Keys to the game (5/24)

Keys to the game:

1.) Pass the Baton! The Indians will face Lisalverto Bonilla (try saying that 10 times fast!)  for the first time ever tonight. He has only made 3 starts so far this season, and boy has he struggled terribly! The Cincinnati right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA in 18 1/3 innings pitched. Our offense has been a bit more consistent recently when it comes to run production- scoring 20 runs in the past 4 games. But as we witnessed last night, when you are playing against a team like the Reds you need as many runs as you can possibly get. So it is so very important that we continue to consistently score runs, and the best way to do that is via small ball. This team does not consist of one individual player that is the key to our success. Approach each at bat with one goal in mind: advance the runner! Don’t get greedy and try to do it all yourself!

2.) Pretend that it’s Houston! For whatever reason Trevor Bauer has always pitched extremely well against the Houston Astros. His last start (where he went 5 2/3 innings, giving up just 3 runs on 5 hits) was perhaps his best outing so far this season. So tonight when he takes the mound, he needs to pretend that he is facing Houston. In all seriousness, the Reds have the ability to run up the score very quickly if Bauer gets frazzled. He needs to use his high fastball and get first pitch strikes. Falling behind in the count is a sure fire way to get in trouble. He is 4-4 on the season, with a 6.65 ERA in 44 2/3 innings pitched. Let’s hope he can get those stats to look just a little better tonight.

3.) Defense saves the day! Without a doubt our defense saved the game last night. It is easy to lose sight of how important solid defense is because 95% of the time it is hard to pin point one single defensive play that saved a game. It is much easier to pin point a senseless error that lost a game because the consequences are so apparent. Multiple plays could be sighted in last nights game that made a difference, but the one that everyone can pin point as game saving is Robertson throwing Peraza out at home in the bottom of the 8^th inning. It literally saved the game. Let’s make sure we keep making those plays!!!