Cleveland Indians: 3 takeaways from the 10-4 loss to the Mariners

The Cleveland Indians entered today’s game one day removed from a 12-4 walloping from the Seattle Mariners. Today ended similarly as the Indians lost  10-4.

The Cleveland Indians have had two tough losses in a row this weekend as Seattle outscored them 22-8 in the last two contests. The pitching was bad in both games as you probably gathered from 22 runs in two games.

Carlos Carrasco had an outing unlike his usual self last night and then Josh Tomlin continued his current trend of bad days. Tomlin was smacked around again in an outing that has become a normalcy in 2018.

Two big innings kill the Tribe

The Indians woes began in the second inning. With two outs, Josh Tomlin unraveled to allow five runs.

The inning could have been over with no runs scored on a relay throw to home. However, Francisco Lindor‘s throw sailed high and right and Yan Gomes could not get the tag down.

The inning took off from there for Seattle with two straight RBI singles. Robinson Cano then capped off the outburst with a two-run homer.

The Indians did get back into it late with a weird RBI double from Jose Ramirez. The ball was dropped but the umpires called Ramirez out.

Replay later confirmed that he dropped the ball and they gave Cleveland two runs. They could not capitalize any further with runners on second and third.

The Mariners then scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning on a single and an error from Kipnis. Ryon Healy capped the scoring with a two-run homer.

The big innings killed the Tribe twice. The offense couldn’t keep up and the pitching took a smacking again.

Josh Tomlin’s woes continue

Josh Tomlin has been off to a rocky start in April. Today was not any different as the Mariners unloaded on him for six earned runs on 10 hits in just six innings.

Tomlin also gave up two more home runs bringing his total to 10 home runs given up in just 18.2 innings. He only has 10 strikeouts on the season for reference of just how many home runs that is.

Tomlin’s ERA is skyrocketing and the Indians have to address it soon. If Tomlin can’t turn it around, the first thing they can hope for is Danny Salazar returning at 100 percent and remaining healthy.

Josh Tomlin has started rocky before and turned it around so the hope that he does it again remains for now. If he doesn’t, however, the Indians could be looking at parting ways with the veteran starter.

Scoring continues to prove difficult for the Indians

Cleveland has lived and died by the long ball all season long. It seems that they cannot score runs without hitting home runs.

Today proved true to that sentiment as Brandon Guyer launched a two-run homer in the game. That accounted for half the team’s runs today and that is about how the Indians offense has been all season.

The offense will have to do better with runners in scoring position. Edwin Encarnacion left a man on third twice in today’s game.

The team as a whole went 2-for-8 with RISP in the game. Had the offense capitalized on their opportunities more often, today may have turned out different.

The Indians closed out this Seattle series losing three out of four. They have Texas next in a three-game series followed by a double-header with the Blue Jays as make-up games from earlier rainouts.

Next: Indians: A look ahead to the 2018 MLB Draft

The best hope is that the pitching gets it back together and the offense turns the page on the month of April. If they can clear their heads into May, the team could position themselves well by the end of the month.