Considering that the Indians scored 15 runs in Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, you might have expected that their bats would be not quite so hot in the rematch on Tuesday. And that was in fact the case, as the Tribe managed only a measly 13 runs on Tuesday. And given the way that Indians starter Danny Salazar pitched, that was about 11 runs more than they needed, as the Indians again beat the Reds, this time by a score of 13-1.
Those crooked numbers that Indians broadcaster Rick Manning keeps talking about? The Tribe put up three of them, scoring four runs in the second inning, three runs in the third, and five runs in the fifth. Just to add insult to injury, they also tacked on a straight number, scoring one run in the sixth. Francisco Lindor, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Rajai Davis each had three hits in the game. Lindor and Chiz doubled twice. Davis, batting ninth, also doubled, going three for three with two bases on balls. He scored four runs and drove in three.
Reds starter Alfredo Simon had a terrible outing, giving up 14 hits and one walk over 4â…“ innings of work. He allowed 10 runs, all of them earned. His replacement Steve Delabar fared no better. He walked the first batter he faced, loading the bases. After retiring the next hitter, Delabar then issued a jaw-dropping four consecutive bases on balls with the bases loaded.
Salazar, on the other hand, mowed down the Reds lineup with ease, allowing only one run and five hits in 7â…“ innings. He struck out eight and walked one. During one stretch, Salazar retired 16 straight Reds batters.
It was just a two-game series in Cleveland, but the Indians won both of them, so I’m going to go ahead and call it a sweep. The two teams will get on I-71 and ride to Cincinnati for another two-game series starting on Wednesday evening. Mike Clevinger, recently called up from AAA Columbus, will make his MLB debut as the starting pitcher for the Tribe in the first game. Here’s hoping the Tribe gives him some decent run support. Maybe they can go easy on the Reds and score only 11 runs on Wednesday.