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Half the Indians stayed in Goodyear this afternoon to face the Diamondbacks. Zach McAllister started the game and pitched 4 shutout innings, with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk. Scott Atchison and Nick Hagadone each pitched a scoreless frame as well.
McAllister's chances of making the rotation are a lot stronger now that gavin Floyd is sidelined; at worst it seems "Old Rough and Ready" (or "the Attach," if you prefer) will find himself first in line to fill in if another starter falters. It's good to see him putting together a very solid outing.
Michael Bourn, Jose Ramirez, and Willie "Mays" Brett Hayes (I plan to make that joke every time I have reason to mention Hayes this spring) each homered for the Tribe, while Jason Kipnis had a pair of doubles and Carlos Santana had a pair of singles.
In addition to the on-field action, the game was enhanced by Trevor Bauer being given the keys to the official Indians Twitter account, revealing that he used to play the clarinet, dropping some interesting nicknames for a couple of his teammates, making fun of a ball boy, and more.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the greater Phoenix area (which spreads something like 400 miles in every direction of the city's downtown, the other half of the Tribe was taking on the Cubs, trying to avenge Bauer's tough inning against them the other day.
T.J. House (whose rotation chances were also bumped up a notch this week) went 4.2 innings, allowing only one run. Best of all, given that strikeouts and walks are the most telling stats of spring, T.J. whiffed six and didn't issue a single free pass.
The relievers weren't quite as sharp, but the Indians still managed a 7-4 victory. The offense in this one was just as fun than in the other game. Yan Gomes and Clint Frazier both homered, with Frazier's traveling a reported 700 feet. (That may not be accurate.) Mike Aviles had 3 hits, which is cool, unless it convinces Francona to bat him in the 2-hole again this summer.
The Indians will reform into one team for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.