The Magic Number Is Zero

September 27, 2016

The Cleveland Indians are the American League Central Division champions. We haven’t been able to say that for nine years, so repeat as often as necessary.

The Tigers made the Indians work for it. Every time Cleveland scored, Detroit would answer back. The Indians scored first with a two-run dinger by Coco Crisp in the 2nd, but the Tigers immediately tied it up with a two-run homer from JD Martinez. The Indians notched a couple more in the 5th on a double by Jason Kipnis, which scored Carlos Santana, and  a sacrifice fly from Mike Napoli that scored Kipnis. Detroit came back in their half of the 5th with a run to make a 4-3 ballgame. It was the same story in the 7th inning. Roberto Perez smacked a solo home run to pad the Indians’ lead, but the Tigers came up and scored again, keeping it a one-run game. When you’re trying to clinch the division title in the ballpark of the team that totally owned you the previous season, one-run games are a little too close for comfort. You need more. Fortunately, the good guys delivered.

With two outs in the 8th, the Crisp, Rajai Davis, and Perez hit three singles in a row to score one run. With Davis on 3rd and Santana at bat, the Indians scored on an error by outfielder JD Martinez (clearly karma paying him back for hitting a home run off of Corey Kluber in the 2nd). Unearned run or not, the insurance run was welcome. The combination of Andrew Miller and Cody Allen shut down the Tigers in the 8th and 9th innings to keep the score 7-4. Miller came in at the bottom of the 7th and faced a total of six batters on the night, striking out four of them. It was nice to see the Indians’ bats come alive. They had a total of 8 hits. Surprisingly enough, Roberto Perez had 3 of them.  One day he’ll crawl back over the Mendoza Line.

Let’s hope this game wasn’t a Phyrric victory. Indians starting pitcher, staff ace, and Obi Wan Kenobi of the post-season rotation Corey Kluber left the game in the 5th inning with right groin tightness. It’s starting to seem like the Baseball Gods are picking off our starting pitchers one by one. I’m trying not to be too concerned yet. All reports are that he participated in at least a portion of the dousing-people-with-alcohol frivolities in the locker room, so he is mobile. Hopefully taking him out was strictly a precautionary move. He has a little time to heal. And this team has shown itself to be very adept at stepping up and filling in the holes left by injuries–look at Jose Ramirez helping to fill the injured Michael Brantley‘s offensive shoes. They’ll figure it out. After all, the Cleveland Indians are the American League Central Division champions. Onward and upward.

 

 

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