Starting To Come Together! Indians Sweep Blue Jays

July 23, 2017
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After losing five of their first six games after the All-Star Break, the Cleveland Indians haad gotten just the kind of pick me up they’ve needed over the past two games as the Toronto Blue Jays have come to town. After falling to the Tribe in the American League Championship Series last fall, the Jays have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball this year, and currently sit in last place in the American League East with a record of 44-53. Today, the Indians had a chance to finish off a three-game sweep with today’s matinee game. Thanks to an impressive 8-1 victory, they did just that, and maybe things are finally starting to come together for the Tribe.

Corey Kluber got off to a quick start, retiring the side on nine pitches in the top of the first inning. Carlos Santana returned to the leadoff spot for the Indians for the first time in an month, and promptly singled to center field. Francisco Lindor then had a terrific bunt down the first base side, and both he and Santana were safe with no outs for Michael Brantley. Brantley followed up with a single  to center of his own, scoring Santana and giving the Indians a 1-0 lead with no outs on just the fourth pitch of the game by Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ. Happ then retired Edwin Encarnacion on a fly ball to center field for the first out of the game, before walking Jose Ramirez on four straight pitches. The struggling Brandon Guyer then smacked a three-run double to left center to clear the bases and make it 4-0 Indians. Abe Almonte then hit a line drive to short, and Yan Gomes grounded to third to end the inning, but the Indians had went into the second inning with their ace on the mound, and a commanding lead at home.

Kluber came right back to strike out the side in the second inning. To his credit, Happ settled down in the second inning, retiring Giovanny Urshela, Santana, before Lindor reached based on an infield single. Happ then came back to retire Brantley on a liner to Ryan Goins at shortstop.

The Blue Jays got on the board when Kevin Pillar hit bomb to left field for his 11th home run of the year to cut the Indians’ lead to 4-1. Kluber was able to retire the next three batters to limit the damage, but it felt like a game for the first time since there was one out in the bottom of the first inning.

The Indians added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Urshela reached base on an infield single, and moved to second on a wild pitch by Happ. After Santana filed out to center, Lindor singled to right, and Urshela beat the throw home to give the Indians a 5-1 lead. They threatened again when a walk by Encarnacion put runners on first and second with two outs, but Ramirez flied out to right field to end the inning.

The Blue Jays threatened again in the top of the sixth inning. After a strike out by Josh Donaldson, Justin Smoak walked, and advanced to second on a single by Kendrys Morales. The Indians’ defense picked Kluber up as Steve Pearce grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Indians put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Urshela lined out to left field, Santana walked to put a runner on. Lindor then lined to third base, and Santana had to hustle to get back to first and avoid the double play. Thankfully he did, because Michael Brantley hit a blast two center field for his sixth home run of the year, and first since April 30th, a span of 233 plate appearances. They added another in the bottom of the seventh inning when Abe Almonte doubled to right field, and scored on a single to center field by Yan Gomes to make it 8-1 in favor of the Tribe.

Corey Kluber was absolutely dominant today, going seven and two-thirds innings with fourteen strikeouts. He allowed five hits, two walks, and one run, and 81 of his 120 pitches were strikes. He left the game to a standing ovation after walking Josh Donaldson in the bottom of the seventh inning after getting up 0-2 on Donaldson. Nick Goody relieved and retired Justin Smoak on a popout to foul territory on the third base side to end the inning.

In his Indians debut, left-hander Tyler Olson came on in the ninth inning to close things out for the Indians. Recalled from Triple-A Columbus when Boone Logan went on the disabled list, Olson had previously pitched for the Mariners and Yankees. After a single by Morales, Olson struck out Pearce swinging, and got Miguel Montero to hit into the game-ending double play. With the sweep, the Indians now sit at 51-45 on the season, and hold a two-game lead in the American League Central Division.

Things I Noticed

Corey Kluber is the best Indians pitcher of my lifetime. For frame of reference, I’m 39 years old. His combination of great stuff, terrific control, and attacking mentality is amazing. Despite missing a month earlier this season, Kluber deserves serious consideration for the American League Cy Young Award.

Nice game by Francisco Lindor today with three hits. Between that and last night’s walkoff, hopefully he’s about to start a hot streak after struggling for the past few months.

It was great to see Michael Brantley hit his sixth home run of the year as part of a three RBI game for him. His comeback as an elite player after missing almost all of last season has arguably been the best story going on with the Tribe this year.

The narrative on poor fan attendance is quickly becoming dated. The Indians drew nearly 100,000 people this weekend alone and are likely to draw over two million in attendance this season. It’s nice to see people rediscovering the magic at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

The Indians are back at it tomorrow as they taken on the Cincinnati Reds in a makeup game. While the Reds currently have a 2-1 lead in the season series, they’re terrible and this is a great opportunity for the Tribe to both extend their winning streak and give this writer another reason to talk trash to his friends from college. Until then, Go Tribe!

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