Roster Updates & More: In addition to a couple roster moves today, the Indians announced a major renovation to Progressive Field that will take place during the Winter in time for the 2015 season. An abbreviated version is that the Indians will be removing over 5,000 seats and adding more enrichment areas like a larger kid’s zone and bars for adults. In addition, the bullpens will be moved into the outfield stands and Gate C will be rotated so it opens with a view of the field.
In on the field news, Danny Salazar was sent back to AAA, likely in an attempt to push back his first year of arbitration, with C.C. Lee taking his spot on the roster. A return to the rotation has also been announced for Carlos Carrasco, who will pitch on Sunday against the Yankees in Josh Tomlin’s spot in the rotation. No replacement for Salazar has been announced, although it could be Zach McAllister.
Finally, the Indians have handed Vinnie Pestano his final insult by trading him to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for 23 year old high A starter, Michael Clevinger.
Player of the Game
The newly promoted C.C. Lee was thrown into the fire immediately and came out unscathed. T.J. House started the seventh, but gave up a triple to the first batter he faced. With none out and Zach Cozart on third, Lee came into the game to limit the damage as much as possible. Lee got an easy grounder to short for the first out, then struck out the next two to keep Cozart at third and end the inning. Lee pitched the eighth as well, with the only base runner coming off a Lonnie Chisenhall error.
Feathers Up
Other than Lee and the news about the Progressive Field upgrades, there was little going for the Tribe tonight. In minor positives, House was able to throw six full innings, something he hasn’t done in over a month and is a rare sight among Indians starters. Yan Gomes also had a slight positive as he singled to push hit hitting streak to 13 games.
Feathers Down
The Indians defense has been an eye sore all season and things got ugly early in tonight’s game. In the bottom of the first, two opposite shift singles started things off for the Reds, but that lead to a lot more than runners on first and second thanks to the speed of Billy Hamilton. Instead of sitting still, Hamilton tried for third on the infield single, forcing a terrible throw by Carlos Santana that went into the stands. Hamilton scored and Jay Bruce, who hit the infield single, went to third on the play.
Later in the game, Hamilton was involved with another poor defensive play, this one in the outfield. With Homer Bailey on first and two outs in the second, Hamilton hit a gap shot to left. Nick Swisher was unable to cut off the ball, that went all the way to the wall. While Michael Brantley did field the ball and throw out Hamilton trying to score, the pitcher was able to score all the way from first on a ball that every other left fielder in baseball would have cut off for a single.
Santana hadn’t made an error at first this season, but Billy Hamilton can have that kind of effect on a man as he made his second of the game in the fifth. This time, Santana let an easy pop fall out of his glove, allowing the fastest man in baseball (barring possibly Dee Gordon) to reach base for the third straight time. T.J. House was able to work out of this by striking out Bruce and picking off Hamilton, which was necessary as he was getting no help in the field.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 0 – Cincinnati Reds 4
On Deck: Starting Friday night, the Indians will head to New York, for their only three games in Yankee Stadium this season.
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