Player of the Game
Trevor Bauer had another solid start tonight, allowing just four hits and two runs in 6.2 innings. He did walk four, but struck out batters to end the first, second and fourth innings, all to strand runners. In fact, the only real trouble Bauer got into was in the third when the Royals put up two separate rally attempts. An Omar Infante single and Lorenzo Cain home run lead to the only two runs in the game for Kansas City, as Bauer extinguished their next attempt to score after a walk and a single later in the inning. The start was good enough for his fifth win of the season and his team high eighth Player of the Game award.
Feathers Up
It would seem that Chris Young would be a tougher pitcher to hit than either Jason Vargas or Jeremy Guthrie who the Indians played in the first two games, but they had no problem with the tough righty. In the second, Michael Bourn lead off with a single and steal, going to third on a Roberto Perez ground out. Jason Kipnis brought home the first run of the game with a single to right, then Carlos Santana doubled. Michael Brantley brought home another with a single, the David Murphy brought home the rest with a double to deep center over the head of Cain. In one inning, the Indians had five hits and four runs, equaling the number they scored in the first two games combined.
It’s integral to add on against the Royals before you have to face their bullpen and the Tribe did that today in the fifth. Brantley lead off the inning with a walk off Young, then quickly scored on a Brandon Moss two run home run. Once Young was removed, the Indians got just two hits in the sixth against Franklin Morales and a Moss walk in the seventh for the rest of the game.
Corey Kluber was able to save the Indians bullpen last night and the rain helped save it tonight as the Indians used just three relievers against a total of three batters tonight. While the Indians haven’t needed a whole lot of bullpen help of late, they may need some tomorrow with Shaun Marcum going against the Orioles.
We don’t normally comment on games the Indians don’t play this early in the season, but it is worth noting that the Tigers lost their seventh game in a row today, falling to 28-27 on the season and third place in the AL Central, just one game ahead of the Indians.
Feathers Down
Wildness plagued Bauer again tonight as he walked four to his five K’s. He hit 100 pitches in the seventh inning (62 strikes, 40 balls) and was pulled despite allowing just two runs in the game and none after the third. His breaking pitches were as devastating as always, but a fastball that he can command at the edges of the strike zone would make them even more effective.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 6 – Kansas City Royals 2
On Deck: The Indians have to be happy about their last road trip, winning five of seven as part of a current 15-8 run. They will now head home to play the Orioles tomorrow at 7:10 PM, opening up a three game set. Chris Tillman will go for Baltimore against Marcum, who will look to build on a fine start last time out.
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