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July 2, 2014T.J. Ward talks about Denver’s winning culture vs. Cleveland experience
July 2, 2014
The Cleveland Indians took to Dodger Stadium hoping to avenge their history-making back-to-back nights of amassing just one hit—and did they ever. While starting pitcher Justin Masterson was yanked after three-plus (wildly lucky) innings and the Dodgers had runners on base throughout the night, the Tribe bats logged 13 hits on the night, finishing with a score of 10-3.
Here are some of the highlights:
• The Wahoo Workhorses got things going early in the top of the first as a Michael Brantley RBI double paved the way for a Lonnie Chisenhall two-run, fence-scraping home run, his ninth of the season.
• After Masterson allowed two runs in the bottom of the frame on an Adrian Gonzalez home run, an error at first base led to the bases being loaded, only to have the 6-foot-6-inch righty pitch his way out of the jam. He loaded the bases once again in the second inning (including a Josh Beckeet double!), only to fan Yasil Puig and Matt Kemp while getting the left-handed Andre Ethier to ground out to first. It would be that kind of night.
• In the fourth, the Indians benefitted from the ever-rare 7-2-4 triple play with the assist from the review booth. In the fourth, with men on the corners and no outs, Adrian Gonzalez sent a sharp liner to left field, which Brantley caught on the run. He fired a one-hopper to home plate to get the incredibly quick Dee Gordon, only to have Gomes make the heads up play at second to try to catch the stealing (and always risk-taking) Puig. Puig was called safe, but that call was overturned on a Terry Francona challenge. The Dodgers then challenged the out call at home, which was upheld by the umpires. Check the whole sequence out below.
• In the fifth, the bases were loaded once again, only to be relieved by the bullpen. Vinnie Pestano was harnessing 2012 in fanning two batters while Mark Rzepczynski would do the same to end the inning. The Dodgers, at that point, were 0-for-6 with the bases loaded. This, my friends, is what they would call defeating the odds.
• Other highlights include Nick Swisher hit a two-run double in the third, and Yan Gomes and David Murphy each had RBI doubles in the sixth. Gomes, Murphy and Carlos Santana had RBIs in a three-run 7th. Swisher and Murphy, each of whom have been struggling, went a combined 5-for-8 in the game with 4 RBI.
• Even given extra rest due to his wonky knee, Masterson was a bit of a mess. Yes, he struck out seven batters. His off-speed pitches were incredible at certain points, getting big-named bats to swing and miss. Conversely, Masterson allowed seven hits and walked three in just three-plus. Kyle Crockett was given the win in this one, but only because you can’t crown an entire bullpen which combined to hold the well-paid Dodgers lineup without a run through the final six innings. Corey Kluber and TJ House pitched very well on consecutive nights and managed to go 0-2. Thems the breaks.
• The Tribe will look to take the rubber match today. Trevor Bauer takes the hill against the 9-4 Hyun-Jin Ryu.
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
19 Comments
The 7-2-4 looked like a little league play where the kids got over-aggressive on the basepaths. Love it.
On Twitter, TD complained about Swisher and Murphy being in the lineup and I tweeted to him “Hafner & Delucci” and then they went out and got 5 hits between them.
And it would be nice if 2012 Vinnie was back…
Any idea how many 7-2-4 TPs there have been?
Puig’s late attempt at second there makes no sense. Why wouldn’t he go on the throw home? Why would a guy who is super fast be going so late that he was nailed after the C stopped to find out if the guy was out at home?
It would be nice to have another reliable arm in the ‘pen, for sure.
Triple Play was cool. Step dad texted me and I looked it up, had no idea it was that ridiculous
And Yan’s little league obliviousness actually inducing the runner into doing something stupid.
http://tripleplays.sabr.org/tp_sum.htm
Second in history. White Sox @ Mariners did it in ’86.
Cool, thanks!
Are you questioning THE PUIG? Not sure that is allowed 😉
He’s their Manny. Amazing, ridiculous things that noone else can do may happen. And, amazingly stupid ridiculous things that no MLBer should be dumb enough to do also happen. It’s a trade-off they happily make as we did once upon a time.
Because they could’ve easily cut it off and gunned him down at second if they didn’t think they’d get the guy at the plate. Also, Gomes was completely oblivious and if he left .01 seconds earlier, we would be saying great base running. Really hard to fault a guy for trying to get into scoring position with 2 outs in that situation, especially considering how close it was.
No kidding. The movement on those strike-three fastballs were throwback for sure. Hope that helped build his confidence a bit.
I don’t have a problem with the attempt, just the timing. He should have tagged at the catch and taken at least a few steps toward second. As soon as that ball goes past the cutoff (and it never really had a chance of being cut off it looks like), he should be headed to second. That an oblivious Gomes had enough time to recover and throw him out means he was standing on first when he decided to go, after the tag.
Seconded. Gomes wasn’t paying attention and Puig was a hair from a hair from being safe. The line between good base running and a boneheaded play is a fine one.
It definitely had a chance of being cutoff, Brantley throws liners and it bounced before it hit the plate. The only reason he went was because Gomes was oblivious. If he goes once it gets past the cutoff and Gomes is aware, he’s a dead duck at second.
Think of it compared to a steal attempt. Take away the time of the delivery and add on the time it takes Gomes to tag. Since the cutoff wasn’t much farther than 60.5 feet, it would’ve been much harder than stealing a base IMO.
“The line between good base running and a boneheaded play is a fine one.” <— Very True
Ricky Henderson? Well, you are the expert…
That’s what I’m comparing to. I feel like if you go there, you go as soon as that ball gets through. In the time it takes to tag then pop and throw you should make it if you’re Puig; add in the obliviousness, and you’re in standing. He clearly waited until Gomes was looking at the ump, which is way too late.
If he left when you said, yeah he definitely would’ve been safe because of Gomes’ obliviousness, but you can’t really assume that as a baserunner.
I reallllllyyyy disagree that tagging a runner will take longer than a delivery, even from the stretch. He has to pop up regardless on a steal attempt and we know Gomes is super fluid back there.
I’m an old school baserunner, and I’ve always believed if you believe you’ve got an opportunity to make it, you put your head down and burn. I can’t fault Puig, it was a bang bang play; especially with 2 outs, trying to get into scoring position.
OK. Now, I want to see the gif captured of Brantley sitting on the ground confirming “He’s out? He’s out?. Alllllriiiiiiiiiiiight.” That’s a classic Dr. Smooth moment.
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/0002/products/BrantleyStore_medium.jpg?v=1398889994
i’m surprised that after pitching for the first time against another former team, that perez didn’t vomit again after coming off the mound.