Lake County Sentinel
Big fourth inning propels Tribe to 7-1 win
BY TIM SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
It might be a huge understatement to say the Cleveland Indians offense had struggled through the first 15 (8-7) games coming into Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. Through the first three innings the Indians offense looked the league worst .189 hitting team they were. But in the fourth inning a switch came on and they scored six runs on their way to a 7-1 win over the Sox.
All was quiet in the game until the fourth inning. The White Sox were pitching a bullpen game today as Righthander Matt Foster made his first career start. Foster had never started a game in college, minor leagues, or Chicago before today. He pitched very well through the first two innings shutting out the Indians on without giving up a hit walking one batter and striking out three. Right hander Drew Anderson relieved Foster to start the third inning and looked good in his first inning of work. Anderson however would not survive the fourth inning.
The fourth inning began with Cesar Hernandez drawing a four-pitch walk. Jose Ramirez followed and popped out to Chicago third baseman Yoan Moncado and slammed his bat to the ground in frustration. Francisco Lindor who entered the game hitting .220 then doubled to left field moving Hernandez to third base. With men on first and third After a visit to the mound by Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, Anderson apparently did not understand what Cooper said an uncorked a wild pitch, Hernandez trotted home with the Indians first run of the game and Lindor moved to third base. With Carlos Santana still at the plate White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal was charged with a passed ball and Lindor crossed the plate giving the Indians a 2-0 lead. With Santana now at first base with a walk Franmil Reyes came to the plate and blasted his second home run of the season over the center field fence. The two-run blast gave the Indians a 4-0 lead and was Reyes’ second home run in three games. The onslaught was not over as Domingo Santana then singled to center field. The final runs of the inning came next when Jordan Luplow smashed a home run, his first of the year giving the Indians a 6-0 lead. That was the end of the day for Anderson as Ian Hamilton another right hander came into relieve the beleaguered Anderson and get the final two outs of the inning.
Domingo Santana added the final run in the eighth inning when belted a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile Zach Plesac was pitching another brilliant game. The Indians pitching staff led all of baseball entering the game with a 1.99 ERA. Plesac pitched six scoreless innings allowing just five hits while striking out seven White Sox hitters. He did issue one base on balls.
The White Sox scored their only run of the game when Moncada homered to right centerfield in the eighth inning of Cam Hill who came into pitch the seventh in relief of Adam Cimber who relieved Plesac and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. The home run by Moncada was his third of the season. Hill put on a couple more runners on base but was able to escape the inning without any further damage. Phil Maton relieved Hill to start the ninth inning. Maton pitched scoreless ninth to preserve the win.
Plesac improved to 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA. Anderson took the loss for Chicago and falls to 0-1 with a 40.50 ERA.
The Indians and White Sox will finish the three-game series on Sunday night at 7:08 when they will be the Sunday Night game on ESPN. The early front runner for the Cy Young Award in the American League Shane Bieber will be on the mound for the Tribe. Bieber is 3-0 with a microscopic 0.83 ERA. Lucas Giolito who pitches well against the Indians will take the mound for Chicago. Giolito is 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA.
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow us on Twitter @SportsSentinel or @LCSentinelcom Check out our IndiansNation fan Page
POSTED 08/08/2020 17:25
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Photo by Ben Zedner
