Pronk, Santana ignite Tribe offense against Pittsburgh

In the 28 games since Travis Hafner was sent to the disabled list, the Indians went just 10-18. In 18 of those games, they scored 3 runs or less. Last night, the Indians’ designated hitter made a triumphant return from the 15-day DL, fueling a three-run eighth inning that extended a Tribe lead that was created in part by Carlos Santana and held in check by Josh Tomlin and the bullpen. The Indians pulled to even with the Detroit Tigers with the 5-1 win and Detroit’s blowout loss to Colorado.

An offensive explosion? My goodness! It was just five runs, but it sure felt like it! The last time I talked to all you good folks (June 1st), our Cleveland baseball team was five games ahead of the Tigers in the AL Central. Little did I know that a 4-11 spiral was in store and many of the good vibes for this team would be silenced. Still, credit the Tribe for climbing back into a share of first twice now. To be honest, I feared on Tuesday night when the Tribe fell out of first place that they might not return this year. They’ve stopped the bleeding with some solid pitching and timely hitting.

Josh Tomlin, who has been afforded more run support than his fellow starters, returned the favor by turning in a dominant performance, a welcome sight after allowing six runs in each of his last three starts. Tomlin kept his pitch count low, attacking the strike zone as he always does when he’s on. On this night, however, he didn’t let the home run hurt him. The Tribe starter spread six hits through 6 2/3 innings, giving up just the lone run while walking nobody and fanning five. Despite some of his struggles, I feel confident every single time Josh takes the mound for the Tribe, and his approach is one that will allow him to continue to be successful. If you had asked me at the start of the year who on this staff would have eight wins right now, it would have taken me three or four guesses to get to Tomlin.

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday morning, our own TD talked about the harsh words from Manny Acta that were directed primarily at Carlos Santana. Last night, Carlos, in his third different slot in the batting order this week (this time, 6th) hit the ball hard three times and was rewarded with three hits. The first of those left the yard in the fourth inning for his 8th homer of the season. Santana’s other two hits were solid line drive singles into right field. One game doesn’t erase a slump, but it can start to turn the tide for a hitter, and hopefully that’s what last night was for Santana. As evidenced by his batting average and his miscues of late both offensively and defensively, the Tribe catcher/first baseman still has a long way to go.

I list Santana as a first baseman above specifically because he may be spending additional time there for the near future. In the third inning, Matt LaPorta injured himself on the basepaths after one of the most wild at-bats of the season. His hard-hit grounder bounced off shortstop Ronny Cedeno’s glove and ricocheted to Neil Walker, who skipped a throw into the stands, sending LaPorta to second. On a grounder off the bat of Orlando Cabrera, LaPorta got caught in a rundown between second and third. In doing so, he drove his right ankle into the ground and was unable to walk off the field under his own power. The Indians are calling it an ankle sprain at this time, saying that X-rays were negative. They will have more news later this afternoon on LaPorta’s status after a MRI. To me, it certainly doesn’t look like LaPorta will be able to avoid at least a 15-day stint on the DL. Options at Columbus to help at first include the recently sent down Travis Buck and Shelley Duncan along with Nick Johnson and Jared Goedert. Personally, I would bring back Duncan and bite the bullet defensively.

Then again, maybe the Indians already have their temporary first baseman: Jack Hannahan. The Tribe third baseman moved across the diamond as Adam Everett filled LaPorta’s lineup spot. Hannahan made a couple of dynamic plays at a position he rarely plays (30 career games, 2nd this season). Jack made a wise decision cutting off Choo’s throw from right field in the sixth, retiring Xavier Paul who was trying to reach second base. The Pirates scored their only run, but Hannahan’s decision emptied the bases with two outs, and Tomlin was able to prevent the big inning. Jack also made a diving stop of a just-foul ball down the line and started the game-ending double play in the ninth.

LaPorta has crashed and burned at times this season in situations where he has to think about what throw to make. I can just picture him hesitating to throw it to second and not getting the runner. With that being said, I certainly hope LaPorta is back in action soon. In the meantime, expect to see more of the Tribe’s best defensive lineup, Lou Marson behind the plate and Santana at first.

Vinnie Pestano has been one of the biggest surprises and most overlooked players on the roster this season. In a bullpen of highly successful pitchers, Pestano has stood out. Friday night, it was more of the same for Vinnie, striking out hitters in big-time situations. Pestano erased Michael McKenry on four pitches to end the seventh with two runners left on by Josh Tomlin. Coming back out for the eighth, Pestano continued to dominate, striking out another Pirate and forcing two grounders that did not make it out of the infield. Pestano’s ERA is now at 1.44 and he notched his ninth hold of the season. I know setup men don’t make All-Star teams, but if they did, Pestano would be at the front of the line.

As for that bottom of the eighth, with a nearly-full (38,549) Progressive Field rocking, Travis Hafner nearly provided the knockout punch. Instead, he put in a good body shot and let his teammates get the KO. Hafner’s long fly ball to right landed over Paul’s outstretched glove, hit the yellow line and landed on the warning track. Michael Brantley scored and Asdrubal Cabrera made it to third on the Pronk double that was reviewed by the umpires. Sliding Hafner in right behind Brantley and Asdrubal is not only the right move, it’s a move that could sustain more offensive success for the Indians. How many times in the last couple weeks did we see Brantley and Cabrera start something, only to be stranded on base by Santana, Buck, LaPorta, Orlando, etc? With Hafner’s average well over .300 and a new, more disciplined approach at the plate, the Indians now have a better chance to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

To give credit where it’s due, however, the rest of the Tribe lineup helped finish off the Pirates. After Choo was walked intentionally (by a pitcher entering the ballgame, which makes zero sense to me), Santana sent a liner into right that fell and moved everyone up 90 feet. Orlando Cabrera then followed with a solid at-bat, getting pinch-runner Cord Phelps home from third on a sac fly after he had two strikes.

Tonight, Carlos Carrasco goes for his third straight win off two 1-0 victories against Paul Maholm for Pittsburgh. Hopefully, the Tribe can give Carrasco much more than one run, because he certainly deserves it after his last two outings.

(Photo: Amy Sancetta/AP)