Reds 5, Indians 3

June 13, 2012

The five worst things about tonight’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds:

  1. Indians starter Derek Lowe simply did not have it tonight. Over his six innings of work, he gave up three runs, all earned. He gave up five hits and six walks. Yes, one of the walks was intentional, but the other five were not. Two of the three runs he gave were scored by batters who led off the inning with a walk. I suppose Lowe kept the Indians in the game, but he did not look good out there.
  2. Nick Hagadone entered the game in the seventh inning with the Tribe down, 3-2. He gave up a single to the first batter, Joey Votto, then gave up a home run to Brandon Phillips on a pitch down the middle of the plate.
  3. The Indians once again showed their inability to generate any real offense when facing a starting pitcher they’ve never seen before. Cincinnati starter Matt Latos allowed only two runs over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked only one.
  4. The only time Latos got into a jam was in the top of the fourth inning, when he issued singles to each of the first three hitters. With the bases loaded and no outs, Johnny Damon struck out. Casey Kotchman’s fielder’s choice did bring in a run from third base, but Lonnie Chisenhall grounded out to end the inning. Good teams find a way to score more than one run with the bases loaded and no outs. They just do. It’s so frustrating to watch the first three batters reach base and to watch the next three make outs.
  5. In addition to going 0 for 4, thus lowering his batting average to a pathetic .178, Damon totally misplayed a ball hit to left by Joey Votto. After failing to catch the ball, Damon collided with the left field wall. Votto got a double, and Damon, I guess, got a bruise. If he were still alive to watch Damon try to play left field, my father would have said that Damon looks like a monkey trying to, oh, let’s say make love, to a football out there.

The five best things about tonight’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds:

  1. Making his Indians debut, relief pitcher Esmil Rogers, recently acquired from the Colorado Rockies, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
  2. Carlos Santana hit a double. Really.
  3. Michael Brantley’s fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to 20 games.
  4. Jose Lopez hit a home run with two out and no one on in the ninth.
  5. I bought a juicy roast beef sandwich before the game and ate half of it as I watched the game on television, and I’m going to eat the other half as soon as I finish this recap.

The Indians conclude their nine-game road trip tomorrow afternoon. A win will send them back to Cleveland with a 5-4 record on the trip.

And now if you’ll excuse me, I have half a sandwich to eat.

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3 Comments

  • SeattleStu says:

    how about 6 worst things – continuing to be owned by that punk brandon phillips (.347 lifetime v. tribe)…yet another one who got away for zip…thanks, wedgie.

  • Swift says:

    “3.The Indians once again showed their inability to generate any real offense when facing a starting pitcher they’ve never seen before. Cincinnati starter Matt Latos allowed only two runs over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked only one.”

    What’s really weird is that this isn’t even a 2012 Indians thing, or a 2011/2012 thing; this has gone on for years. Every time I hear the Indians are going to play against some kid just brought up from the Double A Nowhere Nobodies, I know we’re going to get about 2 hits. It is really weird.

  • Vern Morrison says:

    Sadly, you’re absolutely right, Swift.