Player of the Game
For the second time in three games, Brandon Moss helped the Indians score in multiple ways. He knocked in the Indians first two runs with a home run to right, just beyond the reach of Gregory Polanco, then scored the Indians third run as well after getting hit by a pitch. Michael Bourn, who knocked Moss in with a double to right, deserves credit as well as he put together four good at bats to earn a walk and a solid out to third in addition to the RBI double and a two RBI single, his best game this season.
Feathers Up
Terry Francona used a little bit of a different lineup tonight in the National League park and he had some good early returns. David Murphy, who would normally have missed the game as the DH, started in right field and had the first Indians hit. Knocking him in was Brandon Moss, who started at first instead of right field for the first time since May 31st, when Carlos Santana was on the paternity list. While it was Santana that missed out on this game, after the two run Moss home run gave the Indians a two run lead, that may have been a good thing.
While it wasn’t quite the near perfection we go used to in Tampa, Trevor Bauer had an excellent outing tonight against one of the best hitting teams in the NL. He was perfect through three, then continued to set down hitters after allowing a single and home run in the fourth. Over his last two starts, he has walked just two after struggling with command through the previous five starts. Tonight, his only walk came in the seventh when it was pouring rain and neither he, nor his opponent Antonio Bastardo, could grip the ball well.
In addition to his pitching prowess, Bauer, who singled in his last NL game, drew a nine pitch walk in the seventh inning against Bastardo. This at bat was of particular note as he mimicked the batting stances of his teammates Ryan Raburn, Mike Aviles and Jason Kipnis. After reaching, Bauer even slid head first back into first base after taking an extended lead. He was ultimately stranded on second after a Kipnis walk.
After the rain delay, the Indians added a little more of a cushion for the Tribe bullpen in the top of the eighth. David Murphy walked then Yan Gomes and Giovanny Urshela singled, loading the bases and extending his hitting streak to 12 games (20 game on base streak). Bourn then brought two home with a single to push the score to a three run lead at 5-2. While Francisco Lindor would ultimately end the inning with a bases loaded ground out to the pitcher, three was more than Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen would need to finish the final two innings.
Feathers Down
There was sporadic rain all night, but the umpires didn’t decide to pull the tarp until there was one out in the bottom of the 7th. The delay would be significant at over two hours and caused the early departure of Bauer, who had made only 74 pitches.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 5 – Pittsburgh Pirates 2
On Deck: The Steel City rivalry will continue as Cody Anderson leads the Indians on the road looking for an Independence Day victory against Jeff Locke of the Pirates. There will be a special holiday start time of 4:05 PM in Pittsburgh.
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