Roster Update: Reliever Scott Atchison was activated from the disabled list prior to the game as the Indians optioned right-hander C.C. Lee back to Triple-A Columbus. Lee was on the Indians roster for two days and pitched on June 12 against four Detroit batters. He allowed two hits and one run in 0.2 innings. Atchison has pitched in 15.2 innings and has a 1-1 record in 19 games with a 5.74 ERA.
Player of the Game
David Murphy continues to have a highly productive season in his platoon role, playing mostly against right-handed pitchers. Murphy now hitting .339 had two hits in three at-bats and scored twice for the Indians as the designated hitter on Sunday. Yan Gomes also had a hit in three at-bats and drove in two huge runs. Carlos Carrasco pitched decently in 5.2 innings giving up three runs in and seven hits, but struck out eight to get his eighth win. Cody Allen was clutch in racking up a four-out save as he got a critical third out in the eighth inning before successfully walking a tightrope in the ninth inning.
I’ll give the nod to Murphy as his clutch hits, including one off a lefty, lead to him score the Indians final two runs and what proved to be the game winners.
Feathers Up
The Tribe put together a rally in the top of the sixth inning when Michael Brantley lead off with a single to right. After Brandon Moss lined out, Murphy hit a line drive for a triple that score Brantley to tie the game at 3-3. Gomes then hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Murphy to complete the inning scoring.
Allen didn’t let a terrible call distract him on a checked swing that should have been the third strike on Miguel Cabrera. After eventually giving up the walk to Cabrera, the Indians closer then gave up a single to Yoenis Cespedes to put runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the ninth with the Indians leading 5-4. But Allen buckled down to get J.D. Martinez to ground into a double play to earn the save and preserve a hard-fought win.
Feathers Down
Figuring out how to get slugger Cabrera out on a consistent basis has been elusive for the Indians this season and today’s game was no exception. Cabrera went 2 for 4 with one RBI as he drove in the game’s first run with a single to the opposite field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead after the first inning. At least the damage inflicted by Cabrera was fairly minimal. For the season, he’s hitting .679 (19 for 28) against Cleveland.
The Indians managed to score five runs despite not getting one hit in five chances with runners in scoring position. In total, the Tribe left eight men on base.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 5 – Detroit Tigers 4
On Deck: Corey Kluber (3-7, 3.53 ERA) looks to get back on the winning track Sunday as he starts the final game of the three-game series in Detroit against Alfredo Simon (6-3, 2.76 ERA) at 1:08 p.m. Kluber pitched seven innings on June 9 in Cleveland against Seattle and gave up just two runs on seven hits, but issued three walks in the loss.
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