While We’re Waiting… Tribe Pitching, Veteran Free Agents and When Support Isn’t Really Supportive
August 5, 2011Brandon Jackson Ready to Prove His Worth
August 5, 2011If I had told you on Monday that the slumping Indians would split the four-game series in Boston, would you have taken it? Manny Acta certainly would have.
“I never felt better after splitting the series than this time,” Acta said. “We pitched our [butts] off, and these guys played their hearts out against a very good ballclub.”
In as close to a must-win situation as it could have been for early August, the Indians sent their best to the mound, Justin Masterson, and he delivered. He wasn’t at his absolute best, but the big right-hander struck out nine (including four in the second inning thanks to a passed ball) and walked just one in six innings of work.
The Red Sox got him for two runs in the first, which usually spells doom for the Tribe when J Mast is on the mound. They don’t exactly turn into the ’95 Indians when he is pitching. But on this night, the offense came through and Masterson and the pen took it home from there.
Right after the Sox got theirs, the Indians countered with two of their own. Facing the newest Red Sox starter Erik Bedard, Carlos Santana singled with one out. Kosuke Fukudome followed with a single and reached second base on an error by right fielder Josh Reddick. This was the kind of situation the Indians failed to score in the previous two nights – both one run losses. This time, they received a little luck.
Matt LaPorta sent a grounder to the right side which both first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and second baseman Dustin Pedroia went for. Pedroia made the play, but nobody was covering first. Everyone was safe and the Tribe was on the board. Austin Kearns then sent another weak grounder to the right side, but it scored the second Indians run and we were tied. It was probably the second best offensive play Kearns has made this year after his three-run jack against the Yankees.
In the third, it was a hustle play that gave the Indians an extra chance to take the lead. Jason Kipnis was on first after a one out single when Asdrubal Cabrera sent a double play ball to third. Kipnis delivered a good hard slide into Pedroia at second, breaking up a potential inning-ending double play. Travis Hafner singled AC to third and Santana brought him home with a bloop single. It was April-like two-out clutch hitting by the Tribe’s big bats.
The Red Sox tied it on Josh Reddick’s fifth inning homer. It was just the fifth Masterson has allowed on the season. It was also the last run he would allow. From that point on, the Red Sox offense was shut down.
It gave the Wahoo offense plenty of time to get the lead back. They did so in the sixth against left-handed reliever Franklin Morales. Hafner doubled to deep center to open the frame, missing a home run off of the high wall in center by two feet. It wouldn’t matter as the next batter, Santana, crushed a pitch over that same wall for a two-run blast and his third hit on the night. This 3-4, three RBI night was a badly needed confidence boost from one of the most important bats in the lineup. If the Indians are going to catch the Tigers, Santana’s bat is going to have to come alive like it did last night. In Wednesday’s 4-3 loss, he was 0-4 with four K’s.
“That’s what baseball is all about,” said Acta. “He came in early before the game, worked on some things and bounced back. That’s what you like to see from young players.”
The Tribe added a run in the seventh against yet another lefty, Andrew Miller. With two outs, Hafner delivered his second double on the night, bringing home Asdrubal. All three of his hits were against left-handers. That is what has been so impressive in this renaissance season of Pronk. Lefties haven’t been able to solve him the way they have in the last three seasons.
“He’s been better this year, it’s not a secret; he’s healthier,” Acta said of his DH. “If you remember, last year we got to a point, due to his health and struggle against lefties, where we almost had to platoon him for a while.”
Vinnie Pestano relieved Masterson and returned to pre-all star break form. The struggling Pestano may have been moved to the seventh inning for the time being, but last night he was solid, allowing just a walk in an inning and a third before turning things over to lefty Tony Sipp, who retired both men he faced in the eighth. It was Sipp’s fifth appearance in the last six games and third straight in this series.
Fukudome’s two-out RBI double in the ninth added a big insurance run. It was his best game as an Indian, supplying three hits from the six hole. The double capped a seven-run, 14-hit night for the much maligned Wahoo attack.
Chris Perez pitched a tidy 1-2-3 ninth and the Tribe earned a tough split in Boston. The shame is they really could have swept this series. But again, you will take a four-game split with the best team in the AL in their building if you can get it.
Now the real fun begins. The series in Texas opens tonight amidst 108 degree heat with the beginning of the Ubaldo Jimenez era. The big trade deadline acquisition is expected to make an instant impact and provide that 1-2 top of the rotation punch with Masterson that could be the difference in the Indians winning this division.
“Right now our main guy has been Justin Masterson,” said Acta. “He’s a guy that … for a while now, we’ve tried to keep him on the five-days routine, because he’s the guy. Ubaldo doesn’t have to feel like he’s the guy that has to stop it every time. Having him and Justin back to back every week gives us an opportunity to avoid any type of slumps.”
All eyes will be on Arlington, Texas tonight at 8:05. Jimenez will face lefty Derek Holland (10-4, 4.14), who threw a complete game shutout against the Tribe in early June and in his last game, shutout Toronto on four hits.
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
17 Comments
That homer from Santana was a “no-doubter.” it kind of reminded me of the Jim Thome days. Also, thanks for the ’95 Tribe reference. I can’t believe that was 16 years ago!
Jimenez vs. Holland
Carmona vs. Wilson (uh oh)
Tomlin vs. Lewis
Texas is tough as nails at home. They all hit better in that bandbox and in that heat. They have been struggling lately pitching, so hopefully we can take advantage (though we do get their 3 best SP).
Happy Ubaldo Day Everybody!
Nice way to end the Boston series. Had to figure it wouldn’t be a close one after the 2 previous nail-biters. Glad we were the ones on top of it.
And about time Santana has had a night like that. It has been too long. When he’s got that swing going, dang he’s smooth.
And, I’ve got to say, I’m coming around on Fukudome. He’s not great, but he just quietly delivers and doesn’t do anything negative. He is what a steady veteran should be (yes, that was one last jab at Orlando Cabrera).
I don’t to be the perpetual negative minded Cleveland fan………..BUT LaPorta’s strike out in the 4th inning was the ugliest display of “hitting,” if that is what you want to call it. Having him play 1B in a playoff chase, potentially a playoff series and hitting in the top half of a lineup scares me.
Oh my gosh, Masterson! Ubaldo!
@Dave: good thing he hits 7-9.
@Dave – if Santana continues raking while letting pitches escape him behind the plate, then you won’t have to worry about that.
Lou Marson at C w/ Santana at 1B is the best scenario the team currently has to offer.
BA/OBP/OPS
Marson .226/.280/.601
LaPorta .238/.295/.710
So, while a dip in power, he’s getting on base just as well as LaPorta and our defense is much better with him behind the plate (and according to coaches he handles the staff better than Santana).
I hate giving up on a young player, but Matt has done very little to give any faith that he will be better than what he is right now. And, that player is not good enough.
“Austin Kearns then sent another weak grounder to the right side, but it scored the second Indians run and we were tied. It was probably the second best offensive play Kearns has made this year after his three-run jack against the Yankees.”
It’s funny because it’s true. Choo, please hurry.
“Lou Marson at C w/ Santana at 1B is the best scenario the team currently has to offer.”
Not a question. Still can’t figure out why this lineup isn’t used more.
What could we be with a hitting Carlos Santana?
“My name – Ubaldo Jimenez.” This is the most pumped I’ve been for a game in a long, long while. These are going to be two enjoyable months. Browns who?
can’t get enough Ubaldo today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZCeoU59W8Y
I am SATISFIED with the split but would have been THRILLED with the win
I was impressed by the way we competed in this series. A split in Boston is never an easy thing to do, in that ballpark, against that lineup, with that friendly Fenway strikezone, etc…
A few plays here and there, and we might have swept them.
Even if we dont make the playoffs this year, I think the future looks pretty bright for this team. Weve shown that we can compete with the best teams in the league. 9-8 against Boston and New York this season, hopefully we can go down to Texas and to some degree avenge that 4 game @ss kicking they gave us awhile back.
So… has ESPN canceled all previously scheduled programming on their channels so they can show this all-important Yankees vs Red Sox series on infinite loop over the weekend?
NJ – would that be a reference to “The Right Stuff”?
If so, nicely done…
I forgot that. One astronaut does pull it out in the Right Stuff, but technically it’s a reference to a bit on the old Steve Allen Show (actually, a pretty racist bit). Probably can find it on youtube.
I am mildly surprised that there isn’t an article on this…it’s the TENTH anniversary today of The Impossible Return.
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/34817