The Indians did not score again after Presley’s homer. They recorded 4 more hits — a double by 2B Chase d’Arnaud in the 3rd, back-to-back two-out singles by DH Andy Marte and Jaramillo in the 4th, and a lead-off single by 3B Josh Harrison in the 7th. All were left on base, as were d’Arnaud and Marte when they walked in the 5th and 6th, respectively. The 4th inning was the only one in which the Tribe had two base runners on at the same time.
Gallagher was charged with his 3rd loss of the season. He allowed 5 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks, with 3 strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: Alex Presley’s (photo) home run, for the only Tribe run.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: in the bottom of the 2nd, after two runs had already scored and the Clippers had a runner on second, Cord Phelps sent a fly ball into right field. RF Andrew Lambo raced over, and made the catch just in time — then nearly fell as his feet slipped on the wet grass just as the ball got to his glove. Luckily, Lambo kept his upper body and glove in place as his feet were slipping, because another run would have scored if he had missed or dropped the ball.
Clippers 6, Indians 5 (Game 2)
(box)
The night-cap started off much better for the Indians, but the Clippers engineered a late come-back to take the win. As in Game 1, the Indians began the game with one run in the top of the 1st. RF Corey Wimberly (photo) led off with a line drive into left field for a single. He moved to second base on a balk, and on to third on a ground out. LF Alex Presley drove in Wimberly with a sacrifice fly for a one-run lead. They added 2 runs in the 3rd inning, starting with back-to-back singles by CF Gorkys Hernandez and Wimberly. SS Pedro Ciriaco grounded to short, where Clippers’ SS Cord Phelps forced Wimberly out, but Ciriaco was safe at first, and Hernandez came around from second base to score. Ciriaco stole second base, then scored on Presley’s single to deep short, and the Indians had a 3-0 lead.
The Indians threatened again in the 4th. After two strikeouts, both C Dusty Brown and 3B Brian Friday walked. Hernandez beat out the throw on a single to short, but when Brown rounded third and tried to score, he was caught in a run-down (3-2-5-1-6). The Tribe did score again in the 5th, again after two outs had been made. Presley singled off the glove of SS Phelps and into left field. DH Matt Hague walked, then 2B Chase d’Arnaud smacked a ground ball double through into left field, plating both Presley and Hague. Indians ahead, 5-0.
This game was planned to be a “bullpen” game for the Indians’ pitching staff. Garrett Olson made the start, and he retired the first 6 Columbus batters in order. He began the 3rd inning by giving up a double to 1B Wes Hodges, then a single to C Paul Phillips. Olson struck out the next two batters, then walked Cord Phelps to load the bases. Justin Thomas came on in relief, and finished up for Olson with a ground out.
Jose Ascanio made his first appearance since being hit in the head by a line drive in the second game of the Indians’ last double header last week. He began the 4th inning by having Huffman reach base on a throwing error by Ciriaco at shortstop. He hit LF Jerad Head with a pitch, but then erased Head when 2B Jason Kipnis bounced into a double play. A ground out got Ascanio out of the inning, but he got right back into trouble to start the bottom of the 5th. A walk, a single, and a walk loaded the bases with one out, then DH Jordan Brown smacked a fly ball over the left field wall, just barely out of the reach of LF Alex Presley. The grand slam brought the Clippers within one run of the Indians, 5-4.
The Tribe tried for some insurance in the 6th inning. Dusty Brown led off with a line drive double into left field, and Josh Harrison was brought in to pinch-run. Two pop outs and a fly out kept Harrison in place on second base, without a run scoring.
Chris Leroux took over from Ascanio to begin the 6th. He also had the first batter reach on an error, but this time it was Leroux’s own throwing error. He hit Wes Hodges with a pitch, then was lifted in favor of Tim Wood. Wood got a ground out, which moved both runners into scoring position. Then he gave up two singles, to 3B Luis Valbuena and CF Ezequiel Carrera, which scored the tying and the go-ahead runs. The Indians had one last chance in the top of the 7th, but went down in order.
The Indians return to Victory Field on Tuesday, to begin an 8-game home stand. They will play 4 games against the Norfolk Tides, then 4 against the Durham Bulls.
Indians’ Hitting Gems of the Game: Chase d’Arnaud’s double, which brought in 2 runs in the 5th; and a single and a sacrifice fly by Alex Presley, also driving in 2 runs.
Indians’ Defensive Gems of the Game: The double play in the bottom of the 4th, Chase d’Arnaud to Pedro Ciriaco to Andy Marte (4-6-3) to help Jose Ascanio out of a situation with runners on first and second bases.
Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy)
