What Should We Call This?

Another game where the starting pitching was good (enough), the offense tried its darndest to pull the team out from under a loss, but ultimately the bullpen gave it up like a "_____ _____ on a _____ _____." For real.

I like when the team plays with heart like that, I really do. But I really, really don't like losing these games. Wouldn't you rather lose like 8-1 or 2-1, but shut out by a good bullpen, than end up losing after two rallies? I also just don't like this bullpen. Grr!

On to the stats.

Justin Masterson had a good start. A quality start, even - 6 2/3 innings, 2 runs. But as soon as Tom Hamilton suggested that Masty wasn't coming back until after the break and maybe he could be pushed, dude gave up 2 runs, putting the team behind 2-1. He could have gone the distance but the finish line was moved back a few miles. He left the game with 120 pitches thrown in the 7th.

So, what next? First this lil' fella named Preston Guilmet came on to finish the 7th with 2 on and 2 out. He got that done, then came in to get one out in the 8th and that was the end of his debut. Why so short? Dunno. He ended up being the setup for the setup - Vinnie "Cringe" Pestano came in to get the final 2 outs of the 8th.

Then it was time for Oh No Not Rich Hill because we were out of options. He did well in that he only walked a guy and otherwise got 2 outs. Basically, he had no one on base when he came in so there was no one to let score. Previously Awesome Joe Smith came in and gave ol' Oh No a taste of his own medicine by allowing Hill's runner to score. Ha! Oh and then 2 of Smith's runners scored right behind him. Meh.

"I Dunno - Albers or Shaw?" came in to finish it, but the damage was done. The Tribe was down 3 in the 9th.

They did their very best to try to come back. Michael Borurn had a big night, going 3 for 5 with a stolen base. He came around to score twice, including in the 9th.

Asdrubal was back in gear, stopping a slump and getting 2 hits, an RBI and coming around to score in the 9th. That was the end of scoring in the 9th, though.

Kipnis not looking good, man. Shut down again tonight. Ever since Saturday, when he was let into the ASG...

Brantley, Santana and Giambi each went 1 for 4 today, with Brantley and Giambi getting the 2 initial RBI. Brantley totally was set up to be the hero of the game, with 1 on and 2 out in the 9th after an error and an "extra out" as it were. They took their closer out and put in a new dude and Brantley tried to go all Chisenhall on him and swung away on the first pitch, only to fly out to end the game.

I take some major drugs to stave off heartburn but there's a bit of a grind in the pit of my stomach right now. Seriously.

It was a bad loss today, ultimately at the hands of our bullpen. And I don't know what else to say about it.

'Cept tomorrow is a noon game and hopefully the guys will be rarin' to go to finish what they started here and get the series win. The rubber match!

Tomorrow will be fun too because it's the debut of Danny Salazar! It could be great! (Or not) He'll be facing this beardy knuckleballer with a 4.77 ERA. Godspeed, Danny...

So, 12:05 - see you there!

Radio Chatter:
"For those of you who have wondered what it's like to live in Seattle - you have, for the past week."
- Tom Hamilton on the weather in Cleveland

"...I know it sounds crazy but, [it's] a beautiful night for baseball!"
- Jim Rosenhaus

"Kawasaki plays like his pants are on fire."
- Tom Hamilton on the Blue Jays' second baseman's effort

"[The home plate umpire] goes 'You have 36 at-bats in the major league and you're arguing with me?'"
- Tom Hamilton on Josh Thole