Bases loaded with two outs.  Mike Aviles up and barrels a ball up deep to right center field.  Anthony Gose runs it down and snags it just before it hits the ground, ending the rally.

This play ended the game, and was a microcosm of the Indians games vs. the Tigers in recent years, especially recently.  Once it starts to look like the Tribe could start something, we hit into a double play.  Or once we have Miguel Cabrera down 0-2 with 2 outs, he hits one out.

The Indians lost 8-1 on Sunday.  The scoring for the Tigers started early with a flare off the bat of Ian Kinsler scoring Gose.  A little later, Miguel Cabrera absolutely tattooed a ball that was left over the middle of the plate by Kluber.  After the fifth, when we were down 2-0, about a two hour rain delay ensued.

Once play finally resumed, things did not get better.  Kluber did not return due to the delay, so Scott Atchison came in.  He did not have his good stuff at all, and gave up a three run home run the J.D. Martinez to make the score 5-0 in the sixth.  Detroit added two more in the eighth off of Ryan Webb to run up their total to 8.

The ninth was the Tribe’s best inning of the day, finally getting on the board.  Brandon Moss hit a homer to left that hit off the heel of Yoenis Cespedes.  Next up was Francisco Lindor, who pinch hit earlier for Murphy and swung and missed three times in a row.  Lindor in his second bat worked a 3-1 count.  He got a fastball down the heart of the plate, and roped it down the right field line for his first big league hit.  Rounding first he tripped, and blamed it on Miguel Cabrera.  They shared a laugh, and everyone in the Indians dugout loved it.  This was the loosest the Tribe looked all day, and it was nice to see someone finally smile.

After dropping the rubber match against Detroit, the Indians will head to Chicago, for a two game set vs. the Cubs.  Trevor Bauer will get the start on Monday, and Shaun Marcum on Tuesday. Francisco Lindor figures to get his big league start at SS after his impressive hit today.

3 Comments

  • LittleChicago42 says:

    The Tigers are absolutely convinced that they can and will consistently beat the Indians any time they want to. They are a team off a 8 game losing streak, who sports an abysmal record outside the AL Central, yet they handled the Indians rather easily for the series win. They aren’t that good, yet the Indians have made them look like the ’27 Yankees on the regular of late. It’s getting old.

  • Peter says:

    same old stuff, different day. My offices are in Detroit and they don’t even bother to rib me anymore! Why is it with RISP, we can’t do anything? Having to cover the bases is supposed to make holes for hits. I’m tired of solo shots and meaningless hits. I’m tired of ground ball after ground ball into the heart of the shift.Tito calls for a sac bunt to avoid the impending double play which leads to the question of the day:

    Can ANYBODY on this bunt?

    • Derek says:

      I’m in a similar situation. Any time the Tiger fans start yapping, I just point to one of the OSU flags around the office. I wish the Indians would give us a bit of ammo at least.