Player of the Game
Forgoing the sacrifice bunt with two strikes, Zach Walters hit his sixth home run as an Indian to give the Tribe the lead in the tenth inning. The bunt was on for the beginning of the bat, with Lonnie Chisenhall on second after a double, but once the count reached 2-2, Walters was able to swing away and gave the Indians a two run lead with the blast to deep right. Walters also hit an infield single earlier in the game to go 2/4 with a walk and a final POG score of 5.65.
Feathers Up
After a poor offensive week that saw the Indians score just eight runs in their past four games, Cleveland put three on the board in the first against the usually dominant Jose Quintana. Michael Bourn started the game with a great at bat, working seven pitches into a double, then Jose Ramirez bunted him to second. Michael Brantley was hit by a pitch before Carlos Santana brought home the first run of the game with a double. Jason Kipnis knocked in the second run, Brantley, with a ground out to the right side and Mike Aviles scored the last with a single to right that brought home Santana. Zach Walters also added an infield single, but the Indians were kept from scoring again until the next inning.
The Indians very dependable bullpen was particularly solid tonight, starting with C.C. Lee getting out of the fifth. In the sixth, Lee allowed the first two batters to reach with a slim one run lead on the line, but Marc Rzepczynski struck out Conor Gillaspie in an eight pitch at bat, then Scott Atchison got Viciedo to hit into a double play on the first pitch he threw to end the inning. Although Atchison did give up the lead, he allowed just two hits over two innings before he was removed for Nick Hagadone. When Hagadone came in during the 8th, he struck out Gillaspie, the only batter he faced, then Bryan Shaw did the same against Alejandro De Aza to end the inning.
With Cody Allen having a scheduled day off, it was up to Shaw to finish the game as well. He pitched from the eighth through the tenth, striking out three while allowing no base runners in order to earn a very well deserved win.
Feathers Down
T.J. House was rocky from the start, allowing two runs in the first and base runners in two of the next three innings, but things really went south in the fifth. It looked to be his final inning regardless as the bullpen was warming, but House expedited his exit. He allowed a double to Dayan Viciedo, a single to Adam Eaton and a two run home run to Alexei Ramirez to hand the lead to the White Sox. Had he retired either of his final two batters faced, House would have finished five innings and been in line for the win, instead he gave up the lead and his sixth home run to a right handed hitter.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 8 – Chicago White Sox 6
On Deck: Tomorrow night, the Indians and White Sox will repeat tonight’s effort at 8:10 PM with Corey Kluber facing Hector Noesi.
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