Player of the Game
While the Indians offense barely appeared in this game and Corey Kluber wasn’t long for the showers, Jeff Manship put in more than his fair share of work, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out one without allowing a hit. Bully for Manship, the best of the Indians pitchers tonight.
Feathers Up
Jose Ramirez has become infamous for his mid-run helmet removals (there are multiple twitter accounts dedicated to the act) and tonight he brought his show to the next level. Running from first to second on his second inning double, Ramirez’s helmet fell off behind him, hit the back of his foot and landed on his backside after he slid into second. With little else positive going on tonight, we could all use the laugh.
Jose Ramirez almost kicked his helmet back onto his head. @Indians #Tribe #CLEvsHOU pic.twitter.com/lZ7pLFKPWq
— Chris Morris (@camorris) May 10, 2016
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Feathers Down
If you want a reason to distrust advanced metrics, Carlos Correa came into tonight’s game with a -39.4 UZR/150 (I personally don’t buy into UZR until at least half way through the season and I prefer multiple seasons of data). The Indians were hitting the ball really hard off Mike Fiers in the first three innings, but the Astros got a fantastic barehanded play from Jose Altuve and two superb plays including a fully extended dive from Correa to keep the damage to just two hits and no runs in that period.
Corey Kluber looked completely dominant in the first inning, striking out all three batters, and he wasn’t much behind that when he retired all but Marwin Gonzalez (who walked) in the second. In the third, however, things quickly unraveled as the first six batters reached safely, highlighted by doubles down the left field line from Jason Castro and Jose Altuve and a two run single from Colby Rasmus. Gonzalez grounded out for the first out of the inning, but it scored the Astros fifth run, giving Houston the big lead early on in the game. Kluber was pulled from the game after just 2.2 innings and though Kyle Crockett did a fine job putting out the fires, it was too little, too late.
As great as the Indians defense has been all year, the sixth inning tonight should be considered an aberration, but it still happened. Luis Valbuena hit a ball to left and even though it wasn’t hit particularly hard, it still trickled under Michael Brantley‘s glove for a double. While he was on second, Yan Gomes attempted to pick him off and the ball glanced off Lindor’s glove, allowing the former Tribesman to reach third. Valbuena scored on a sacrifice fly as an unearned run and while it mattered little in the game already down four, it was sloppy defense play that an offense as inconsistent as the Indians can’t afford.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 1 – Houston Astros 7
On Deck: The Indians will face some new blood tomorrow as rookie right hander, Chris Devenski will make his third career start. So far, things have been looking good for Devenski who, between the rotation and bullpen, has posted a 1.46 ERA in 24.2 innings with 22 strike outs. Another pitcher who began the year in the pen, Trevor Bauer will go for the Tribe.
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