CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians had their chance.
Several of them, really.
After surrendering an early 6-0 lead to the Houston Astros on Friday night, the Tribe’s comeback attempt fell short in a 6-3 loss at Progressive Field.
In total, the Indians stranded 15 base runners on the night, including leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“We stranded a ton of runners and that’s not what we’re shooting for,” said manager Terry Francona.
The Tribe, ravaged by injuries to both their pitching staff and their lineup, was dealt another blow shortly before the first pitch. Jose Ramirez was scratched from the lineup with left elbow soreness after diving for a ball hit down the third base line Thursday.
“He dove for that ball yesterday that (Michael Brantley) hit down the third base line,” Francona said. “He has a pretty good bone bruise so when he gets to extension in his swing it was kind of grabbing at him.”
Having Franmil Reyes back in the lineup for the first time since May 22nd wasn’t enough to overcome Lance McCullers Jr. who won his fifth straight decision.
McCullers was charged with two runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He was pulled in favor of Brooks Raley in the sixth inning.
While the offense looks for reinforcements in the form of Reyes, Ramirez and Eddie Rosario (abdominal strain), the pitching staff continues to navigate murky waters of its own. Starter Sam Hentges pitched just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering six hits and six runs, while walking two and striking out three.
Hentges made quick work of the Astros in the first inning, but it was all down-hill from there.
“We knew with this lineup you not only have to throw strikes, but you better stay out of the middle of the zone,” Francona said. “The hope is with repetition that he (Hentges) starts to not just command his fastball but be able to use his fastball and throw more strikes with it. When that happens, you’re going to see some drastic improvement.”
A fielding miscue in the third inning underscored Hentges forgettable night.
With runners on second a third, Abraham Toro hit a high chopper back to Hentges. Hentges attempted to throw out Michael Brantley at the plate, but his throw was high and off the mark to allow Brantley to score.
I believe someone called for (me to throw it home). It was a tough play,” Hentges said. “Hindsight, you just pick it up and throw it to first.”
The left-hander gave way to the Indians bullpen, which put up zeros the rest of the way.
Offensively, Cesar Hernandez provided the lone fireworks with a three-run home run to left field in the sixth inning. But Reyes (3-for-5) and Oscar Mercado (3-for-4) provided sparks and flashes of what could be more offense on the horizon.
“He (Mercado) swung the bat very well,” Francona said. “He used right field the one time, when he has that ability in his swing, that’s going to keep his bat through the zone a lot longer than maybe we’ve seen the last couple months.”
Mercado had a chance to extend the Indians night with the last at-bat of the night but struck out swinging with Ernie Clement on second to end the game.
“Even when I wasn’t part of the team just watching the games, you could always tell how much fight the guys had. It kind of seemed like the game wasn’t over until the last out,” Mercado said. “Seeing that first-hand now, it’s special. It’s a good group of guys that just never give up.”