MLB Final Score/Recap: Cleveland Indians 5, Texas Rangers 2

Notes from tonight's rubber game. In a LGT first, this post has been written entirely on a mobile phone.

• Ubaldo Jimenez pitched like a finesse pitcher, throwing his 90 mph fastball as more of a changeup than anything. Because every at-bat was an odyssey he was done two batters into the sixth inning.
• That meant (gulp) Rich Hill made an appearance. Both Hill and Hagadone have struggled to the point where you don't even want them facing left-handers, and Hill almost got burned by AJ Pierzynski, but the Texas catcher popped up a hanging off speed pitch for a crucial out. Thankfully that was all for Hill, and Bryan Shaw came in and got the next two batters out more convincingly.
• The Tribe offense is actually looking like an offense lately. Mike Aviles hit a two-run homer, Jadon Kipnis hit a solo shot, and Carlos Santana hit a double down the right field line. That staked Jimenez to a semi-comfortable early lead.
• The Indians missed a big opportunity in the seventh when Jason Kipnis led off the inning with a hustle double. But the next three Tribe hitters couldn't do anything against Texas reliever Robbie Ross.
• Bryan Shaw would get the first two outs in the seventh, then gave way to (gulp) Nick Hagadone to face David Murphy, and the Texas left fielder JUST missed hitting a two-run homer. Needless to say, neither southpaw instilled much confidence tonight.
• Because tomorrow is an off day and because Corey Kluber pitched eight innings yesterday, Terry Francona could afford to be aggressive,with his bullpen. Joe Smith, the only reliever to pitch yesterday, also pitched the eighth. Smith faced the middle of the Ranger order in the eighth without too much trouble.
• Drew Stubbs had a double against a right-handed pitcher, which has been quite a rarity. His leadoff double in the ninth didn't lead to a run thanks to a bizarre double play on a ball that short-hopped Jurickson Profar's glove.
• Even though it wasn't a save situation, Vinnie pestano came in to pitch the ninth. Francona has a conscious effort to use Vinnie on a regular basis, and so he came into a four-run game. He really struggled against Jeff Baker, but finally got him to put the ball In play, and the Indians got a break on the call at the bag. Pestano did manage to get through the ninth, but not before allowing an unearned run.
• The road trip ended was an ugly one, but the Indians at least ended It on a good note. They head home one game under .500.

Source: FanGraphs

Roll Call (29 Commenters)

Game Thread (329 Comments)