Quick Recap
Carrasco looked like he was going to throw a gem, but it all changed in the top of the second when Alex Avila slugged a two-run home run to right-center field. The tribe answered back in the bottom of sixth when Jose Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Michael Brantley. The Tigers got some insurance in the top of the eighth, though, when Miguel Cabrera hit an RBI single off Brian Shaw and put the Tigers up 3-1. Shaw surrendered two runs total in relief, after a Zach McAllister wild pitch allowed JaCoby Jones, who pinch ran for Cabrera, to score.
Player of the Game
Tough to pick a player of the a game in a tough loss, but I'd say the nod has to go to Francisco Lindor, who paced the offense with two hits. Lindor's batting average is now .362 on the year. Michael Brantley also added two hits for the Tribe.
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| Yandy Diaz |
Just a day removed from a four home-run team effort that saw the Indians score 13 runs, the offense
sputtered again Sunday. The team tallied just one extra base hit, a Jose Ramirez double. It seemed like the Tribe had chances throughout the game, but Brantley, Yandy Diaz and Yan Gomes each grounded into a double play and the Tribe were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
A trend to discuss is the offensive struggles. It's probably too early to glean too much from basic statistics, but Lindor and Ramirez are the only regulars with a batting average above .300. Lonnie Chisenhall is batting .417, but has only 12 at bats, after starting the year on the disabled list. We discussed Yan Gomes' struggles last week, but things seem to continue to get worse for the catcher. He did manage to throw out a base runner, but I don't think people are questioning his defense or his arm, it's his production at the plate that is causing people to question his play. Gomes went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and his season batting average is .067. In 30 at bats, Gomes has just two hits, three walks and 10 strikeouts. It's too early to say too much about this, I still maintain it's likely he turns it around and becomes at least a .220 hitter. At this point, Gomes is a blackhole in the lineup, and you can see it by his body language during games. The early-season slump is weighing on the catcher and although I believe he will come out of the slump, if you watch him, he is completely lost at the plate. He can't catch up to fast balls and he's never been good at driving the breaking ball. He is someone to keep an eye on, because if production continues to be this low, a change will have to be made. Whether that change would be Roberto Perez getting more time or a trade for another major league catcher, time will tell. The Indians did try and trade for catcher Jonathan Lucroy last season, you have to wonder if the team would consider a move like that. The catcher isn't always expected to bring a lot of offensive production, and this is true for Cleveland, but batting under .100 and striking out in 1/3 of your at bats is so bad that it might be better to sacrifice defense. We'll see what happens, I think Gomes will turn it around.
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| Bryan Shaw |
The Tribe fall to 5-7 on the year, going 2-4 during their first home stand and losing seven of their last nine. But, the team that made it to game seven of the world series last year also got off to a rough start. The 2016 Indians started the year 10-12, but righted the ship and started to play their best ball later on. It's a 162 game season and every game DOES count, but this team is full of talent and also will get one of their better offensive performers back in the lineup soon enough, in Jason Kipnis. Some of the best players on the team are known for being slow starters (Kluber, Santana and Encarnacion). Don't fret yet, I think the Tribe will be just fine.
Stat of the Game - Home sweet home? Maybe not! Last season, the Indians were 53-28 at home. This year the start just 2-4 at Progressive Field.
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