Indians 3, Royals 2
Indians improve to 94-67
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The Cleveland Indians needed to beat the Kansas City Royals today to give them a chance to clinch home field advantage for the ALDS. They won 3-2 thanks to a monster dong from Yan Gomes, an excellent start from Josh Tomlin, and a sacrifice fly from Francisco Lindor. Here's what the Indians needed to complete the clinch today:
- The Atlanta Braves to beat the Detroit Tigers
- The Orioles to beat the New York Yankees
- The Toronto Blue Jays to beat the Boston Red Sox
FINAL:
— sportsyelling. (@sportsyelling) October 2, 2016
UPDATE:
INDIANS WIN ✅
BRAVES BEAT DET: ✅
ORIOLES WIN ✅
JAYS BEAT THE SOX: ✅
That's the brief, one-paragraph recap of today's game, but I want to talk a little bit more about Yan Gomes.
Sing to me of the man, Muse,
the man of twists and turns
driven time and again off course,
once he had plundered
the hallowed heights of Cleveland.
Yan Gomes stepped up to the plate in an Indians uniform for the first time since July 17th. He crouched into his stance — slightly altered since the beginning of the season — and waited. He blasted the first pitch over the wall in left center field, scoring Naquin and lifting the hopes of Tribe fans everywhere. Even in his second at-bat, Gomes got a good look; he took two balls and then hit a line drive to third base that Cheslor Cuthbert gobbled up like second breakfast. If Yan Gomes can return to full form for the first time since 2014, then the Indians just upgraded their weakest roster spot for free.
Well, not exactly free. Gomes endured quite a lot in order to make it back before the end of this season.
Yan Gomes' year in review:
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) October 2, 2016
Curse by @BaseballGods
Separates shoulder after curse is lifted
Rehabs
HBP in AA rehab game
Returns
HR in 1st AB
Now, we wait to see what plans Francona has for the playoff roster. Speaking of which, Andre Knott dropped the following bombs at the end of the eighth inning:
- Before the game, Mickey Callaway said that Danny Salazar is in the mix to make the ALDS roster. If things keep going the way that they have, he will be on it.
- Francona also said that he expects to carry three catchers.
I would not be surprised to see Francona treat the catching position the same way that he did today: start Gomes, but do not push him too hard. Then, insert Gimenez or Perez to finish up the game and catch the relievers. Given the increased importance of Trevor Bauer in the postseason, this also enables Francona to let him keep his preferred battery mate. However well Bauer has done in his last two starts with Perez at the backstop, I would do just about whatever Bauer wants to ensure that he is comfortable and confident going into the postseason at this point.
Terry Francona elected to use both Andrew Miller and Cody Allen for a third consecutive day this afternoon. While I shudder at the thought of using any reliever like that in the modern game (always throwing at 100% effort, constant pitching changes, etc.) that way, I understand it in this context. The Tribe had a chance to lock up home field advantage pending other results in the league, and they are both guaranteed a few days of rest one way or the other after this. It ended up working out, as Miller and Allen shut the opponent down in tandem as they have many times since the trading deadline.
Last note: Roberto Perez threw Terrance Gore out again. It was beautiful.