Roster Update: To aid in the “bullpen” game today with Zach McAllister starting, Shawn Morimando was promoted from AAA. To make room, Michael Martinez was designated for assignment, removed from both the 25 and 40 man rosters. Since Morimando was already on the 40 man, the Indians had an opening and used it to place Joe Colon on the 40 man, keeping him in AAA.
Player of the Game
Rajai Davis showed no signs of fatigue when starting off today, although that could be because he only played the first half of yesterday’s affair. On a 3-2 pitch, Davis destroyed a Marco Estrada fastball, launching it at 108 MPH off the facing above the wall in left field for a lead-off home run. Davis kept working in his second at bat, blooping another 3-2 pitch to right just being the glove of the diving Ezequiel Carrera for an RBI triple. In his fourth at bat, Davis went for extra bases again, hitting a ball beyond Kevin Pillar in center, something that has seemed impossible to do during the series to this point.
Feathers Up
Morimando did make his MLB debut today straight up from Akron and, while he wasn’t perfect, he did exactly what the Indians needed him to do. In 3.2 innings he allowed six hits, including five singles (one that should have been an error), and if it weren’t for a poor play by Carlos Santana, he wouldn’t have allowed any runs either. He recorded his first career strike out in his second inning with two runners on, then struck out a second batter to end the inning. In all, he struck out three, walked one, induced a double play and allowed two earned runs on one home run.
Santana helped the cause as well, hitting his second solo home run in as many days. His 17th of the season, Santana went deep in the fourth against Estrada to tie the game at three. After Troy Tulowitzki‘s two run home run gave the Blue Jays the lead back, Jason Kipnis stole first on a strike out, Jose Ramirez singled and Santana walked to load the bases in the sixth. Juan Uribe then knocked a run in when he was hit by a pitch on his hands.
The Indians finally regained the lead in the seventh although it would last about as long as their lead in the first did. Davis doubled and scored on Ramirez’s single, then Ramirez scored on a Mike Napoli double to left with two outs. Napoli had struck out in his first three at bats prior to the double and struck out four times yesterday as well. On the first pitch from Dan Otero the next inning, however, Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run to tie the game back at six.
Milestone Alert: Davis became the eighth Indian in team history to hit for the cycle today when he hit a single off Roberto Osuna in the top of the ninth. By doing it in the order of home run, triple, double, single, he is the 6th hitter in baseball history to hit a reverse cycle and the first Indian. He celebrated by stealing second base on the next pitch.
Feathers Down
Zach McAllister definitely showed some wear after throwing 27 pitches yesterday as he had major issues finding the strike zone to start the game. He hit the first batter, Carrera, with his first pitch and walked two others in the first. When he did find the zone, it was unfortunately against Edwin Encarnacion who crushed it out to straight center for a three run home run. Otherwise, the aggressiveness of the Blue Jays helped McAllister as he struck out two in the first.
After Uribe was hit by a pitch he had to be removed from the game for x-rays. Francisco Lindor came into the game for Uribe, moving Ramirez to third base and giving the Indians just one player, Yan Gomes, on their bench. It was already expected that the Indians would send Morimando back down tomorrow for Abraham Almonte, but if the injury to Uribe is serious, there could be multiple moves made before tomorrow’s game.
The streak had to end some time and the Indians finally ran out of steam tonight in the eighth. Given how difficult the last four wins were, it was impressive enough just to get 14 in a row. Even so, it took a questionable call to give the Blue Jays the advantage. Otero pitched in parts of three innings, walking one and striking out one in the eighth before being removed for Tommy Hunter, who also pitched yesterday. Hunter gave up two singles, but it appeared that on the second Carrera was thrown out at the plate trying to score. This was the initial call on the field, but it was overturned by replay, giving the Jays back a one run lead. After a strike out of Edwin Encarnacion, Hunter gave up a two out, two run double to Michael Saunders to put the game out of reach.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 6 – Toronto Blue Jays 9
On Deck: Corey Kluber will stay on his regular rest and start tomorrow at 1:07 PM in the finale in Toronto. He will face the veteran right hander J.A. Happ as the Indians look to start a new win streak.
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