Player of the Game
Carlos Carrasco has improved in each of his starts made since returning from the DL and today’s was his best since his second start of the year on April 13th. In his starts since coming back he has went 5 innings allowing three runs, 6.2 IP with 4 ER, 6 IP with 2 ER and 7.1 IP with 2 ER before throwing a complete game shut out today. In addition, Carrasco struck out seven and allowed just four hits with one walk.
Feathers Up
The Indians continued their mastery of Tigers pitching this year and in particular, Anibal Sanchez. Coming into this game, Sanchez had allowed 11 runs (10 earned) to the Tribe in his first two starts (9.1) innings and he started right were he left off today, giving up a lead-off home run to Carlos Santana to start the game and one to Francisco Lindor two batters later. The Indians added single runs in the second and third as well, pushing Sanchez’s ERA against Cleveland in 2016 to 8.94 and the Indians total score against Detroit this year to 51 (6.38 RPG) against 17 (2.12 RPG).
Santana had a very Santana-typical day today, going 1 for 3 with the previously mentioned home run, a walk and a strike out. With his two runs scored he now has 43 runs scored, 41 RBI, 42 walks and 42 strike outs on the season. Given that he has played in 72 of the Indians 73 games, he essentially does all of these things six out of every ten games and is on pace to finish the year ahead of 90 in all four stats.
The Indians were held scoreless from the fourth through the sixth, but against new reliever Mark Lowe, Francisco Lindor easily launched a 90 MPH, 2-0 fast ball into the tunnel right. This was Lindor’s second home run of the game and his first career multi home run game. Yan Gomes added another solo shot off Lowe to the stands in left to push the score to 6-0 in the 9th.
Feathers Down
Miguel Cabrera vastly improved over yesterday’s game when he initiated eight outs in five at bats as he went 1 for 4 today with a single and a strike out.
With three complete games in their last four starts, the Indians have been almost completely unable to use their eight man bullpen. Jeff Manship, Zach McAllister and Tom Gorzelanny have felt the brunt of this, none of which have pitched since June 15th while Joba Chamberlain and Tommy Hunter haven’t pitched since June 17th. The success of the rotation is a very good thing, but the fact that the 8 man pen takes away from roster versatility and keeps each pitcher from getting into a regular rhythm could be extremely detrimental in the long run.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 6 – Detroit Tigers 0
On Deck: The Indians will look to extend their both their overall winning streak and their winning streak against Detroit to 9 in a row tomorrow in a 1:10 start in the Motor City.
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