Roster Update: In addition to the trade for Jason Kubel (further analysis of which can be found here), the Indians also signed former Indians starting catcher Kelly Shoppach today and sent him to AAA Columbus. These are exciting and desperate times around the wigwam.
Player of the Game
Showing just how bad the Indians offense has been of late, Marc Rzepczynski won his 3rd Player of the Game, which is the most amongst relief pitchers. He threw one full inning, stuck out 2, and stranded 2 inherited base runners.
Feathers Up
As expected, Miguel Cabrera is a wounded beast. Despite all hit pain, he is giving everything to Detroit and trying to play every night, but tonight he just wasn't able. After a feeble strike out in the first inning, Cabrera was pulled defensively in the top of the third. There is no offensive game changer as big as Cabrera, so it was huge for the Indians for him to leave the game early.
The Indians took a "free" run in the 6th inning after a Nick Swisher double was followed by 3 walks. It was the Asdrubal Cabrera walk from Al Alburquerque that brought the Tribe within 3.
The bullpen was saved by a shortened game due to rain. Instead of throwing 4.1 innings, the bullpen only had to pitch 3.1.
Feathers Down
Things already looked bad in the third inning with the bases loaded and just one out, but they got a lot worse. Victor Martinez hit a fly to center that should have been an easy sacrifice fly, but Michael Bourn never saw it and it dropped at least twenty feet away from him. Since Prince Fielder was on first, only two runs scored on the double, but the Tigers put two more on the board before the inning ended.
The Tribe bullpen was summoned early tonight after an early exit by Zach McAllister in the 4 inning. McAllister gave up 5 runs in 3.2 innings.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 2 – Detroit Tigers 7
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