Roster Update: Unfortunately, the previously discussed deal that had Jonathan Lucroy coming to the Indians for Francisco Mejia, Greg Allen, Shawn Armstrong and Yu-Cheng Chang fell through when Lucroy activated his no trade clause because the Indians wouldn’t give up his 2017 option, making him a free agent at the end of the year. Another, less favorable trade actually did happen though.
The Indians acquired Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees today, the premier left handed reliever in baseball. It cost the Tribe an equally great amount of talent as #1 prospect Clint Frazier, #6 prospect Justus Sheffield and relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller went to New York. Joey Butler, a Spring Training invitee still hanging around in AAA, was designated for assignment to make room for Miller. He was not added to the 25 man roster prior to the start of the game.
Player of the Game
As an entire unit, it’s safe to say that the offense won tonight’s game by scoring eight runs, but no single player did more than starting pitcher Corey Kluber, who threw seven shut out innings before leaving the game with a very comfortable 8-0 lead. Kluber struck out seven, allowing just five hits and two walks while earning his 10th win of the season.
Feathers Up
For the first time in this series against the A’s, the Indians scored first today when they put five across in the third. Things started with singles from Tyler Naquin and Abraham Almonte and a walk from Roberto Perez, who was trying to bunt, to load the bases. While Carlos Santana struck out, Jason Kipnis made up for it with a two run single, then moved up on a wild pitch. Francisco Lindor hit another sac fly to score Perez, then Mike Napoli finished it off with a first pitch home run to left for his 1,000th career hit.
The bottom of the line-up got things started again the following inning as Lonnie Chisenhall, Naquin, Almonte and Perez all singled consecutively. Chisenhall was thrown out on Naquin’s hit trying to run to third, but Naquin scored on Perez’s single and Santana walked to load the bases. This ended the night of Sonny Gray, who has looked nothing like the 2015 All-Star version of himself this year. A sacrifice fly from Kipnis brought home Gray’s seventh run allowed.
Milestone Alert: With his fourth strike out in the game, a swinging K of Ryon Healy, Kluber had struck out his 830th batter of his Indians career, the 14th most by any Indians pitcher ever. This tied him with Guy Morton, an Indians great from 1914 though 1924. Next up is the Hall of Famer Stan Coveleski who struck out 856 while in Cleveland.
Feathers Down
Carlos Santana appeared to have strained his calf during an 8th inning at bat and, while he stayed in to finish the at bat, was replaced in the field the following inning by Chris Gimenez. While it didn’t look serious, it will be something to keep an eye on in the coming games.
The Tigers also swept their series against Houston with a blow out shut out, winning 11-0. Detroit has now won five in a row and seven of nine, making it very difficult for the Indians to build upon their division lead.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 8 – Oakland Athletics 0
On Deck: The trade deadline is officially Monday at 4 PM, so we will know before the Indians 7:10 PM game starts whether there will be any further additions. They are still possibly looking for an outfielder or a catcher. Either way, the games must go on and Danny Salazar will take the mound at home against Tyler Duffey and the Twins.
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