Player of the Game
You see something new everyday and today it was a Michael Bourn walk off home run that won the game for the Tribe. Mike Aviles started the ninth with a single and Bourn scored him and himself to give the Indians the 6-4 win and the sweep. Bourn also scored the first run of the game after walking and getting to second on a botched pick-off move. His 5.35 POG score was good for his second Player of the Game of the season and his first since April 23rd.
Feathers Up
The first three Indians of the game reached safely today and all scored as Jhoulys Chacin had trouble finding the strike zone in the first. Michael Bourn and Asdrubal Cabrera walked just nine pitches into the game, then Michael Brantley singled Bourn home. Lonnie Chisenhall then loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice that didn’t move a yard away from the plate, making it possible for Jason Giambi to knock in the second run with a four pitch walk. David Murphy finished off the scoring with a sacrifice fly to deep left that scored Brantley.
Josh Tomlin had excellent command today and a superb breaking ball as he struck out eight Rockies over 5.2 innings. He retired the final ten batters he faced, allowing just four hits and three earned runs overall. The one player who had Tomlin’s number was the reason for his early exit. In his first at bat, Corey Dickerson hit a two run home run and in his second, he flew out to Murphy, who had his back against the wall in right. Rather than face him a third time, Terry Francona pulled Tomlin despite the fact that he struck out the first two batters in the inning. Josh Outman replaced Tomlin and struck out Dickerson on three pitches, complimenting the move.
Feathers Down
As has been the case all season, the Indians defense was the main reason for the opponent scoring runs today. The Rockies scored their first two runs on a second inning Corey Dickerson home run, but it would only have been a solo shot if not for the Mike Aviles error that started the inning. The Rockies added another on in the third to tie the game and this time it was Michael Bourn, who threw to third on a Troy Tulowitzki single that was at fault. With no chance of catching Michael Cuddyer running the bases, Bourn should have thrown to second to keep Tulo at first. If he had, the ensuing Justin Morneau ground ball to second would likely have been an inning ending double play. Instead, Morneau was the only one out and Colorado tied the game at three.
Bryan Shaw is normally a sure thing in the late innings, but it was he who gave up the Tribe lead in the seventh. Shaw allowed a double to start the inning and walked Jordan Pacheco to make matters worse. After a D.J. LeMahieu sacrifice bunt, Charlie Blackmon hit a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game. Shaw stayed in to pitch the eighth as well, but allowed a single to Carlos Gonzalez and was pulled from the game for Marc Rzepczynski.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 6 – Colorado Rockies 4
On Deck: Things won’t get any easier as another team that is better than it’s record would show, the Boston Red Sox, comes into town for three. The series starts Monday night at 7:05 PM.
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