CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Sam Hentges had his work cut out for him Monday night. Really, the whole Indians’ pitching staff did.
The Reds were in town, winners of five straight and surging in the National League Central Division race.
They’ve been the Big Red Scoring Machine of late, posting seven runs per game over their last seven contests.
But Monday night at Progressive Field those bats fell silent.
In fact, it was the Indians offense that erupted, churning out nine runs on eleven hits in a 9-3 win over the Reds in a make-up game from May 9th.
Amed Rosario had four hits and Bradley Zimmer homered for the second consecutive game. Rosario’s four-hit night has him atop the majors in that category with four such outings.
‘He had an interesting spring with moving from shortstop to center field but also coming back to play short,” said interim manager DeMarlo Hale. “When (Andres) Jimenez went out, he kind of took over that shortstop spot and really has done a good job.”
Zimmer’s blast in the seventh inning traveled into the trees in center field. Ticketed as 471 feet, Zimmer’s bomb put him in elite company.
“I was told that the only other person who has hit a ball out there is Jim Thome,” Zimmer said. “I figured I’m in pretty good company.”
Thome’s historic home run run onto Eagle Avenue on July 3, 1999, traveled an estimated 511 feet. Though Zimmer’s trailed on the tape measure by a few feet, it was no less impressive.
“It sounds like I’ve got some work to do,” Zimmer said with a laugh.
Whatever work Zimmer is putting in is paying dividends right now, particularly at Progressive Field where he’s batting .311. Since the All-Star break, he’s batting .295 (18-for-61), a slight dip from his average through the end of July of .325.
“I’ve always enjoyed hitting here, whatever it is. Some guys, it’s a visual thing like the batter’s eye or whatever,” Zimmer said. “I feel comfortable at home, there’s something to be said about playing at home. I see the ball well here.”
Jose Ramirez added a home run of his own and collected three RBIs in the Indians’ offensive surge. Meanwhile, the pitching staff held the National League’s second-best offense in terms of team batting at bay.
Hentges played with fire early, allowing a leadoff walk to Jonathan India and an RBI single to Joey Votto. He quickly recovered to retire Tyler Stephenson and Kyle Farmer to get out of further trouble.
The 25-year-old lefty gave up back-to-back one out singles in the second inning but got a double play to end the inning.
Hentges, Justin Garza, Blake Parker and Nick Wittgren each went two innings in a bullpen game.
“It’s all just about believing in yourself and trusting your stuff and having confidence that I belong here,” Garza said. “Having some success in the past and keeping it simple pitch to pitch, really it takes care of itself.”
Kyle Sandlin came in to work the ninth inning, allowing a run on an RBI double by Tucker Barnhard to score Eugenio Suarez to make the final tally.