Roster Update: For the third time 2004, the Indians have acquired catcher Chris Gimenez, the second time from the Rangers. He was purchased from Texas, where he has spent the entire 2016 season in AAA, for cash and immediately added to the Indians Major League roster as the back-up catcher. In a corresponding move, Adam Moore was designated for assignment before actually playing in a game for the Tribe this year.
In addition, Ross Detwiler has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment in AAA Columbus.
Player of the Game
Despite a few troublesome innings, highlighted later, Corey Kluber was dominant tonight, pitching a complete game shut out while allowing just five hits. As the game progressed, Kluber was more and more dominant and in the seventh and eighth innings, five batters grounded out to Francisco Lindor at short and one struck out. He K’d seven overall, slightly lower than his normal rate, but he still had it when he needed it most. Kluber also used a couple double plays and some great defense behind him to get him out of jams as he earned his second win of the season.
Feathers Up
It took one time through the order for the Indians to get their first hit against Anibal Sanchez, but when the finally did, they made it count. Carlos Santana walked each of his first two times to the plate and it was thus that he began the bottom of the fourth. Francisco Lindor was then hit by a pitch moving Santana to second. Both runners advanced two bases on a Michael Brantley single to right, then Lindor scored the Indians second run when Mike Napoli doubled to deep right. A third run came in when Brantley scored on a wild pitch and Gomes brought Napoli in as well with a double to deep center. The four runs in the inning marked the third game in a row where Corey Kluber received at least three runs of support after getting just three total in his first three starts.
Feathers Down
Kluber had some command issues in the second when pitching out of the stretch, but ultimately, he worked things out without any real damage. After allowing a single to Nick Castellanos, he threw nine consecutive balls to load the bases. Luckily for him, he was able to get a weak grounder to first which Mike Napoli promptly threw home for the force out and a strike out of Ian Kinsler to end the inning with the bases still jammed.
Defense almost hurt Kluber again in the fourth when Justin Upton hit a high fly to deep center that Tyler Naquin looked about to catch before the ball glanced off the wall just above his glove. It looked as if Naquin could have easily caught the ball, but he didn’t leave the ground and had to run forward to recover the ricochet. After a single to right from Castellanos, Juan Uribe turned a brilliant double play from third while keeping Upton from scoring. For the second time in the night, Kluber then stranded a runner at third with a strike out to end the inning.
All in all, this had to be Naquin’s worst career MLB game with two strike outs, the poor defensive play and a double play. Of course, this is something all players go through and Naquin will have plenty more opportunities to make up for it.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Detroit Tigers 0
On Deck: Trevor Bauer and the Indians will look to sweep their second consecutive series against the Tigers tomorrow at 6:10 PM against the right handed Michael Fulmer filling in for the injured Shane Greene.
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