Game Sixty-Four: Indians 7, Marlins 3

Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Added @ Fangraphs

Update: Courtesy of SporTech Matter, some pictures from the game.

Highest WPA:

David Dellucci .287
Trot Nixon .092
Tom Mastny .090

Lowest WPA:

Cliff Lee (as pitcher) -.124
Travis Hafner -.059
Cliff Lee (as hitter) -.044

This was an ugly game. Real ugly. The Indians took advantage of horrendously bad defense by Florida and a laughably bad judgment call by the home plate umpire to score six runs in the sixth inning.

Here's a play-by-play, but you had to watch the game to get the full traveshamockery of it all:

Top 6th (Kim pitching)

V. Martinez struck out swinging

At this point, I was aimlessly switching channels between pitches. The Indians hadn't scored a run since Monday in Cleveland, and the offense was making Kim look dominant. The Martinez strikeout was Kim's eighth of the night. His previous high was five.

Travis Hafner singled to right

Jeff Albert's guest post earlier this week brought up a great point; Hafner simply isn't hitting the ball in the air. This graph shows a marked change in the distribution of balls in play. Just about half of the balls he hits are on the ground.

J. Peralta doubled to deep right, T. Hafner to third

Jhonny's quietly regained his 2005 form. The key to him getting pitches to hit? He's back to around league average in BB/K ratio. Is it the surgery, or just an adjustment? Whatever the case, he's back as an offensive force.

T. Nixon safe at first on D. Uggla's throwing error, T. Hafner and J. Peralta scored, T. Nixon to second

This is where things got bizarre. I thought Nixon should have been credited for a hit, because Uggla made a pretty good play just to get to the ball, but his throw is what allowed two runs to score. You know, now that I think about it, even the scorer had an off night.

M. Rouse safe at first on J. Hermida's fielding error, T. Nixon to third, M. Rouse to second

This one goes into the dumb error category. Hermida had to run in to catch Rouse's bloop, but there's simply no excuse for a major-leaguer to drop a ball that catchable. Rouse, who's doing the little things because that's all that's keeping him in the majors, hustled to second on the play.

R. Garko hit for C. Lee
R. Garko grounded out to second, T. Nixon scored, M. Rouse to third

Liked the move, because Lee had thrown 91 pitches, was actually fortunate to have lasted this far, and the back end of the bullpen was pretty rested. With one out, all Garko need to do was to put the ball on the ground to tie the game, as the Marlins had the infield back. He did it, and the Indians knotted the score at three.

T. Tankersley relieved B. Kim

With two outs, the Marlins brought in their LOOGY to face Sizemore. Smart move, as Sizemore has a rather large platoon split, and left-handers have been feasting on Kim.

G. Sizemore hit by pitch (Tankersley ejected)

Previously, home plate umpire Brian Knight warned both benches after Lee hit Miguel Cabrera. But this ejection was totally uncalled for. Sizemore was down in the count 0-2, and though the pitch hit Sizemore in the shoulder, there was little evidence that the beaning was intentional. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez was automatically ejected, and 1B Aaron Boone was tossed after (understandably) sticking up for his pitcher.

J. Wood at first
L. Gardner relieved T. Tankersley

My first response when Gardner entered the game was "who?" Gardner made his MLB debut in 2002 with Tampa, pitching 13.1 nondescript innings. He got another shot with Tampa in 2005, but lasted only 7.1 innings. He's pitched 27.2 innings with the Marlins this year, and left-handers were hitting .338/.403/.431 against him. David Dellucci has been struggling, but why tempt fate?

D. Dellucci homered to deep right, M. Rouse and G. Sizemore scored

And there's the game. Mike Rouse made a tremendous play in throwing out Matt Treanor in a play at the plate, Travis Hafner got a flyball infield single, leading to another run, but the sixth inning was where all the action was.

Cliff actually got the win. He's 3-4, which means he's one win away from being an average pitcher again.

Next Up: Jason Stanford's back! Stanford vs. Willis, 7:05 PM