Player of the Game
Thanks to early righty-lefty match-ups, Jerry Sands was only able to get two at bats tonight, but he made the most of them. In his first at bat since rejoining the team earlier this week, Sands hit a two run home run off starter Roenis Elias, scoring Brandon Moss, who had walked to start the inning. In his second at bat, Sands walked and was stranded at second in the fourth.
Feathers Up
After being held scoreless until the ninth in last night’s game, the Indians scored in both the first and second innings tonight, giving them runs in three consecutive innings. Today, they did it with both small and large ball, scoring the first with two singles, a walk and a Nick Swisher sacrifice fly while the second and third scored with a walk and a Jerry Sands two run home run.
Shaun Marcum danced around trouble tonight, allowing at least one hit in each of his first four innings as well as three walks, but outside of a two run Robinson Cano home run, he was able to avoid any damage. Helping him was Yan Gomes, who caught Austin Jackson stealing in the first and Michael Brantley, who nabbed Kyle Seager trying to go to third on a single in the fifth. In addition, Marcum’s five strike outs were huge as three came with two outs and runners on.
Feathers Down
Jason Kipnis will have one more chance at 50 hits in May tomorrow, because he was unable to get beyond 49 in four chances today. Kipnis took an easy 0/4 including a strike out to end the fourth with runners on first and second. Given that he has been responsible for the majority of the offensive load this month and has played each game this season, you can’t give him too much despair for ending his nine game hitting streak in this manner.
Tonight, in the soap opera that is the Indians bullpen, Shaun saw an early demise and while Zach was able to step in and clean up after Marc initially, he eventually made a much bigger mess of his own. Will Nick be able to save Zach? How long will the marriage between Ryan and David last? Will the Indians ever trade a top prospect for a right handed power bat? Find out next time the Indians bullpen makes an appearance.
By the way, yes, Nick Hagadone was able to strike out Seager with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh to end the inning after just one run had scored off Zach McAllister.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Seattle Mariners 3
On Deck: There is a respite coming for the weary Indians fans tired from staying up past midnight to watch the first three games of this series. The final game will take place Sunday at 4:10 PM before the Indians head to Kansas City. The match will feature J.A. Happ and Danny Salazar and will be the Indians last in Seattle in 2015.
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