Player of the Game
Today’s top player was lead-off hitter and DH Carlos Santana. He knocked in the Indians first run with a solo home run, then walked and was safe on an error.
Feathers Up
While it could raise the argument that he should be hitting a few spots lower, Carlos Santana continues to succeed in the lead-off role. Today against Edinson Volquez, he lead the game off with a home run for the second time this year. In addition, this long ball was a Milestone Alert: as it was Santana’s fifth of the year and 122nd in his career, tying him with Jeff Heath for 15th in Indians history.
After falling behind 3-1, the Indians worked all angles to retake the lead over the next two innings. Immediately after giving up the lead, Mike Napoli came through with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to get it back to within one. While the Indians did load the bases that inning, they wouldn’t score again until the fifth when Francisco Lindor started things off with a single and steal before scoring on Michael Brantley‘s single. Mike Napoli walked, then was out at second on Yan Gomes‘ fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners. Lonnie Chisenhall singled in one and Marlon Byrd doubled in another as the Indians took the 5-3 lead.
The Royals very nearly tied the game a second time in the seventh, but some clever defense from none other than Francisco Lindor helped maintain the lead. After one run already scored off Zach McAllister, the Royals had runners on first and third with none out when Jarrod Dyson hit a ground ball to Lindor at short. Had he went for the double play, the run would have scored and it would have been tough to get the speedy Dyson. Instead, Lindor went home with the throw and Yan Gomes made a terrific tag to catch Cheslor Cuthbert. Bryan Shaw then came into the game and did get a double play to end the inning and earn a hold.
Milestone Alert: That hold was Shaw’s seventh this season and his 66th as an Indian, moving him into a tie for fifth all time alongside Vinnie Pestano.
Feathers Down
Josh Tomlin is who he is and asking him to be anything different at this point of his career would just be inconsequential. He was nearly perfect through the first three innings as Michael Brantley threw out one of his two base runners allowed, Lorenzo Cain, at second base in the first inning. In the fourth, however, we saw the other side of Tomlin as he allowed a double, a home run and two more hits to give the Royals a 3-1 lead. Tomlin being who he is, then shut the Royals down in order for the next two innings. He finished allowing four runs (one came in against Zach McAllister) on seven hits, no walks in 6+ innings.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 5 – Kansas City Royals 4
On Deck: The Indians will begin their shortest road trip of the season tomorrow when they head to Houston for three with the Astros. Tribe ace Corey Kluber will take the mound against Mike Fiers who has allowed a league high eight home runs in 33.2 innings this year (5.35 ERA).
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