While We’re Waiting…Colt McCoy’s Future, Tribe Rotation Questions and Deadline Deals
July 10, 2011It’s Good to Be Miserable?
July 10, 2011Joey Bats came to Progressive Field last night determined to send a lively crowd of 27,000 home unhappy. He hit his 2nd and 3rd home runs of the series to hand the Indians their second loss in a row. Bautista peppered the left field bleachers in the 3rd and with a game winning bomb in the 10th off Chris Perez. He now has 31 homers – 6 more than anyone else in the majors.
It was a tough extra innings loss to take after some more 9th inning rally magic from the Tribe tied it up. With the Indians down to their final out, Travis Buck, who has hit well in this series, doubled to left center to score a pinch-running Austin Kearns and tie the game at four. The park was juiced up and ready for some extra innings heroics – but the balloon was quickly popped just two pitches into the top of the 10th.
The All Star Perez has been shakier in non-save situations than his typical lockdown performances with the opponents on the ropes. This was the second time in a row in he gave up a game-winning solo homer with the game tied. Bautista is the best hitter in the league so there’s no shame in getting beat by him but there was debate among fans whether or not Manny Acta should have given him the free pass. He’s pretty amazing but I don’t think you give the leadoff hitter first base in a tie game in extra innings.
Perez came on in relief of Justin Masterson – who will not see work for almost a week with the All Star respite. Acta has said Masterson will be available out of the bullpen again today.
I wrote yesterday that I thought this weekend was crucial for the Tribe and that they needed to cruise into the break holding the title of Central Division leaders. Josh Tomlin is as steady and reliable as they come and was the right man to turn to. But he did not have his best stuff right out of the gate as the Jays put a run on the board in the top of the 1st. While not at his best, he managed to avoid a Talbot-esque big inning collapse but did give up a run in three consecutive innings.
The last run given up by Tomlin, coming in the 5th, was the result of a costly error by right fielder Buck. Buck was unable to catch a shot to right by Adam Lind. When Lind took a big turn at first, Buck tried to throw behind him but ended up hitting him. The ball ricocheted towards the Jays dugout and allowed Eric Thames, who was hit by a pitch, to score. It was a costly mistake that Buck would even out with his double in the 9th.
Aside from Grady Sizemore, the Indians offense was dormant (when’s the last time we said that). In the 4th, Sizemore hit a two run shot to center to tie the game at 3. Aside from that mistake, Jays starter Brandon Morrow shut down the Indians, giving up only 3 hits and 3 runs in 8 innings of work. This included an 0 for 4 with 2 strikeout 2011 debut of Sweet Luis Valbuena.
The Indians will try to even the series a 1:05 today. Carlos Carrasco is on the hill for the Indians and Brett Cecil goes for the Jays. With the Tigers getting crushed by KC last night, that’s a pitching matchup for the Tribe that bodes well for maintaining a Central Division lead at the break.
(AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)