Player of the Game
Michael Brantley took a note from Carlos Santana with a two run home run to right in the first inning that gave the Indians the early lead. He added another hit in the eight with a single, but it was the home run that provided the majority of the Indians scoring.

Feathers Up
The Indians started the game off hustling, which was a good thing since, in all reasonableness, this was a must win game. Michael Bourn slapped a line drive to short right center to start the game and took advantage of a less than enthusiastic reaction time from the Tigers outfielders to make it to second on the play. Mike Aviles pushed him to third with a sacrifice bunt, showing that the Indians wanted to get ahead early at all costs, but Michael Brantley made that bunt irrelevant with a two run home to left to give the Indians the first inning lead.

After falling behind in the fourth, the bottom of the Indians lineup was able to make some moves and come back against Kyle Lobstein and the Tigers. With out out, Lonnie Chisenhall and Jesus Aguilar both singled, then Michael Bourn moved them to second and third with a ground out to first. This was advantageous as Mike Aviles was then able to bring them both home with an opposite field, two out double to right.

Milestone Alert: When Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana completed a successful double steal against Joba Chamberlain in the eighth, it was Brantley’s 20th of the season. While this may not be much of a milestone, he is the second Indian to reach the mark this year and one of four Indians (along with Michael Bourn, Jason Kipnis and Shin-Soo Choo) to do so since 2008.

Feathers Down
If it isn’t one Martinez, it’s the other. Last night it was J.D. Martinez who lead the Tigers onslaught and tonight it was Victor Martinez whose solo run home run gave Detroit the lead in the fourth. Victor has now hit seven of his 31 home runs of the season against his former team as no pitchers have figured out how to effectively subdue the switch hitter.

While the first seven innings went largely in the Indians favor, Bryan Shaw blew the game for the Tribe in the eight. After retiring two with just one runner on, he allowed Alex Avila to take a slider with the full count out of the park. Shaw had initially got Avila down 1-2, but was distracted by Ezequiel Carrera on first and was unable to throw a strike until the illfated pitch. With the blown save and loss, Shaw likely cost the Indians any shot at the post-season this year.

Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Detroit Tigers 5

Wild Card Magic #: 11

On Deck: The Indians will have to win tomorrow to salvage any part of this series as the two teams will play their final regular season game against each other on Sunday at 1:08 PM in Michigan. Two very unpredictable pitchers will start as Trevor Bauer goes against Justin Verlander.