Let's talk briefly about the shift and about LOOGY failure. In the top of the fifth inning last night, the Indians deployed the shift against Michael Conforto down 2-1 with two outs. He weakly topped a ball of the end of his bat down the third base line that should have been the third out. The third baseman was stationed somewhere along East 11th Street, however, so Conforto ended up on first.
Two pitches later, Yoenis Cespides hit a no-doubter out of the ballpark, scoring Conforto and putting the Mets ahead 4-1. Out went Cody Anderson, in came sole lefty reliever Ross Detwiler to face left-hander Lucas Duda. The Indians deployed the shift and Duda beat it, grounding the ball to the exact spot vacated by third-baseman Juan Uribe immediately before the pitch.
Switch-hitter Neil Walker, batting from his weak side against the Indians' sole left-handed reliever, took the next pitch out of the park to put the game out of reach. Terry Francona has been adamant in saying that Ross Detwiler is not a LOOGY and it is becoming clear that Francona is right: Detwiler is not a LOOGY because he can't get batters out.
New York (NL) 6 - Cleveland 5
Cleveland Indians surrender four home runs in 6-5 loss to Mets - Let's Go Tribe - If you were a batter in a bad slump, you were in luck tonight. Something was in the air in Cleveland, and it was killing bad mojo.
Mets hit four homers, shut down Indians rally | MLB.com - Bartolo Colon returned to Progressive Field with the Mets on Friday night and displayed his age-defying fastball, helping send his former club to a 6-5 loss in the opener of a three-game Interleague set.
Cleveland Indians' Cody Anderson burned for 3 homers in loss to New York Mets | cleveland.com - The Mets, ranked 29th in the big leagues with 20 runs scored in their first eight games, hit four home runs on the way to a 6-5 win over Cody Anderson and the Indians.
Other Indians News
Michael Brantley signs baby, rehabs in Akron | MLB.com - "The baby's name is 'Brantley,'" he said with a smile on Friday afternoon. "I signed a baby. It's actually not a first. There's another couple that also named a baby 'Brantley,' and I signed that baby as well."
Cody Anderson allows three home runs to Mets | MLB.com - In a 6-5 loss to the Mets on Friday night, Anderson appeared more tentative on the mound.
Would Cleveland Indians like to open next season far from snow and ice? Hey, Hoynsie | cleveland.com - Fans have questions and, inexplicably, they turn to Hoynsie! for answers.
Character award trumps any athletic honor for Casey Blake - Indianola native and former Indians player Casey Blake talks about being the 2016 Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award, an award presented annually to an individual who consistently demonstrates good character as a public role model.
Marlon Byrd finds home with Cleveland Indians | WKYC.com - "I do feel at home," Byrd told Indians Live after Thursday’s win. "These guys, they’ve welcomed me in, and have made it easy, so the transition, just fitting in with these guys has been real good."
Around the League
- Rangers extend Adrian Beltre for two years
- Minor league game delayed by a cat on the field
- Twins, Braves each win first game of the season
- David Ortiz steals a base
- Have the Blue Jays found the next new market inefficiency?