Cleveland Indians defeat the Angels 3-1, as Trevor Bauer throws eight strong innings in surprise start

Indians 3, Angels 1

box score

Indians improve to 61-66

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Trevor Bauer wasn't supposed to be pitching until tomorrow, but a change in the schedule didn't bother him much Friday night.  Bauer threw eight strong innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits in the Indians 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

The Indians original starting pitcher for Friday's game was Danny Salazar.  However, due to an illness, Salazar felt weak and lost around five pounds this week and was scratched from the start.  Bauer was called on to take the mound, due in part to still being on his normal four days of rest.

Bauer started strong, allowing just three base runners through the first four innings.  The Angels got three singles in the fifth, including a Kaleb Cowart single that scored C.J. Cron, but Bauer worked around the trouble to allow just that one run.  In all, Bauer induced four double plays which helped slow down the Angels offense and smothered any big inning aspirations.

The Tribe's offense struggled to get much going against Angels starter Andrew Heaney.  The young left-hander pitched mostly to contact, working six scoreless innings and leaving the game with a 1-0 lead.  With Heaney out, the Indians jumped quickly on the Angels bullpen, with Lonnie Chisenhall leading off the seventh with a walk and pinch hitter Abraham Almonte doubling to left-center field.  Jason Kipnis followed with a ground ball single that snuck through under the second baseman's glove, and all of a sudden the Tribe was leading 2-1.  A Carlos Santana single later scored Kipnis, upping the lead to 3-1.

After a clean eight inning, Bauer departed with a pitch count of 101.  Cody Allen entered to face the meat of the Angels lineup; and promptly got Kole Colhoun to line out, some guy named Mike Trout to strike out, and Albert Pujols to fly out to center.  Allen earned his 27th save of the season, while Bauer picked up his 10th win.

Saturday's matchup looks like a potential pitching duel, with Corey Kluber taking on Garrett Richards.  Richards has a 3.09 ERA over his last 13 starts and has 12 wins on the year, while Kluber has two complete game gems to his credit this month.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.  Let's Go Tribe!

Win Expectancy Chart

Source: FanGraphs

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