Roster Update: On Monday, the Indians signed AAA reliever Ryan Webb, who had been released by the Dodgers. Because of some odd moves, the Dodgers will receive the 74th pick in the 2015 draft from the Orioles for Webb and will pay his $2.75M salary for the year, making anything he does for the Clippers or Indians this year free of charge.
In slightly bigger roster news, Shaun Marcum was designated for assignment after a fantastic appearance in the finale against Detroit. His 25 and 40 man roster spot was needed for Brett Hayes, who will assume the back-up catching duties. To increase pitching depth, free agent Jhoulys Chacin was signed just a few days after being released from Colorado, where he had spent his entire six year career. Chacin struggled in 2014 and hasn’t pitched in 2015, but holds an impressive career ERA of 3.78 with a 14.1 career WAR, despite pitching at Coors Field.
Nick Swisher will start playing rehab games next week, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Player of the Game
Because he has not gotten much love the past year or so, Ryan Raburn deserves to be tonight’s player of the game. Even though it was an unearned run, he still doubled to drive in the Tribe’s only run of the game.
Feathers Up
Ryan Raburn blasted a RBI double in the 4th inning to finally put the Indians on the board against White Sox starter Jose Quintana. It was an encouraging plate appearance for Raburn as he managed to foul off three pitches before hitting a (rare) hanging slider from Quintana that brought home Jerry Sands from second. It is the second game in a row Raburn contributed an RBI.
Austin Adams and Anthony Swarzak both pitched two scoreless innings to settle a bullpen which has been ineffective for most of the young season. Swarzak added two strikouts while allowing only one hit.
Feathers Down
The most devastating play of the game occurred in the first inning when, with nobody out, Melky Cabrera smashed a 1-2 fastball back up the middle that hit Indians starter Carlos Carrasco in the face and knocked him out of the game. The ball appeared to hit Carrasco’s right wrist before hitting side of his head. After laying on the ground for several minutes, he sat up while holding his left cheek bone which looked swollen. Zack McAllister, who was summoned to the bullpen in the recent roster moves, became the de-facto starter. The White Sox scored two runs in the inning on a Adam LaRoche ground out and an Avisail Garcia RBI single. The X-Ray on Carrasco’s face came back negative.
White Sox starter Jose Quintana allowed at least one base runner in his first three innings but the Indians offense, which has struggled all season long, could not come up with a hit in a high leverage situation. They finally mad him pay in the 4th inning.
The Indians continue to allow Jose Abreu to hang out over the plate and “dig in.” They have yet to back them off and they continue to hit Indians pitching hard.
Indians hitters struck out 14 times tonight including 4 from Brandon Moss alone. The last 6 Indians to come to the plate struck out.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 1 – Chicago White Sox 4
On Deck: Time to skip school tomorrow as the Indians play an afternoon game at 12:05pm. The Indians will attempt to end a four game losing streak as they send Trevor Bauer (1-0) to face yet another lefty in Jordan Danks. It seems as if the Indians can’t hit southpaw’s at all. Let’s hope that ends.
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