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The only trouble the Bats had with their offense came in the bottom of the 1st. �With two outs,�Hayden Penn gave up a walk to 1B Yonder Alonso. �Alonso stole second base, with the throw from Erik Kratz coming in high. �Todd Frazier lined a single into short center field, and Alonso headed for the plate. �Jonathan Van Every threw in from center and made a perfect throw to the plate. �The ball reached well before Alonso, so that when Alonso got there, Kratz and the ball were waiting to make the easy tag out, ending the inning. �Penn also worked around two base runners in the 2nd inning, when he walked two batters, but ended the inning when Michael Griffin lined out to Doug Bernier at short, and Bernier flipped the ball to Jim Negrych, doubling off the runner.
Penn gave up the Bats’ first run in the 3rd inning. �With one out, C Ryan Hanigan doubled down the third base line, just out of reach of the diving Aki Iwamura. �SS Zack Cozart singled up the middle, and Hanigan scored from second base, this time not even drawing a throw from Jonathan Van Every. �Yonder Alonso also singled, moving Cozart to second base. �The two pulled off a double steal, but two strikeouts got Penn out of the inning with just the one run scoring.
Penn was not so fortunate in the 4th. �The first three Bats’ batters reached base safely — a double into the right field corner by RF Danny Dorn, a bloop single by 2B Chris Valaika, and an RBI single into right field by Michael Griffin. �Pitcher Matt Klinker dropped a sacrifice bunt, fielded by Penn, moving Valaika to third and Griffin to second base. �Ryan Hanigan lifted a single over SS Doug Bernier’s leaping reach and into left-center field, driving in both Valaika and Griffin to make the score 4-0. �Zack Cozart followed with a blast down the left field line, which bounced off the foul pole for a 2-run home run, and the Bats led 6-0. �Yonder Alonso bounced a single off the back of the mound and into center field after the homer, but he was left stranded when Penn got two ground outs to end the inning.
Penn gave up two more hits in the 5th inning, a single to Dorn and a double to Griffin, but he was saved from being charged with another run when Valaika bounced into a 6-4-3 (Bernier to Negrych to Clement) double play to erase Dorn.
Vinnie Chulk pitched a scoreless 6th inning for the Indians. �He walked Alonso and gave up a single to Frazier, both after two outs were made. �Chulk left both runners on base when he struck out 3B Juan Francisco. �Brian Bass was next out of the bullpen for the 7th inning. �He gave up a lead-off single to Dorn (Dorn’s third hit of the game, but Dorn was again erased in a double play This one was started when Valaika chopped a ball back to the mound and Bass whirled and threw to Doug Bernier at second, who relayed on to first base. �Wil Ledezma took the 8th inning, retiring the Bats in order for the first time in the game.
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Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: �Doug Bernier’s clutch single up the middle in the 8th inning, which brought in the Indians’ only run.
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Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: �Jonathan Van Every and Erik Kratz made the play in the 1st inning. �With Yonder Alonso on second base, Todd Frasier singled into center field. �Van Every’s throw to the plate was right on target and Erik Kratz tagged out Alonso as he tried to score from second base.
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NOTES:
Daniel McCutchen made the start for the Pirates tonight, but was hit hard, including 3 home runs. �After the game, he was optioned back to Indianapolis. �That makes room on the Pirates’ roster for RHP Sean Gallagher, who was obtained from San Diego today.
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The Indians are (mercifully) done with the Bats for awhile. �They will bus up to Columbus, Ohio next, and play 2 games there. �Then it’s on to Toledo for another 2 games before the All-Star Break begins.
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Go Tribe!
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(photos by Nancy)
