Cleveland Indians ride Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to victory over Tigers

Tigers 2, Indians 8

box score

Indians improve to 33-38

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Welcome to the show, Francisco Lindor. (Or should I say, welcome to the Francisco Lindor show?)

The irrepressible Lindor certainly had a day to remember, leading the charge as the Tigers were mown down in thrilling fashion. Not only did he record his first MLB homer, a gleeful blast to right field that you can see here, but he also singled once and walked twice (one of which scored a run). Oh and by the way, he started two key double plays, made a great stop on a botched pick-off attempt at 2B and also managed to get thrown out making a horrible play on the basepaths. All in day's work, I suppose.

Carlos Carrasco had one of his best outings of the season, pitching eight terrific innings. He started well, retiring the first six batters in order, but then ran into trouble after Andrew Romine doubled to lead off the 3rd. A stolen base and a walk later, things weren't looking good with only one out, but Carrasco induced the groundball to Lindor and the Tribe was able to turn a key double play.

Having survived that scare, Carrasco started to really dominate, retiring the next eight in a row on his way to six scoreless. Unfortunately, he seemed to tire a little and allowed a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez (following a Yoenis Cespedes double) in the 7th, but then came back strongly in the 8th for a brilliant final line of 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR.

It looked like the Tribe might get off to a fast start, but after walks by Lindor and Murphy and then a wild pitch in the 1st, Carlos Santana struck out swinging with runners on 2nd and 3rd. However, when the hits did finally start to come, they came in bunches. The first one arose second time through the order from Jason Kipnis (who else?), who recorded a hit for the 19th game successive game (and at the same time broke the Progressive Field record, which now stands at 28). After three more successive singles and then a double by Santana the Tribe quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

In uncharacteristic fashion, the Tribe added on in both the 5th (the solo homer by Lindor) and 6th (a bases loaded walk again by Lindor) before a two-run single by Yan Gomes put the game to bed in the 7th. Ryan Raburn later came in as pinch-hitter and doubled home Kipnis in the 8th to make it 8-2. In all, the batters amassed 13 hits and eight walks as the Tigers were blown out. Such lovely words ... the Tigers were blown out.

Win Expectancy Chart

Source: FanGraphs

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