Player of the Game
There wasn’t much that made any one player stand out for the Indians tonight, so this award boils down to a choice between Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley, who both had clutch hits to drive in a run.
Brantley singled on a fly ball in the bottom of the fifth to drive in Mike Aviles to make it 2-2 and end the Indians scoring for the night. Kipnis would have gotten the nod for the award after his hit allowed Yan Gomes to score the Tribe’s first run of the ball game in the bottom of the same inning. But Kipnis struck out to end the game with Michael Bourn standing on third base.
So that leaves Dr. Smooth as my choice for player of the game tonight.
Feathers Up
Despite taking the loss, starter Shaun Marcum pitched relatively well in his quest to secure the fifth spot in the Indians rotation. Marcum gave up three runs and eight hit in 6.1 innings before he was sent to the showers. Marcum seemed to have decent control as he gave up just one walk and had four strikeouts. He threw a hanging breaking ball to Adam Jones in the sixth inning that ended up high in the bleachers and gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead. That home run ultimately ended up being the difference in the game as the Tribe could not muster up any additional runs.
David Murphy has continued to swing a hot bat going two for three and pushing his batting average up to .325. Gomes also seems to be making some progress at the plate as he had two hits in four at bats to raise his average up to .176. Gomes also has taken over his regular role as the team’s starting catcher.
Feathers Down
The Indians had a golden opportunity to score when Murphy led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double. Lonnie Chisenhall then tried to bunt unsuccessfully to move him over to third base. Chisenhall then failed to get his job down when he hit a ball to the left side and Murphy tried to make it to third base but was easily tagged out. Chisenhall ended up safe at first base as the result of the fielder’s choice. Gomes then hit into a force place with Chisenhall out at second. Bourn then grounded out to first base to end the inning to leave the Tribe trailing and blowing a chance to tie the game up at 3-3.
Zach McAllister struck out three in 1.1 innings of relief but he also gave up two runs and two hits and didn’t keep the game close enough to give the Tribe a better chance to win late in the game.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 2 – Baltimore Orioles 5
On Deck: Danny Salazar (5-1, 3.79 ERA) looks for his sixth win as the Indians face former teammate Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 3.12 ERA) on June 6 at 4:10 p.m. in the second game of the three-game series against the American League Eastern Division foe. Salazar has given up six runs in 11 innings in his last two starts that resulted in no-decisions for him.
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