Tribe Down Dodgers
The Indians were back in action Thursday afternoon, looking to salvage a lone win in their three game interleague series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cleveland was locked in early, with their first four batters of the game reaching base. Jose Ramirez would drive in Fransico Lindor for the first run of the game. They would score again later in the inning thanks to a Roberto Perez walk, brining in Ramirez. Bradley Zimmer would step to the plate next and leg out an infield single to put the Indians up three to nothing.
It was a rough opening frame for Dodger lefty Rich Hill, who threw 39 pitches in the inning, facing all nine batters. He would finally end his misery when utility man Erik Gonzalez, who was starting in place of Jason Kipnis (Neck), struck out to end the bases loaded threat.
Hill would find himself in more trouble during the second inning. After getting Lindor to line out, Daniel Robertson snuck one through the left side of the infield for a single. Ramirez would get his second RBI of the day next, scoring Robertson with a double to right centerfield. After Ramirez got caught stealing third, Edwin Encarnacion hit a towering drive over the left field wall for his 13th home run of the season. The blast gave the Indians a nice five run cushion early in the game.
Indians’ starter Josh Tomlin cruised through the first two innings before getting into some two-out trouble in the third. With runners on second and first, Dodger Designated Hitter Justin Turner hit a shot to third and Ramirez dove to his left to make the play and get out of the jam.
The Dodgers would get on the board in the fourth inning when rookie sensation Cody Bellinger hit one around the right field foul pole for his 18th home run of the year.
They would score again in the fifth as Yasil Puig hit a double to left, scoring Joc Pederson. The very next batter, leadoff man Chris Taylor, would find the bullpen to make the score five to four.
The Indians would respond in the bottom half of the inning. Lonnie Chisenhall took Dodger reliever Ross Stripling deep over the right centerfield fence for a three-run bomb to put the Tribe back up by four.
The Indians would not let the Dodgers have life again, taking the game 12-5. The Indians’ 12 runs included a solo home run for Erik Gonzalez, which was his first MLB home run.
Tomlin picked up the win for Cleveland, while Hill suffered the loss for Los Angeles. The team now heads north for a three game weekend series with first place Minnesota.
