Roster Update: Good news keeps coming for the Tribe as their third injured man returned to the team today. Tommy Hunter was officially taken off the 15 Day DL prior to the start of the game and was added to the 25 man roster. To make room, left handed reliever Ross Detwiler was designated for assignment. With the addition of Kyle Crockett Wednesday, the Indians still have an eight man bullpen, but only one left hander.
Player of the Game
Not to be outdone by his pitcher, Jason Kipnis followed hits from Corey Kluber and Rajai Davis with a two run home run to right field, just beyond the fence. This gave the Indians a 3-0 lead and Kipnis a .213 WPA.
Feathers Up
The Indians had a tough time squaring around Adam Morgan in his first start of the season, but that didn’t stop Indians starting pitcher, Kluber from taking his hacks. Although he struck out in his first at bat with runners at first and second, he hit a two out double down the left field line in his second to extend the fifth inning. It was Kluber’s second Major League hit (2014 against Arizona), his first extra base hit and the Indians first by a pitcher since 2008. After the double, Davis singled him home for Kluber’s second career run scored (2013 after walking against Philadelphia).
Feathers Down
After circling the bases on offense, Kluber had a hard time finding his control upon return to the mound. In the bottom of the fifth, he allowed back to back doubles to Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz, then after an error from Mike Napoli, he allowed an RBI single to David Lough after falling behind 3-1. The pinch hitter for the pitcher grounded into a double play, which should have ended the inning, but thanks to the Napoli error earlier on, allowed the tying run to score. Kluber struck out Peter Bourjos to end the inning, but it was only after all the good work he had done on offense had been completely eradicated.
Indians hitters were straight flailing today, striking out 17 times against Phillies pitching. The starter, Morgan, accrued seven in his five innings, but more impressive was Andrew Bailey, who struck out four of his six batters faced. For the Indians, the worst offenders were Yan Gomes, who struck out three times while going 0 for 4 and Mike Napoli, who struck out four times going 0 for 5. Napoli had already come into the game leading the team with 29 strike outs and now ranks third in all of baseball with 33.
Cody Allen was asked to go above and beyond the normal line of duty for a closer when he came into the 10th with just one out and bases loaded to relieve Jeff Manship. Incredibly, Allen struck out the first batter and forced a ground out to short stop to end the inning with the game still tied at three. However, he wasn’t so lucky in his second inning of work as the first batter he faced in the 11th was Ryan Howard, who quickly blasted an inside fastball well beyond the wall in right for the walk off win.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 3 – Philadelphia Phillies 4
On Deck: Trevor Bauer will make his triumphant return to the Indians starting rotation tomorrow in game two of three against Philadelphia. For the Phightin’ Phils, second year right hander Jerad Eickhoff will toe the rubber at 7:05 PM against the Tribe offense.
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