Game 150: Indians 6, Twins 5

The Indians won thanks to a missed strike call and all the hilarity that followed. They almost blew the game in similar fashion.

Justin Masterson gave up three runs in six innings, though two of the runs were unearned. In the fourth inning, a run scored because of Lou Marson throwing error, and the Twins tacked on another run in the sixth thanks to Jason Donald error. This may have been Masterson's final start of the season. With now over 210 innings under his belt (30 more innings than last season), the Indians have to at least be contemplating shutting him down for the rest of the way. With Carrasco already out for the 2012 season and Josh Tomlin also with an elbow injury, not to mention Fausto Carmona's latest meltdown, a healthy Masterson is crucial to a competitive 2012 campaign.

The Indians weren't having much success against Carl Pavano, but finally broke through in seventh inning. The first run of the frame came in a conventional manner, as Shelley Duncan led off with a solo homer. But then the Minnesota miscues started to add up. After Duncan's home run, Lonnie Chisenhall reached because of a Chris Parmalee error, and then after the next two Indians made outs, Pavano walked Kosuke Fukudome on a very questionable ball call. Pavano would be pulled after making a few pitches to Jason Kipnis, but the Minnesota relievers would make things worse, not better. Jose Mijares walked Kipnis to force home a run (making it 3-2), and Alex Burnett walked Carlos Santana to tie the game. Yet another reliever was brought in to face Jim Thome, and although Glen Perkins made his pitch, Thome's bat splintered, and the ball fell harmlessly where the second baseman normally is. Thome reached with a rare infield single, and the Indians took the lead. Shelley Duncan then capped the inning with his second hit of the frame, a double that hit at the base of the left field wall.

 Now up 6-3, the Indians almost gave the game back in the eighth. Vinnie Pestano came in to finish the eighth inning, but instead hit a batter and walked two (both forcing in a run) before finally inducing a popup to end the inning. Chris Perez pitched a scoreless ninth to complete the sweep and get the Indians back to .500.

via www.fangraphs.com