Indians Bounce Back To Stun Twins 7-5

Aug 19, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes (10) rounds third in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Cleveland Indians win 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Key Hits by Gomes and Holt Help Tribe Overcome Early Deficit

Trevor Bauer struggled in the first inning yet again, but managed to settle in and retire the next 14 batters he faced.  Kyle Crockett had a scoreless appearance to get the win, while six other Cleveland relievers finished out the game without allowing another run.  Rookie Tyler Holt‘s first two major-league RBI came at the perfect time and put the Tribe over the top for good against the division rival Minnesota Twins.

The Positives

Michael Bourn‘s two-hit performance is encouraging, and it’s equally encouraging to see he’s not holding back on his speed.  Yan Gomes had a fantastic night with two singles and a solo shot.  And the Cleveland bullpen was fantastic once again, pitching 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.  Nick Hagadone in particular is on fire lately.

The Negatives

Trevor Bauer’s first-inning struggles are well-documented.  He’s fantastic once he gets settled in, but this is marks another game when he’s put the team behind early.  What’s causing the first-inning woes, and how can Bauer realize his potential by fixing them?  Chris Dickerson had another hitless day at the plate and is now batting .228.

Check It Out
-Yan Gomes now has 17 homers. If he reaches 20, the Cleveland Indians will have seen at least 3 different catchers hit 20 homers in a season in the past decade, which would mark the first time in club history.
-With Kansas City winning again, the Indians remain 6 games back in the division.
–Cody Allen has now converted 16 straight save opportunities.