Cleveland Indians Mount Comeback But Fall to Angels 4-3

The Cleveland Indians mounted a late comeback to tie the game but their efforts were for naught as they fell to the Angels 4-3 in walk-off fashion. Despite another great outing from the starting pitching, the Indians fell to 34-27 on the season. The victory moved the Angels to 27-35 on the and evened up the series between the two clubs at one apiece.

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Tribe starter Trevor Bauer pitched very well but looked like he was going to be the tough-luck loser for much of the game. He threw eight innings allowing just three runs (two earned) on nine hits. He walked just one and struck out three. He was the victim of some shaky Tribe defense on the night, especially in the 4th inning when a Mike Trout hit was misplayed in right by Lonnie Chisenhall, allowing Trout to reach second. With two outs, Jefry Marte doubled home Trout to give the Angels a one-run lead. The run would be unearned but hurt all the same.  The score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the 7th inning when a couple groundball hits and a walk loaded the bases for Kole Calhoun who blooped a single to left field that just fell out of the reach of shortstop Jose Ramirez. The hit scored a pair and made it 3-0 Angels.

Bauer would take a no-decision on the night after the Tribe rallied for three in the 9th inning to tie the game. However, reliever Bryan Shaw would not be able to keep the game tied and gave up a walk-off bloop hit to Yunel Escobar that scored Brendan Ryan giving the Angels a 4-3 victory. Like Bauer earlier, Shaw was not hit hard but the hits found holes. The loss dropped Shaw to 0-2 on the season and raised his season ERA to 5.18.

The Indians offense had no answer for Angels’ starter Matt Shoemaker, who worked eight shutout innings allowing just three hits and walking one. He struck out 11 Indians’ hitters, getting every member of the starting lineup on strikes at least once. The Indians had one scoring chance against Shoemaker when in the 7th inning, Mike Napoli led off the inning with a single and Santana followed it with a walk. However, Chisenhall would fly out to deep left field on the first pitch he saw, and on the play, Napoli would be thrown out trying to tag and go to third. One pitch later, Juan Uribe would fly out ending the threat before anyone could blink an eye.

The Indians did make things interesting in the 9th when Shoemaker was relieved by Angels’ closer Huston Street. Street got a quick out to start the inning but then three straight singles by Ramirez, Napoli, and Santana made it 3-1 Indians. A Chisenhall sacrifice fly scored Napoli and made it 3-2 Indians. Pinch-hitter Francisco Lindor walked, pushing Santana to second, and rookie Tyler Naquin would tie the game 3-3 on a hit to right field. Street would leave the game in lieu of Fernando Salas who got Yan Gomes to pop out on the first pitch he threw. That one pitch would be enough to earn Salas the win after the Angels won the game in the bottom half of the inning, moving to 3-2 on the year.

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The Indians will look to rebound from the loss and win the series against the Angels this afternoon. Danny Salazar (6-2, 2.24 ERA) will take the hill as he puts his American League-leading ERA on the line. He’ll be faced by former Indians first round pick David Huff (0-1, 12.27). First pitch is at 3:35 pm at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Following the game, the Indians will head to Kansas City to take on the second-place Royals, whom the Indians hold a three-game lead on in the American League Central.