Making just his second start since the end of last season, Josh Tomlin, the well-groomed, dip-rubbing right-hander, was simply brilliant as he returned to Yankee Stadium – a place where the ghosts of past stalked him during his career.
Sharp as a Swiss Army Knife – and equipped with as many pitches in his arsenal – Tomlin limited New York’s potent offense to just two extra-base hits: a third inning double by Chase Headley and an A-Bomb from A-Rod two innings later.
The quick-working starter needed just 106 pitches, 69 of which were strikes, to carve up the AL East-leading club through seven nearly perfect innings. Tomlin also ended on a bit of high note as well, retiring the final seven batters he faced.
Overall, he finished with six punch outs and just two free passes. And through his first two starts of the year he’s allowed just three runs – all solo homeruns – while posting an 11-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13.1 innings.
His effort was also aided by a pair of stellar plays from outfielders Abraham Almonte, who crashed in the right-center wall to make a catch, and former third baseman-turned-outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall, who came sprinting in to make a diving grab in the seventh.
The Tribe’s bats looked as if they might break through for a big inning early on as the club as the club had eight base runners aboard through the first four innings. Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova tip-toed his way through five innings while allowing three runs.
All Stars Jason Kipnis, who banged out three hits, and Michael Brantley, who followed up with a pair of base knocks, led the way for the Tribe’s offense.
Closer Cody Allen pitched around a shaky ninth inning for his 24th save.
Carlos Carrasco toes the rubber tomorrow for the good guys as he takes on Masahiro Tanaka at 7PM.
Good to see Kip and Brantley back and contributing. Good to have Tomlin back as well–he’s no more than a 5th starter, but we’ve gone through so many of those this year that I’ve lost count. At least we know what to expect from Tomlin, instead of all these other unknown quantities who dazzle for a few starts, and then just fizzle.