Roster Update: As expected, the Indians brought T.J. House back from AAA to make tonight’s start and, unlike Zach McAllister, he will likely stay on the 25 man roster for more than a day. To make room for House, rookie reliever Austin Adams was sent back to AAA after allowing runs in both of his appearances.
Player of the Game
Chris Dickerson came in as a pinch hitter in the third inning and it may have saved the Indians. In his first at bat, Dickerson came through with a two out, RBI single, pinch hitting for Asdrubal Cabrera. Dickerson then threw out two base runners from center field, something the original center fielder, Mike Aviles, almost certainly would not have been able to do. In his second at bat, Dickerson walked, then scored from first on a Yan Gomes double. While he was originally kept out of the lineup because the Indians were facing a lefty, he obviously didn’t have any problem against Kris Johnson.
Feathers Up
T.J. House had enough problems of his own, throwing pitches right down the center of the plate leading to three doubles and three runs in the first three innings, so he certainly didn’t need a foul ball to be called a home run, but it was. After two runs had already scored, Chris Colabello hit a ball that appeared to glance off the foul pole in right, but after review, it was discovered that it went foul just prior to reaching the pole. The call was overturned, Colabello eventually struck out and House finished the inning without the runner scoring from second.
It almost appeared as if Terry Francona was trying to lose this game as he started off with a terrible defensive alignment, a .200 hitter batting fifth and the Indians worst starter on the mound fresh up from AAA. Once House was removed from the game after five inning, Francona went with the Indians least dependable relievers in C.C. Lee, Nick Hagadone and John Axford in a one run game. Despite all this, the Indians still managed to keep in the game within a run until Michael Brantley finally entered the game in the eighth to tie it up.
In the eighth, Brantley pinch hit for Ryan Raburn and doubled to right-center. Nick Swisher moved him to third with two outs and Roberto Perez brought him home with a single up the middle, his fourth hit and third RBI in three games since joining the Major League squad.
Feathers Down
The Indians started the game out with what was likely the worst possible defense the current 25 man could produce. Two of the three outfielders are generally considered infielders, Nick Swisher and Mike Aviles and the third, Ryan Raburn, was an infielder until two years ago. This situation changed quickly, however, as Cabrera was injured on a throw during the bottom of the second and was replaced in the lineup by Dickerson, who moved into center field.
Francona started taking things seriously in the eighth inning when he pinch hit Brantley and brought in Bryan Shaw to pitch the bottom of the inning. With the score tied, Shaw gave up a solo shot to Josh Willingham that gave the Twins back a one run lead which was more than enough for Glen Perkins, one of the top closers in baseball, to save the game with.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 3 – Minnesota Twins 4
On Deck: Danny Salazar will return to the Majors as the Indians take on the Twins in the second game of this three game series, tomorrow night at 8:10 PM.
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