Cleveland Indians, Josh Tomlin Lose Opener to Rangers

The Cleveland Indians were trounced by the visiting Texas Rangers by a score of 9-2 Monday night. Tribe starter Josh Tomlin was hit hard and suffered his first loss of the season (7-1), while the Tribe bats failed to get a big hit when needed. The loss dropped the Indians to 26-23 on the season why the victory moved the Rangers to 30-21. 

More from Away Back Gone

• Cleveland Guardians tantalizingly close to locking up AL Central tiebreakers
• Cleveland Guardians: Terry Francona becomes meme in profanity-laced ejection
• Say goodbye to defensive shifts and hello to bigger bases, pitch clock in 2023
• Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber second-fastest to 800 strikeouts in major-league history
• The next week will make or break the Cleveland Guardians’ season

Tomlin, typically the Indians stopper after a loss, struggled early and often. He allowed a two-run home run to Ian Desmond in the first inning. The Rangers got a third run in the bottom of the 2nd on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Holaday giving Texas an early 3-0 lead. The third inning is when things got weird for Tomlin and the Indians. With two outs and runners on the corners, Tomlin got Mitch Moreland to topped a slow roller up the first baseline. Tomlin fielded the grounder and threw to first; however, his throw struck Moreland in the back of the head, allowing him to reach safely and for a run to score.

Replays clearly showed Moreland stepped out of the baseline and should have been ruled out; however, home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez ruled no interference. Manager Terry Francona would argue (to no avail) and eventually get ejected. Unfortunately for the Indians, that play is not reviewable. Tomlin then gave up a single to Elvis Andrus two pitches later, allowing another Ranger run to score, making it 5-0 Texas.

Tomlin would run into more trouble in the 4th inning. After a two-out RBI single by Prince Fielder to make it 6-0, a fielding error by Juan Uribe kept the inning alive. After the error, Uribe was charged with another error as he lobbed the ball back to Tomlin who lost it in the sun and allowed Fielder to make it to third. That was the last hitter Tomlin would face as Austin Adams came on in relief; however, he fared no better giving up a huge three-run home run to Nomar Mazara that traveled a reported 453 feet to centerfield, making it 9-0 Texas through four innings.

The lone bright spot on the pitching side came when rookie Ryan Merritt came on in the 5th inning. Making his major league debut, Merritt would work 4 1/3 innings on the evening, allowing just one hit, striking out two and facing the minimum. Not a bad debut for a guy who hadn’t pitched since he started May 19th for the Columbus Clippers. Cody Allen came in the 9th to get the final two outs for the Indians.

Offensively the Indians did bang out 11 hits; however, eight were singles. The Indians also grounded into four double plays including one in each of the final three innings. The Indians got on the board in the 6th inning on a solo home run by Mike Napoli, his team-leading 11th on the season. The Tribe’s second run came an inning later as Marlon Byrd hit his 5th home run of the year. Byrd went 4 for 4 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Rangers starter Derek Holland had little trouble with the rest of the Tribe offense, though, throwing six strong innings allowing just one run on six hits and striking out a pair. Rangers’ reliever Cesar Ramos pitched the final three innings for Texas, picking up the save (his first of the year) and allowing one run on five hits.

Next: Indians Made Right Call In Demoting Tyler Naquin

The Indians will look to bounce back from the big loss tomorrow as ace Corey Kluber (4-5, 3.78 ERA) will take the hill. He’ll be opposed by Rangers’ starter Colby Lewis (4-0, 3.38).  First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm.