On the heels of two-out, 9th inning error on Sunday, one that set up a grand slam that cost the Clippers the game, Chisenhall got the call to the bigs. Mercifully, the Adam Everett era came to an end. Lonnie did not disappoint. After slashing a a double down the right field line for his first MLB hit, Chiz the go-ahead RBI in a two-run sixth that would prove invaluable in a sorely needed victory. Some might lament Manny Acta for lifting a starting pitcher, who had retired his last ten faced, to allow Travis Hafner to make the final out of that inning. The STO boys chirped about "firing his bullet" and a "National league mindset." The simple fact is that the bullpen is wicked awesome and they showed up once again tonight to prove it. I know that Vinnie Pestano gave up a bleed and a blast to tie the game, but the effort that he and Rafael Perez mustered to get three outs with a man on third cannot be overstated. It gave the Indians their chance to win. And whatever we say on O-Cab's O-fense, he certainly has a penchant for the big moment.
Tonight, Mitch Talbot pitched well enough to win (3 ER in 5 IP), which continues a disturbing trend on this west coast swing. Since posting a 5-0 April, Justin Masterson is 0-6 despite a 3.38 ERA. Saturday was perhaps the most egregious offense as took the loss without allowing an earned run. Blame that one on an offense that could not muster a single run. Friday was little better as Carlos Carrasco suffered his first loss in three weeks (3-1, 0.61) with Carlos Santana wearing the goat horns. That brings us Sunday and our old friend Fausto Carmona.
Honsetly, we cannot blame Sunday's loss, or the Giants' sweep, on Fausto. I would very much like to. I would very much like to have one scapegoat for all of the woe that has befallen the Tribe over the past six weeks. Unfortunately, it cannot be done. The truth is that if Fausto pitches like he did for the ESPN national audience, he will remain in the rotation for the entire season. A 06.21 Cleveland.com poll revealed that 38% of readers want Carmona in the pen with only 15% affording him the opportunity to return to form. I was part of the plurality. While I have no desire to welcome Jeanmar Gomez or David Huff back to the lakefront, I would enjoy seeing if Zach McAllister (8-2, 2.93) can translate his International League success into some AL wins. Incidentally, Zach should have somewhere in the region of 11 W's, as he has been robbed not only by Sunday's 9th inning collapse, but also by two games suspended by rain. Even with the message the front office sends by promoting Chisenhall to catalyze an anemic offense, something dramatic would have to occur in advance of a McAllister recall. To get kicked to the relief corps, Carmona would have to pitch like the May 19th to June 10th stretch (0-5, 9.55) rather than the 1-2, 6.89 set that has followed. Seriously, two middling games (hey, 66% strikes is an improvement) sandwiched around a stinker will be more than enough to keep him on the hill once every five days.
That Clippers loss yesterday was part of a four game series with the Gwinett Braves in which Columbus won only game 1. That victory landed in Huff's pocket (7-2, 3.91) with Chisenhall slugging a first inning grand slam as part of a 5-game stretch in which he hit .429 with 2 bombs and an astounding 14 RBI. That was more than good enough for IL player of the week in advance of his Indians debut. Saturday featured another strong outing from Scottie Barnes (5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 K). This might have been good enough to win had the bats not run into a buzzsaw named Julio Teheran. Atlanta's top prospect and Baseball America's #4 overall, Teheran (8-1, 1.79!) limited the Clips to four hits over 7 innings with Luis Valbuena's 10th round tripper the only mar on his score sheet. Still, Columbus has won twice as many as it has lost (52-26) and with the big club floundering, it is nice too see the cavalry thriving.
Yeah, I do not like thinking about how bad the offense has been, so I will not. No numbers. No retrospective. Forget it. It has now past. I proceed forward under the assumption that Chisenhall's addition will serve as the shot in the arm that the batsmen so sorely need. This thump will equal a glut of chalk marks in the win column as the hurlers maintain success. Even in getting swept the Tribe kept it close through the entire series on the bay, the mark of a solid ballclub. With the win tonight, the Indians remain a single game behind the Tigers. Given all the adversity that our club has endured recently, one cannot ask for a better opportunity to contend. Why will they contend? For the same reasons that the team was once running away with the division. Now that I have whet your appetite, enjoy the win and I will break it down for you tomorrow.
Ha!
Cheers.
P.s. If Asdrubal Cabrera does not make it back to Chase Field for the All-Star festivities, I am going to write a very nasty letter to Major League Baseball.
