Early offense not enough as Indians lose 5-4

Angels 5, Indians 4

Box Score

Indians fall to 48-56

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Time is slipping through the fingertips of the 2015 Cleveland Indians and not even Corey Kluber could stop it tonight. Coming into the game, the Indians has won the last 28 Kluber starts where they score 4 runs or more. After the game, they were 28-1 in the last 29 such games.

Everything went right early for the Tribe: The offense jumped out to a 3-0 lead sparked by a 2-run home run from Yan Gomes, Michael Bourn robbed what looked to be a home run off the bat Kole Calhoun and Corey Kluber set down the first 6 Halos hitters on his way to 4 scoreless opening frames. But the bats wouldn't go silent for nearly the rest of the game while Kluber struggled.

It's hard to find fault in Corey Kluber, even though he only lasted into the 6th inning and gave up 5 runs in the process, but he didn't appear to be at full arsenal tonight. His slider and, at times, his cutter seemed to be flat. A few times sliders were left spinning and more times than not, they found their way into the field of play. In the 5th, Kluber gave up a lead off double to C.J. Cron before retiring the next two batters. A hit batter and two singles later, the Angels had pulled to within a run of the Tribe. Things got worse for Kluber in the 6th as he gave up a 2 run homer to Conor Gillaspie (shudder) and three singles, exiting with two outs and a 5-3 deficit. In the end he surrendered 10 hits and struck out only 4, a disappointing start for the Tribe ace. A Game Score of 33 would prove to be his second worst start of 2015.

To their credit the Tribe bullpen, mostly Ryan Webb, held the Angels scoreless from there as the Indians bats tried to climb back in. They managed to get one back on a nice two out, RBI single the other way from Carlos Santana in the 8th. They threatened again in the 9th as Michael Bourn singled with one out. Then with two down and Jose Ramirez at the plate, he successfully stole second giving Jose a 2-1 count and a runner in scoring position. Just as things looked interesting again, the rally died with Angry Hamster flying out to Mike Trout, ending the game.

The Indians will take on the Angels again tomorrow at 10:05 ET as Carlos Carrasco looks to end the losing streak, going against Matt Shoemaker.

**Also of note, Lonnie Chisenhall left the game early with a strained neck/whiplash, hurting himself a on an unsuccessful diving attempt in right field.

Win Expectancy Chart

Source: FanGraphs

Roll Call

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