Hey kids, that is how you start a season! The Indians opened their 2017 campaign in Arlington against the Rangers on Monday and three games later they depart Texas victorious, sending an early message to the American League that they mean business. The Rangers were one of the best clubs in the majors last year, a 95 win team, but the Indians physically and mentally overpowered them in their own backyard. Let's look at how they did it.
Cleveland ace Corey Kluber got the nod to pitch on Opening Day for the third consecutive year and entering Monday's opener, he didn't have a great record, losing his two previous Opening Day games. Despite being being far from his best and struggling with a blister, Kluber avoided the loss this time around. He battled through 6 innings and gave up 6 hits, 3 of them homers, for a total of 5 earned runs. Kluber also struck out 6 Rangers and walked 3. It was not his best performance and the home runs are a bit worrying but we'll blame them on the blister. I'm still impressed he gutted it out and hung in the game for as long as he did.
It was the offense that picked Kluber up, with new boy Edwin Encarnacion rescuing his team with a clutch home run in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game. Way to make a great first impression Edwin! Then in the ninth, Abraham Almonte singled home Tyler Naquin to give the Tribe their first lead of the game, which Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley extended with an RBI each, stretching the lead to 8-5, a lead the Indians would not relinquish. Cody Allen closed things out and struck out 3 batters for his first save of the year.
Carlos Carrasco took the mound on Tuesday and despite his swollen arm issues in the spring, he gritted his way through 5.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, a walk and a homer, but struck out 7 batters as well. He really settled down after some early trouble (a Joey Gallo 2-run shot in the second) and didn't look like his elbow was affecting him too much.
It was the Tribe's other Carlos that rescued the team. Santana crushed his first home run of the season, taking Rangers starter Martin Perez deep for a solo shot in the top of the first. Then in the second, after an Austin Jackson RBI, Santana increased the Tribe's lead with a single into centre field to score Yan Gomes and put the Indians ahead 3-0. In the top of the seventh Brantley pushed one through the infield to tack on another run to make it 4-2 Tribe (after the Rangers had scored on Gallo's earlier HR) and that extra run proved to be pivotal. Allen entered the ninth to record his second save and despite a rocky start (back-to-back doubles and a Mike Napoli RBI) he shut the Rangers down by striking out the side and the Indians won 4-3.
The Wednesday night finale was a wild one. Danny Salazar pitched 5.2 innings but got off to a bad start when he was taken deep in the first inning by Nomar Mazara, giving Texas a 2-0 lead. Salazar ran into trouble again in the fifth and ended his night with a line of 5 hits given up, and 5 earned runs. He also walked 4 but struck out an impressive 9 batters.
Salazar's difficulties in the fifth inning were not helped by an uncharacteristic mistake by Francisco Lindor. A weak Shin-Soo Choo ground ball went straight to our Puerto Rican shortstop and he thought he had time to get Gallo out at second base but the Ranger beat him to the bag. Lindor still thought he could get Choo out at first with a throw but Encarnacion wasn't anticipating it, and the ball sailed into the stands to put the Rangers up 4-3. Mazara added another run before Salazar escaped the inning.
But Lindor, despite his easy-going appearance, is a fiercely competitive player and was quick to make amends. In the next inning he hit his first home run of the year to cut the Rangers' lead but he saved the best until last. Entering the top of the ninth with Texas ahead 6-4, the Indians put together a massive rally and went to work on Rangers closer Sam Dyson, quickly loading the bases. Santana forced a walk to bring in a run and cut the host's lead. Up stepped Lindor and on a 1-1 count he absolutely unloaded, crushing the ball into the right field stands for his first career grand slam, single-handedly winning the game. At 9-6 the Indians were not going to let Texas back in it, and Bryan Shaw pitched a clean bottom of the ninth to seal the win and the series sweep.
Player Of The Series
So many candidates in a thrilling opening series but I think the first award of the season should go to Carlos Santana. He had a positive impact in every game and in 12 total at-bats he recorded 5 hits, two of which were doubles and one a home run. He recorded 4 walks and struck out just the once. After three games he leads the team in batting average (.417), on-base percentage (.533) and OPS (on-base plus slugging - Santana has an excellent 1.367 mark at the moment). Congratulations Carlos.
Up next is a day off, then a trip to Arizona wherre Josh Tomlin is slated to start the first game of that series against the D-Backs on Friday night, and he'll face off against Shelby Miller.
Thanks for reading.
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