I’m in a season ticket group with two other families. When we picked games for this season, I chose June 17 not even realizing that it was Father’s Day. I normally go to games with my kid, but since it was Father’s Day and all, I suggested she take her dad to the ballgame to watch the Indians take on the Twins. I swear to God when I suggested this, I didn’t know it was going to be 95 degrees today with 8 million percent humidity.
I missed seeing the game in person. So while I missed sweating my tuchas off in the upper deck, I also missed watching right-hander Shane Bieber make his second career MLB start and pick up his first career win. Coincidentally, Bieber first career start was also against the Twins. That was on May 31, when the Tribe won 9-8. That day, Bieber allowed four runs on eight hits (including two home runs) over 5.2 innings while striking out six and walking one. He didn’t factor into the Indians’ win that day and he left the game with a 6.35 ERA. Today was a bit different. Bieber again pitched 5.2 innings and gave up one walk, but this time he allowed only a single run on 10 hits while striking out seven. He left the game with a 3.97 ERA. Amazing how that works. All around a much better day. I may even be a Beleiber.
The Twins scored early, with a lead-off double from Joe Mauer in the 1st inning followed by an Eduardo Escobar double that scored Mauer. Cleveland tied it up 1-1 in the 2nd. Lonnie Chisenhall led things off with a triple and scored on a Tyler Naquin single. The Tribe broke the tie in the 3rd, when Yan Gomes smacked a three-run double to center, making the score 4-1. The Indians’ offense wasn’t as strong as it could have been–they were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but this time, the bullpen did its job perfectly. Oliver Perez, Neil Ramirez, and Cody Allen combined to close out the game and the win.
The Tribe continues its romp through the AL Central, welcoming the White Sox tomorrow for a three-game series and the Tigers over the weekend. Keep rolling.