Indians shut out Tigers 1-0, behind Plesac's immaculate inning
BY ANDREW GUARINO
INDIANS BEAT WRITER
It was a low offense game and was a pitchers' duel. Zach Plesac was incredible, going 7 2/3, allowing five hits, walking just one batter, and striking out eleven. He also had an immaculate inning, which is an inning where the pitcher gets three outs on nine strikes on nine pitches. Plesac struck out the side in the second inning on nine pitches, it was the first immaculate inning for the Indians since Carlos Carrasco did it on July 7th of 2017. The Tigers' starter Michael Fulmer was on a short leash tonight coming back from an injury. He went three innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts. The Tigers' bullpen was solid the rest of the way for Detroit, going six innings, allowing one run, four hits, walking six and striking out three.
The only run for the Indians was scored on a sac fly by Francisco Lindor in the fifth, scoring Delinio DeShields. Cleveland loaded them up in the ninth but couldn't do anything with it. Detroit threatened in the ninth as well. A pinch hit triple by Daz Cameron put a runner on third for the Tigers with one out. Brad Hand then struck out back-to-back batters to end the game and earn his 13th save of the year.
With this win, the Indians are currently 27-23, which puts them in the seventh spot of the playoffs with time ticking away in the season. The Indians earned their seventh shutout this year, a League best.
Next up for Cleveland is game 3 of 4 with the Detroit Tigers from Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Indians will send rookie Triston McKenzie to the hill; he is 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA. He is coming off the worst start of his young career against the Minnesota Twins where he gave up five runs in just 4 1/3 innings. The Tigers will send Spencer Turnbull to the mound; he is 4-3 with a 3.94 ERA on the season. He didn't fare well in his last start either, allowing five runs in five innings against the Chicago White Sox..
POSTED 09/19/2020 01:25