Roster Update: Carlos Santana‘s daughter was born this morning and so he can be there, he has been placed on the paternity list. In his place, Jerry Sands has been recalled from AAA for some unknown reason.
In a separate move, Scott Atchison was placed on the 15 day disabled list with a left ankle issue. He will be replaced in the bullpen by Austin Adams, who was successful in both stints so far this year.
Player of the Game
Corey Kluber took advantage of the offensive support by allowing a rare two home runs, but otherwise was again completely dominant. He struck out 13 in seven innings including multiples for the red hot Nelson Cruz and three against Indian killer Kyle Seager. He did allow seven hits, but only the two home runs went for extra bases and he walked just one with one hit batter. Now with 96 strike outs on the year, Kluber has regained his spot on top of the Major League strike out leader board. His final POG score of 4.15 just beat out Jason Kipnis (3.07), who has had a score of three or higher each of the past three games and Brandon Moss (4.13).
Feathers Up
In a strange turn of events, the Indians not only scored multiple runs for Corey Kluber, but did so in a single inning and thanks to another team’s poor defense. In the fourth, the Tribe put three on the board, more than they have in a single game pitched by Kluber in his last three starts. Pitcher James Paxton made two poor defensive plays in the inning, first on Jose Ramirez‘s bunt that put runners on first and second with one out, then on a Mike Aviles RBI ground ball that was ultimately called an error for short stop Chris Taylor. Brandon Moss had started the offensive output with a single and scored on a hit from Jason Kipnis. The second run scored was Ramirez coming home on Aviles’ play and the third was Michael Bourn, who had walked and scored on a Michael Brantley ground out to first.
Ramirez essentially created another run by himself in the sixth as he turned a single to left center into a hustle double to start the inning, went to third on a Bourn sacrifice bunt and scored on a ground ball to the drawn in second baseman. Had he not taken second on the first hit or third on the bunt, Kipnis would have been out on the play and he would have only been able to advance a base. Instead, it gave the Indians five runs, matching their highest total on the season in support of Kluber.
The Indians bullpen has been a shaky proposition this year, but they were able to hold the slight two run lead, not allowing a base runner over the final two innings of the game. As often comes with a 13 K game, Kluber hit 100 pitches early and couldn’t make it beyond the 7th. Instead, Marc Rzepczynski was able to set down the Mariners lefties in order in the 8th to earn a hold and Cody Allen was able to strike out two in a perfect ninth for his tenth save of the season. Despite his 5.85 ERA (it was 6.16 coming into the game), Allen has blown just a single save and has an incredible 30 strike outs in 20 innings.
Feathers Down
Kluber looked dominant from the outset, but Mike Zunino made him pay for his one obvious mistake. A 1-2 curve ball was left hanging in the middle of the strike zone and the Seattle catcher easily took it out to left. Kluber may have been a little shaken afterward as he walked just his second batter in the past four games, Seth Smith, later in the inning, but he was ultimately able to settle down and complete the frame without further score.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 5 – Seattle Mariners 3
On Deck: Continuing with the late night hype, Seattle’s Taijuan Walker will take on the Indians’ Trevor Bauer in game two of the four game series tomorrow at 10:10 PM ET.
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