Justin Masterson started and he had his second quality start in a row! In fact it was a 6-inning shutout! He gave up just 6 hits and 3 walks, and struck out 4. He's only had 3 other shutouts this year - oh man let's hope this is a permanent state for him!
Masterson couldn't reproduce his 9-inning shutout from June, but he tried. In the 7th he got a little shaky and gave up 2 singles then they pulled him. Joe Smith came in and got the next guy to pop out then struck out the next two. BAM!
Vinnie Pestano had a bad outing! And by bad outing I mean he didn't get the hold (he's about to break the team record of 31) but he still didn't give up the game. What he did was give up a 2-run homer to Pujols. Well, someone had to do it, right?
The Tribe got back some runs int he 9th, making it a non-save situation, so they brought in Rogers instead of Perez. Then Rogers sort of sucked for some reason and gave up 2 singles before they pulled him for The Man Himself. He only struck out the next 3 on 14 pitches, including wunderkind Mike Trout, and got his 100th career win. BALLGAME!
Kipnis was still out today and Jason Donald still was doing well! Kipnis did take BP and tweeted something about Wally Pipp so he seems to be slightly scared of the grease monkey. Pretty sure he's safe - although Donald went 2 for 4 today with an RBI! He's gotten 5 hits in his 5 games here filling in for Kipnis. But Kipnis climbed in in the 9th with bases loaded and no outs. Not sure how that came about...surely a nice pressure-free way to make a comeback I suppose, but I also get the feeling that everything Kipnis does is intense. And this was intense as he hit one pretty good that made Trout flounder out there in center (YES I DID!) and almost got himself a multi-RBI double. But it was merely a RBI sac fly. Sounds good, Kip.
Asdrubal was having fun tonight, going 2 for 5 with an RBI. He also was his old self in the field, making the barehanded play to end the first. Holy Omar!
The boys in the middle were surprisingly silent, with just 1 hit between Choo, Santana, Brantley and Duncan, and no walks. The one hit was Santana getting a single then testing the arm of Torii Hunter [blush] who, of course, put him out.
Carrera came in for Duncan in the 7th and got himself a hit, which he's done 3 days in a row now. Making me nervous, no doubt. Because Shelley's not doing shit! And Zeke is doing lots of shit! Today he even came around to score. Perhaps this part-time arrangement is too hard on old Shel's brain.
The rest of the bottom of the order was on it tonight, though! Five hits, 2 walks, 2 RBI and 5 runs for the lot of them!
Brent Lillibridge had another great night, going 2 for 4 with a solo homer! He also came around to score twice more. Something's up - he's totally happy here. He said on the post-game that he really liked the guys and they were all "real," compared to other guys he's worked with. That means the Red and White Sox. Go good quality guys!! I think also it's got to do with the huge Christian faction here but whatever. Seriously, if Jesus is going to bring good things to the team WE WILL PRAY EVERY DAY!!
Kotchman had another good night, also going 2 for 4 and scoring a run. Marson was back to his sweet self and went 1 for 2 with 2 walks, a RBI and a run. It was Zeke, Lillibridge and Kotchman who got on in the 9th to load 'em up for Lou who walked in a run. Then Kipnis sac'd in Lillibridge moving Kotchman to third, and Kotchman strolled in on a wild pitch, giving us a 3-run 9th inning to put the team up by 4!
It was really nice facing a crummy bullpen, though. Seems like our old method of breaking down the starter and jumping all over the relievers doesn't work for too many teams this year. That's why we were toast so many times when we didn't score early. Tonight we got the lead, kept it, and then ADDED to it! Fun!
Tomorrow is more in Anaheim and again at 10:05. It's Jiminez versus RHP (5.68). I think we've got this one covered.
Not sure why I had so little Radio Chatter tonight. I sat here and listened to the whole thing. I am thinking Hammy and Rosie were jetlagged. They were probably also cautiously optimistic - sort of sounding the whole game like we could just implode at any moment. Hopefully tomorrow they'll be a little more perked up and we can get some good quotes.
See you there!
Radio Chatter:
"You know it's a legitimate base hit if Mike Trout doesn't make the catch."
- Tom Hamilton on Asdrubal's hit in the first
"You know it's a legitimate base hit if Mike Trout doesn't make the catch."
- Tom Hamilton on Asdrubal's hit in the first
DRoobs had three great defensive pays last night, including the back-to-back bare-handers in the first. Lots of fun to see up close. Great game all around!
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