Tonight, the Indians lost a tough game to the Mariners. Fausto Carmona threw six good innings, only allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out six. Jason Vargas was good as well, going seven innings while allowing two unearned runs. He struck out only two, but didn't walk any, and gave up seven hits.
The Indians scored both their runs in the second inning with help from two Brendan Ryan errors. Just watching the game, it seemed as if the Indians had a few opportunities to score, but would hit into a double play whenever they would get anything started. This was best epitomized in the seventh inning. The situation was was one out with Ezequiel Carrera on first base with Michael Brantley batting. On the pitch, Carrera was running as Brantley hit a ground ball to the first baseman. The ball was fielded, and the first baseman, Mike Carp, stepped on first for an out, but Carrera rounded second and went to third. Carp then threw across the diamond to third, and Carrera was tagged out on a play that wasn't close. All-in-all, the Indians grounded into three double plays in a very frustrating game.
The game stayed tied from the second inning until the start of the ninth. Chris Perez went in to start the ninth, and hit the first two batters. Obviously not a good way to start an inning, but then on a sacrifice bunt, Perez had trouble fielding the ball, resulting in a bass loaded situation with no one out. He then struck out Ichiro, but gave up a sac fly to the center fielder Ezequiel Carrera. Carrera did his best to get a throw home, but it was just late, and Miguel Olivo came into score the game winning run.
The Indians haven't been playing well lately. The starting pitching has been inconsistant, the offense has been slumping, and the bullpen has been worked hard. Not a formula for winning, and the Indians have dropped four straight.
The Indians have a double header against the Mariners tomorrow, one of which is a make up game from the 2007 snow-out series I think (or maybe from this May). The first game is set for 1:05 PM ET and matches up Blake Beaven and Justin Masterson. The second game is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET, the Indians will throw Zach McAllister while the Anthony Vasquez is expected to make his Major League debut for the Mariners.
Justin Verlander beat the Rays tonight while the White Sox were idle, so the Tigers are now five game in front of both the Indans and the White Sox. The Indians are slipping, and could really use a hot streak. The Mariners, Royals, and Athletics making up the next 13 games against the Indians before another three game series against the Tigers.
Around the League:
The Rangers remained hot as they shutout the Red Sox behind a strong showing from C.J. Wilson. Wilson will be a free agent after this season, and it will be interesting to see who signs him, and what kind of money he'll get. Wilson was a reliever for five years before transferring to the rotation at the beginning of last year. He threw 130 more innings in 2010 than in 2009, but isn't showing any ill effects this year. He's the first pitcher since the obsession with pitch counts and innings limits to make that sort of jump, making him a player of interest for many teams.
The Brewers and Pirates split a double header today, in which each team won a game by seven runs. Not something that you'll see everyday.
The Dodgers beat the Cardinals in a game that Tony La Russa lost with the bullpen by over thinking things. He brought in a right handed pitcher to make Aaron Miles switch to batting left handed after warming up with Author Rhodes on the mound, who is a lefty. Miles is a better hitter left handed and hit a triple that scored the tying run, and later he scored the go ahead run. Matt Holiday also had to leave the game after a bug flew into his ear, and he couldn't get it out. That's scary, gross, and very weird.
No comments:
Post a Comment