Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox Split Doubleheader

Indians Drop Game 1 as Clevinger and the Defense Struggle

The Cleveland Indians dropped the first game of Monday’s doubleheader by a score of 7-6. Rookie Mike Clevinger struggled for the Indians and took the loss, dropping to 0-1 on the year, while Mat Latos (who also didn’t pitch well) got the win, moving to 6-1 on the year. The loss dropped the Indians to 22-20 on the year while the White Sox moved to 27-18 with the victory. 

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Clevinger got off to a rocky start, allowing a first inning home run to Todd Frazier, his 14th on the year. Clevinger then allowed a runs in the 3rd and 4th innings on RBI singles by Jimmy Rollins and Austin Jackson, making the score 3-1 Chicago after four. After the Indians tied it though, Clevinger gave up a huge three-run home run to Brett Lawrie, giving the White Sox a 6-3 lead at the time. Clevinger managed to finish the inning but gave up six runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks in just five innings of work. He did strike out four on the evening.

Pitching in relief for the Tribe was the combo of Dan Otero and Austin Adams. Otero was tagged for an unearned run in the 7th inning after back-to-back errors by Rajai Davis and Jason Kipnis put runners on the corners with no outs. After walking Lawrie to load the bases, Otero nearly got out of the jam thanks to a huge doubleplay turned by right fielder Michael Martinez who caught Carlos Sanchez liner and then threw out Melky Cabrera trying to tag up on the play. However, Otero walked the next two batters and forced in the White Sox seventh run, which turned out to be a huge blunder. Adams worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings striking out two but also walking three.

Offensively the Indians broke the boomsticks on Monday, hammering three home runs in the first game of the doubleheader. Mike Napoli got the Tribe on the board in the top of the 2nd inning with a solo shot to left off starter Mat Latos, tying the game at one. Marlon Byrd then tied the game at three in the top of the 5th with a two-run homer to right center field. Finally after an RBI groundout by Napoli in the top of the 8th, Jose Ramirez hit a two-run home run to pull the Indians within one at 7-6.  Unfortunately for the Indians though that’s all they’d get as David Robertson was able to close the door in the 9th for his 12th save of the season.

Indians Win Game 2 Behind Strong Start by Anderson and Trio of Homers

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The Indians were able to salvage a split in Monday’s doubleheader by taking Game 2 against the Chicago White Sox by a score of 5-1. Cody Anderson, being recalled just for this game, had his best start of the season going seven strong inning to earn his first win of the season (1-3). For the White Sox, starter Erik Johnson took the loss and dropped to 0-2 on the season. The Indians moved to 23-20 on the year with the win while the White Sox dropped to 27-19, remaining the same 2.5 games up on the Tribe as they were when the day began.

Anderson looked like a totally different pitcher Monday night than what the Indians had seen the rest of the season. He allowed just one run, which came on an RBI single by Melky Cabrera in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Left fielder Jose Ramirez tried to come up with the liner quickly to prevent Todd Frazier from scoring from second base on the play but once he booted the ball Frazier was able to score easily and tie up the game. That was all the damage Anderson would allow though as he went seven strong innings allowing just the one run on five hits, no walks, and a career high nine strikeouts. Anderson finished the game retiring the final 13 batters he faced and threw 63 of his 94 pitches for strikes.  Relievers Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen each worked a scoreless inning to preserve the victory.

Just like in the first game the Indians brought out the muscle, slugging another three home runs in route to their five runs. Jose Ramirez hit his second home run of the day to put the Tribe up 1-0 in the 2nd inning. Ramirez entered the day with just one home run on the year. The big blow though came in the top of the 5th when center fielder Rajai Davis hit a two-run home run on a 3-0 pitch to score Lonnie Chisenhall and make it 3-1 Tribe.

The Tribe’s sixth and final home run of the evening came in the top of the 7th when Juan Uribe took starter Erik Johnson deep. The Indians got their fifth and final run of the night on an RBI single by Jason Kipnis off reliever Matt Purke to score catcher Chris Gimenez.

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The Indians and White Sox will continue their four-game series tonight as Josh Tomlin will face off against the White Sox ace Chris Sale. First pitch is at 8:10 pm at US Cellular Field in Chicago. The Indians will look to keep Sale from going 10-0 on the year while Tomlin will look to remain unbeaten.