb to left) as it came with two on and two out in the third. While Alex Rios came up with the ball quickly in right (quick enough to keep Carlos Santana at third), Chisenhall took a big turn around first and when he threw towards the plate, took second without a throw.
Chisenhall added a third RBI in the seventh after the Indians bullpen had combined for two runs allowed (more to follow). A little seeing eye single through the right side of the infield brought Michael Brantley in from second, then a Yan Gomes doubled to the gap in right brought home both Chisenhall and Carlos Santana, who had walked, to give the Indians a 7-3 lead.
Feathers Down
After walking three straight without retiring a batter last time out, Zach McAllister was a curious choice for Terry Francona in the seventh, particularly with Carrasco pitching well and only at 82 pitches. In addition, Jeff Manship, Shawn Armstrong, Giovanni Soto and Kyle Crockett were available and underused in the pen despite being essentially perfect this month (Crockett and Manship would eventually pitch the 8th and do a great job with it). Instead, it was McAllister and he allowed two runners to reach while retiring two, the second being on a lucky pop up on a pitch that should have been ball four to Alcides Escobar. Again going to a pitcher who has been over used and struggled lately, Francona brought in Shaw, who threw a wild pitch on his first attempt, then allowed two infield singles to third to push across the second and third runs of the game of KC.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 8 – Kansas City Royals 3
Scoreboard Watch: The Angels and Mariners got started late, but the other two games of interest to the Indians were well along when this game ended. The Astros were tied with the Rangers 3-3 (4 games ahead of Cleveland in the Wild Card) while the Tigers were getting rocked by the Twins 7-1 (3 games ahead).
On Deck: The second of four games with the Central leading Royals will be Tuesday night at 7:10 PM. Starting for the Tribe will be Josh Tomlin, who has generally been fantastic, if a little home run friendly, since his return. He will face Kris Medlen of Kansas City.
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