MLB Final Score/Recap: Detroit Tigers 6, Cleveland Indians 5 (14 Innings)

August 7, 2013

Tigers 6, Indians 5 (11 Innings)

I'm numb, frustrated, mad, resigned, and tired. But even through all those emotions (and physical states), I recognize that the Indians played their rear ends off, battling until the final out. I also recognize that the season isn't over yet. The Indians, even with this loss, still have a shot at the Wild Card. Though after tonight's loss, the division ain't happening.

Danny Salazar. Wow. Yeah, he gave up a go-ahead home run to Miguel Cabrera in the eighth inning, and he still has to work on that third pitch, but what a start for him. 7.2 innings, 10 strikeouts. He started the game throwing in the high 90s, and was up near 100 mph in the eighth inning. What a talent.

The Tribe came back in the eighth to tie the game, though they had a couple opportunities to win the game in regulation, especially after Santana hit the double to give the Indians runners on second and third with nobody out. The Tigers bullpen, which early in the year had been a major weakness, was tonight a strength. Even the undead Jeremy Bonderman came in and shut the Tribe batters down for three innings.

The Tribe bullpen did a heck of a job, too. Cody Allen got out of a ninth-inning jam, and Brian Shaw pitched really well in two innings of work. But Terry Francona tried to get a third inning out of him, and he ran out of gas. Then Scrabble came into the game, got ahead of Prince Field, and laid a fat pitch out over the outing half of the plate for Fielder to drive into the left-center gap. That scored two runs, and the way the Tribe offense had been going, it looked like the Indians wouldn't have a chance in the bottom of the 14th. But of course they score a run, and got the tying run to third. And of course, like so many other times tonight, the Indians couldn't get a hit with runners in scoring position.

The Indians will likely make a roster move to bring up a relief pitcher for tomorrow's game. I think Scrabble will be the one sent down, although he's one of the more rested pitchers in the bullpen. But he's one of only three pitchers with options remaining, and Allen and Shaw aren't going to be sent down.

I think tonight we broke a LGT record for comments during a regular season game. Thanks to everyone for helping each other through this tough one. Well, except that one guy who no longer has posting privileges.

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