Roster Update: Shawn Morimando‘s first trip to the Major Leagues was as short as expected as he was sent to AAA prior to today’s game. This was still a promotion in a way as he came to Cleveland straight from AA. Filling his place on the 25 man roster is Abraham Almonte, who’s 80 game PED suspension ended today. Since room had to be made on the 40 man roster as well, Michael Brantley was transferred from the 15 to the 60 day DL. He is now eligible to return to the team on July 9th, but wasn’t expected to be back before then anyway.
Player of the Game
Carlos Santana had two hits tonight including the one that lead to the only Indians run. After hitting a double and getting stranded at third in his second at bat, Santana singled with two outs in his third, went to third on a Jose Ramirez single and scored on another hit from Yan Gomes.
Feathers Up
Despite the loss, the Indians are still in a really good place. The winning streak brought them from third place to six games in front of Kansas City in first and even with two consecutive losses, are 23-8 in their last 31 games. Toronto has a very impressive offense, something all baseball fans learned in the second half of 2015 and something that continues today. The fact that the Indians held them to two runs in the first 28 innings of this series makes the last two games much more palatable.
For fans of position players pitching, this was a great series. After Toronto used two in the extra inning affair, the Indians went to Chris Gimenez in the 7th inning after he came into the game as a third baseman the inning before. Gimenez replaced Tommy Hunter with Lonnie Chisenhall moving from right field to third to replace him and Tyler Naquin coming in for the DH spot to play right field. Gimenez retired the Blue Jays in order for the first time of the night. Gimenez wasn’t so lucky in his second inning, giving up doubles to Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion, then a single to Russell Martin and a home run to Justin Smoak to allow his first earned runs of the year.
Feathers Down
While the addition of Almonte gave the Indians a three man bench again, it was in reality just two still as Juan Uribe was a late injury scratch. He was hit by a pitch and removed from the game yesterday and was unable to make the throw from third in pre-game warm-ups. Jason Kipnis replaced him in the line-up and Jose Ramirez moved to third to take his place in the field. Uribe is not expected to go on the DL.
Today’s game started very similarly to yesterdays as Corey Kluber gave up two hits, then a three run home run to Russell Martin. By the second, he allowed four hits, a walk and a Ramirez error at third setting the Indians up with the worst possible scenario after the bullpen game yesterday and 19 innings the day before.
Kluber continued to struggle as the game went on, allowing a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a double later, his night would be over. He pitched just 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits and a season high four walks, one intentional. At times, it appeared Kluber had regained his normal form and he did strike out four, but ultimately it was his lack of control that cost him. One of Kluber’s base runners scored off Joba Chamberlain after Kluber had been removed from the game, so he ultimately gave up five runs.
The Indians have been worried about the bullpen for awhile, despite their apparent success, because of peripheral numbers that didn’t suggest the success would continue. Because of this, any trade targets will likely be bullpen based and today showed why that’s such a necessity. Like Kluber, both Chamberlain and Tom Gorzelanny struggled with command as Chamberlain walked three in 1.2 innings and Gorzelanny three in one. Gorzelanny also gave up a three run home run, although it was to the right handed Troy Tulowitzki while he was in more to eat innings than to match-up. Gorzelanny faced eight batters, but retired just one and after two hits off Tommy Hunter, he allowed seven runs.
Hunter allowed a double and two singles to his first three batters face, allowing one of his own to score in addition to the two of Gorzelanny’s. Hunter pitched yesterday as well, finishing the game and allowing an inherited runner to score and two of his own in 0.2 innings. For a long time, his irregularity of use hid any flaws, but pitching three times against the Jays has really exposed the veteran right hander. Despite still having an eight man bullpen, the Indians really only have Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw and Dan Otero who are trusted by Francona in a close situation and if all the other five were cut tomorrow and replaced by Austin Adams, Shawn Armstrong, Kyle Crockett, Ben Heller and Jeff Johnson the Indians bullpen would probably be drastically improved. Givent their team success to this point, it would seem a drastic move, but eventually, you have to assume the bullpen will look almost completely different in a month.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 1 – Toronto Blue Jays 17
On Deck: The Indians haven’t lost a home game since May 31st against Texas and they will be back at home Monday for a Fourth of July spectacular against Detroit. The game will start at 7:10 PM and will feature a block party before hand, pullover giveaway and fireworks show at it’s conclusion. It will be the Indians second sell out of the season after Opening Day and technically the first since the ballpark was far from full when the Indians actually played their home opener a day after it was originally scheduled.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
