The Indians took game one of today's doubleheader this afternoon, by a score of 7-5. Justin Masterson, Kosuke Fukudome, and Shin-Soo Choo were the key players for the Tribe in today's game. Masterson had a good, but strange outing. He went 8.1 innings, giving up five runs via ten hits and one walk. He also struck out seven. The line sounds normal, but if you watched you'd know what I mean.
Through the first eight innings that Masterson threw, he had five innings where he only faced three batters. He gave up three runs across two innings, the second and the fifth. In both innings, he got the first two batters without much resistance, but then gave up three straight hits in each inning, leading to the Mariners' three runs. I don't know if Masterson lost focus, or if it was just bad luck, but it kept the Mariners in the game, and kept Masterson on the mound, making him throw more pitches.
He started the ninth inning by getting the first man out, but then let the next two men on, forcing Manny Acta to go to the bullpen. I understand the logic of letting Masterson start the ninth inning, he's the staff ace, and it would really save the bullpen if he went the distance, but he started the inning with 110 pitches, and this is a game that the Indians needed to win. If we're going to have closers and live by the save statistic, then Chris Perez has to start off that inning.
But Chris Perez came in to relieve Masterson in the ninth inning with runners on the corners and one out. He gave up a double to the first batter he face, Treyvon Robinson, which scored both runners that he inherited. He then walked Ichiro, got Franklin Gutierrez to pop out to the catcher, and then got Dustin Ackley to fly out to the warning track to end the inning with the Indians down 5-4.
Brandon League came in for the bottom of the ninth, and at this point, I had pretty much already chalked this game up as another loss. Ezquiel Carrera then started the inning off with a good at bat, ending with an opposite field double which short hopped the wall. The next batter, Asdrubal Cabrera, then hit a ball to the second baseman, Dustin Ackley. Ackley tried to throw to third, but made a poor throw, and all of the sudden, the Indians had men on the corners with no one out. Shin-Soo Choo then came to the plate and hit a walk off home run to end the game. It was a phenomenal ending to a crazy game.
Blake Beaven threw well for a young pitcher, but gave up all eight of his hits to left handed batters. He kept the ball down, but the Indians managed to make solid contact, and scratched out a few run. Kosuke Fukudome went three for four with two doubles, he scored two runs, and knocked in one against Beaven.
If you ever go to Fangrpahs, you are probably familiar with the Win Probability graphs that they have for games. If not, they're basically just graphs that show the chance each team has of winning throughout the game, and is live updated after every plate appearance. Her is the link to today's Win Probability graph for the Indians and the Mariners:
http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2011-08-23&team=Indians&dh=1&season=2011
The Indians have a chance to make up some series ground on the Tigers today if they can manage to take tonight's game, and if the Rays manage to beat the Tigers. If the Indians win tonight, they will make up ground on the Tigers regardless of the outcome of the their game.
Travis Hafner was placed on the Disabled List yesterday. It's a big blow because he's been an important part of the Indians lineup this year when healthy. There have been rumors this year of the Indians acquiring Jim Thome. I've largely been against his because he would fill the same role on the team as Hafner, but with Hafner now o the DL, and with the possibility that he could have foot surgery and miss the remainder of the year, I say go for it. Thome would provide good on base skills and power that the Indians order could desperately use.
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