Game 23: Indians 5, Twins 4 (11 Innings)

by Ryan on May 2, 2010 12:32 AM EDT in Game Recaps

Joe Mauer was out of the lineup with a bruised left heel; that made things easier for Indians starter Justin Masterson, who has been rocked by left-handed hitters so far this season. He gave up 10 hits on the night, but he stayed in the strikezone and was able to stay in the game into the eighth inning.

The Twins scored three runs in the first two innings, the first two off a first inning Jim Thome single. Denard Span homered in the second to made it 3-0 Twins, but that was all MInnesota would get off of Masterson until a Justin Morneau home run in the eighth. In the meantime, the Indians managed two runs off of fill-in starter Jeff Manship, one coming on a double play. Manship went six innings, giving up the two runs on 5 hits and a walk, and in particular shut down the top of the Indians lineup.

After the Twins tacked on a run in the top of the eighth, the top three hitters in the Indians order all got hits with two outs, and tied the game. With a runner on second and Austin Kearns on deck, Matt Guerrier pitched to the left-handed Shin-Soo Choo, though for most of the at-bat it appeared he was pitching around him. With a full count, Choo looped a singled to right field to drive in the tying run.

Credit must be given to both Masterson and the Indians bullpen for holding the Twins largely in check after the first couple innings. Tony Sipp, Chris Perez, Aaron Laffey, and Jamey Wright finished the last 3.1 innings without giving up a run. In the tenth, Jamey Wright got out of jam for the most part created by Laffey by inducing a double play with the bases loaded and one out.

The Indians were close to winning the game in the tenth, but Lou Marson was gunned out at the plate on a Grady Sizemore single. During Sizemore's at-bat, the TV guys mentioned that it would be a good time for a pinch runner, but in reality the bench didn't have anyone appreciably faster than Marson. Denard Span's strong throw, not Marson's footspeed, were what made the play possible.

Finally, the Indians loaded the bases in the eleventh with nobody out. Mark Gruzielanek blooped a ball into short left field, but because the outfielders were playing in, the ball was caught. Lou Marson then struck out, and it looked like the Indians would blow a golden opportunity. But Asdrubal Cabrera picked up his teammates and won the game with a single to short right.

20100501_twins_indians_0_91_lbig__medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Shin-Soo Choo	.250	Austin Kearns	-.202
Jamey Wright	.221	Mark Grudzielanek	-.193
Asdrubal Cabrera	.207	Travis Hafner	-.087

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Comments

Well that was fun.

by dgcambridge on May 2, 2010 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Jhonny’s back! With his new plate discipline, this could be the greatest edition of Jhonny yet!

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on May 2, 2010 12:48 AM EDT reply actions

LGT on 4/26: “Jhonny’s a bum! Start Marte!”

LGT on 5/1: “Greatest Jhonny EVAR!”

by Chemo on May 2, 2010 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I was never the first guy. Ever.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on May 2, 2010 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I kind of was.

Someone should write a book about Jhonny. I’d pay a lot of money.

by Gradyforpresident on May 2, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, I’m sorry I missed this one. LGT!

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on May 2, 2010 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, it sounded like it was exciting. I can’t wait until we get to the point where can I can just purchase STO whether it be on satellite or FIOS, I don’t really care.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on May 2, 2010 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Tony Sipp seems to be mentioned in a lot of the summaries when the Tribe wins. I’m not about to count anything, so it might just be selective thinking.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on May 2, 2010 9:15 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Of his 11 appearances this season, Cleveland has lost 7 games

by APV on May 2, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh well… Thanks for the info.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on May 2, 2010 10:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The pen has had its troubles, mostly with walks (37 in 63 IP, or 5.3 per 9), but only 4 of 46 inherited runners have scored on them collectively, none on Sipp, and they’ve induced 5 DPs in tight situations when they’ve entered a game (twice by Sipp, once each by Jamey, Joe Smith and Laffey). They’ve certainly outperformed my expectations thus far.

by YoDaddyWags on May 2, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Not having speed on the bench is a glaring deficiency I hadn’t thought about before.

by MickS on May 2, 2010 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

yeah try to bunt again, sphincters

by fg28 on May 1, 2010 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Excellent.

by fleerdon on May 2, 2010 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

Not to complain, but anyone think Acta will ever pinch hit? On a positive note, I have to give him props for having confidence in Wright. I would have never put him in. Great game lets get two in a row.

by johio1 on May 2, 2010 10:41 AM EDT reply actions

So Acta should demonstrate confidence in his relievers, but not in his starting position players?

by fleerdon on May 2, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, I kinda ment I would have stayed with Laffey. Meaning i would have had confidence that he could have got out of it . It worked out for Acta, I am happy he made the move. I am starting to think your going to have a comment not matter that I say. I think most people would agree not pinch hitting for Marson was not a very smart move.

by johio1 on May 2, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

pretty sure he already has, cannot remember when. But I remember thinking what is this?

by kjhill42 on May 2, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

April 10: Valbuena pinch-hit for Marson
April 23: Marte for Hafner (?? don’t remember this one)
April 26: Grudz for Marson

Practicing my left-handed swing as I type. By next week I'll be able to hit Masterson and Smith.

by westbrook on May 2, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

PARTAY!

Practicing my left-handed swing as I type. By next week I'll be able to hit Masterson and Smith.

by westbrook on May 2, 2010 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

Question: Why did Masterson throw 117 pitches? 25 years old is still a little injury-nexus-y?

by gte619n on May 2, 2010 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Check out the heated discussion in the game thread. It’s either because Acta is stupid or because he hadn’t thrown many stressful pitches for several innings.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 2, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

In an attempt to bring this discussion over here, I’ll state that it seemed to me to make more sense to pull him before he threw to Morneau. I think we may have to accept that, fully developed, Masterson may be the kind of guy that good lefties don’t struggle to hit. If that’s the case, than we wouldn’t leave a fully developed Masterson out there to face Morneau after 113 pitches in a one-run game. In turn assuming that, why would we leave an unfinished Masterson out there to do something we don’t even think a fully matured Masterson could do?

I’ll acknowledge that, if you think that at his peak he’s just going to eat lefties up then the whole discussion changes. I don’t think he will, so I think pulling him would have been the right move.

Come on, four billion!

by Joel D on May 2, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions