Cleveland Indians Fall to Mariners 7-1, Win Streak Halted

The Cleveland Indians fell to the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night by a score of 7-1, snapping their six-game winning streak. It was the first loss for the Indians in the month of June as well and dropped them to 32-25 on the season. The Mariners moved to 32-26 on the season with the victory, their third if five meetings with the Indians this season.

Cody Anderson (1-4) struggled in his return to the big leagues, allowing six runs in just 3 2/3 innings in taking the loss. He was hit hard most of the evening, allowing seven hits and a walk. He did strike out five though and the defense did let him down at a key juncture in the game that cost him four of the six runs he allowed. The Mariners first got on the board in the bottom of the 1st on a two-out, two-run home run off the bat of Nelson Cruz to give the Mariners an early 2-0 lead, a lead the Mariners would never relinquish. 

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The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the 4th when with two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Francisco Lindor made an “error” fielding a rather routine ball hit to him at shortstop. It appeared he wanted to flip the ball to Jason Kipnis for the force out at second to end the inning; however, Kipnis was late getting to the bag and when Lindor finally decided to throw to first it was too late and Adam Lind beat the throw. Instead of Anderson being out of the inning, the bases were now loaded for backup catcher Steve Clevenger who promptly doubled home a pair of runs to make it 4-0 Mariners. Two pitches later, Shawn O’Malley drove in two more with his first triple of the year making it 6-0 and ending Anderson’s night. O’Malley was a late replacement for Ketel Marte, who was originally in the lineup.

Lefty Tom Gorzelanny relieved Anderson to get the final out of the 4th inning and worked a scoreless inning of relief, striking out a pair. Jeff Manship came on to try and get the final out of the bottom of the 5th but was met by a solo home by Nelson Cruz, his second home run of the night and 15th of the year, making it 7-0 Mariners. After a scoreless 6th by Manship, Tommy Hunter and Dan Otero each worked scoreless innings of relief in the 7th and 8th, respectively.

Offensively, the Indians had no answers for Mariners’ starter Wade Miley (6-2) who pitched seven shutout innings. The Indians managed just four hits off Miley and a pair of walks. They did only strike out three times, but Miley did a great job keeping hitters off balance all night. The only run the Indians managed on the night came in the top of the 8th when Lonnie Chisenhall hit his second home run of the year, a no-doubt shot to right field. Chisenhall, getting the start versus the left-handed Miley, was one of the lone bright spots in the lineup, going 2-3 with the home run and a double raising his season average to .288 and OPS to .808. He also looked great in the field, saving at least one run for Anderson with an outfield assist in the 1st inning.

To make matters worse for the Indians, starting catcher Yan Gomes had to leave the game in the 2nd inning after taking a foul tip to the groin. It would later be revealed that he suffered a “testicular contusion” on the play. The Indians have not said how long the injury will keep Gomes out or if he’ll need to go on the disabled list, but it definitely doesn’t sound good for Gomes or the Indians, who are already very thin behind the plate with Roberto Perez still on the disabled list.  Chris Gimenez replaced Gomes and finished the game.

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The Indians will look to start a new winning streak and extend their Central Division lead, which remained at 2.5 games, tonight against the Mariners. Carlos Carrasco (2-0, 3.00 ERA) will be making his second start since returning from the disabled list. He’ll be opposed by Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker (2-6, 3.94), whom the Indians have struggled against. In his career, Walker is 3-0 with 20 strikeouts has allowed just one earned run in 20 innings (0.45 ERA) against the Tribe. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 pm.