Roster Updates: The Indians finally put their toe in the trade deadline waters today as they sent DH and clean-up hitter, David Murphy, to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for 23 year old, AA short stop Eric Stamets. Murphy was still on the roster for tonight’s game, not leaving until the fourth inning. His replacement has not been announced.
In addition, the Indians did make one official roster move, bringing up left handed pitcher Michael Roth for Jesus Aguilar. Aguilar played in just three games, all against White Sox left handed starters, in his four games with the team. Roth has been a starter in AAA, but is most likely going to be the Indians second left hander out of the bullpen unless further trades from the Major League level are made.
Player of the Game
After two poor starts, Trevor Bauer had one of his best this season tonight, going eight innings, striking out six and allowing just one only slightly earned run (explained later) and one completely earned. Bauer didn’t allow a walk until the eighth inning and this one may have been semi-intentional as he worked Jarrod Dyson very carefully with Omar Infante on third after a one out triple. When Dyson wouldn’t chase any of the four two strike pitches, he was then able to induce Alcides Escobar into a double play.
The second run scored off Bauer came in the ninth with two outs after Lorenzo Cain was caught stealing and it looked as if Eric Hosmer had struck out. Hosmer then took Bauer deep to right to give the Royals the 2-1 lead.
Feathers Up
Despite apparent team speed in Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Francisco Lindor and others, the stolen base has been absent from the Indians base running game this season with just 44 as a team, 20th in the Majors. That all changed today as the Indians took advantage of Royals starter Chris Young for six total on seven attempts. Most impressively, Michael Bourn stole a career high three bases including two in a row in the fifth, the second of which caused an error that allowed him to score the Indians only run of the game.
Feathers Down
LOB Watch: The Left on Base watch is all about Brandon Moss tonight as he was the man who struck out in the first with runners on first and third to end the inning as well as the player to fly out with the bases loaded in the fifth. Jason Kipnis was also guilty of one affront, flying out to end the second with runners on first and second.
Moss was also responsible for the Royals only run of the night after he dropped a fly in right field to give Lorenzo Cain a triple. While it was a tough running catch and not considered an error, the ball was completely in Moss’ glove before he ran into the outfield wall and dropped it. Safe at third after what could have been the third out in the inning, Cain came home on an Eric Hosmer single.
The Indians didn’t leave a runner on base to end the game, it was even worse than that. Roberto Perez was out on an incredible play that would have been a single for any player faster than the average sloth, then, after Bourn walked, Mike Aviles grounded into a game ending double play. Normally in this situation, the Indians would have used a pinch hitter, but there were no left handers on the bench thanks to Murphy’s untimely departure.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 1 – Kansas City Royals 2
On Deck: Wednesday will be the best pitching match of the series for the Indians with Corey Kluber facing Jeremy Guthrie. A get away day, the game will start at 12:10 PM in Cleveland to help them get to Oakland in time for their night game on Thursday.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
