Player of the Game
While he had some issues with the first batter of the game, Danny Salazar was literally perfect afterward. After giving up a lead-off home run, Salazar didn’t allow another hit or walk over the next six innings and struck out a career high 11 including each of his last six batters faced. In each of his five starts, the Indians had lost the previous game and four times, including today, Salazar responded by winning the game. Now, he leads the Indians in wins as well as strike outs, surpassing Corey Kluber with his 48th of the year today. He now ranks second in the AL in strike outs behind Chris Archer, despite pitching just 33 innings so far.
This was just Salazar’s second Player of the Game of the year and was the first by a starting pitcher since April 21st after starters won the first three of the year and eight of the first 13. His score of 8.74 is the best for any Indian since Brandon Moss hit two home runs on April 24th.
Feathers Up
The revamped top of the Indians order continues to impress and was responsible for both tying the game in the first and taking the lead in the fourth. Initially, a Jason Kipnis double followed by a Carlos Santana single put the Indians on the board. Later, number nine hitter Roberto Perez walked with two outs followed by an RBI triple from Kipnis, an RBI opposite field single by Santana and another single from Michael Brantley. Temporary clean-up man, Lonnie Chisenhall, then cleaned up with a monster three run shot down the right field line to push the score to 6-1.
In the big fourth inning, Brantley’s single gave him a ten game hitting streak, the longest to this point for the Indians in 2015. Right before the home run, he stole second base as well, his team high (tied with Kipnis) fifth of the season. Not only has Brantley not been caught stealing this year, but he picks his spots so well that the catcher almost never even makes a throw to second.
This was just the fifth time this year that the Indians have scored eight or more runs and it was largely the top of the lineup that did the damage today with the bottom of the order going 2/13 although Roberto Perez does deserve credit for his three walks and two runs. Of those involved in the scoring, Kipnis, Santana and Brantley all reached base twice with Kipnis, Santana and Chisenhall all knocking in at least two. Every batter but David Murphy (more on him to come) and Nick Swisher scored a run. As a team, the Indians had 13 hits, five extra base hits and two steals.
Feathers Down
Coming off a three game losing streak and 8-18 record since the first series of the season, the Indians have found it more and more important to start games off strong, but yet again, the Twins were able to score in the first inning. This time, it took just a single batter as Brian Dozier hit the fourth pitch of the game off the foul pole in left field. Salazar didn’t allow another hit in the game, but the Indians were forced to play from behind yet again.
Somehow, in an eight run game for the Indians, David Murphy went 4/4 with a double yet didn’t score or knock in a single run. Most of this blame should probably be placed on Chisenhall for his three run home run and Swisher, who went 0/4 with two strike outs and three runners in scoring position left on base.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 8 – Minnesota Twins 2
On Deck: The Indians are off Monday and will hopefully reflect upon what they have done this year and work on continuing change. They will be back in action on Tuesday with the new start time of 6:05 PM, taking on Lance Lynn and the incredibly talented St. Louis Cardinals. For this first inter-league match-up of the year, the Indians will send out Carlos Carrasco to face the Red Birds.
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