Indians unable to answer onslaught from Braves in 11-5 loss

Game thread

I don’t know how much you can write about a game like tonight. The Indians let things get out of control early. It only spiraled from there. Things were particularly rough for Shane Bieber, who gave up seven runs (five earned).

Francona pulled Bieber from the game in the third inning. Early? Yes, especially the day after a double-header when some length would help the bullpen pull through. That’s not going to happen when you give up this kind of contact:

As far as the other pitchers go, know this: a position player pitched the best inning of the night for Cleveland.

Yes, Kevin Plawecki pitched

He averaged about 79 MPH, working efficiently. He needed just 13 pitches to retire the Braves in the top of the ninth. He did it in order.

About Max Fried

Early on in the game they showed clips from the legendary Sandy Koufax no-hitter. You know, the one from behind home plate where you see his curveball break about four feet. The ESPN announcers said that Fried’s curve reminded them of Koufax, in particular because of the difference in speed from his fastball.

I rolled my eyes. By the end of his start today, though, I could honestly understand why someone would make that comparison. It’s still a stretch, but Tribe hitters whiffed on the pitch over and over again tonight. He showed a remarkable talent at spotting it up in either corner of the strike zone, freezing hitters. He dropped it at the bottom of the zone with exceptional control as well.

Does he look sixteen? Yes, but he also looks like he might record about as many strikeouts per nine moving forward.

The offense that did, eventually, happen.

Francisco Lindor took a cutter in on the hands over the wall in left field in the seventh. He now owns one dinger for the season.

In the same inning, Greg Allen hit an RBI single to right.

Roberto Perez capped off a three-hit night with a 421-foot solo blast into the bleachers.

An unusual throwing error from Ender Inciarte netted the Tribe two runs since it sailed into the back of the Indians dugout.

Five runs is often enough to do the job, but not tonight.

Tribe, a bit which may be tid,
And that will bring us back to Do!

• The average exit velocity off of Bieber’s fastball tonight was 101 MPH. You think the Braves might have been looking for it?
• Leonys Martin, Greg Allen, Jason Kipnis, and Roberto Perez all pitched in with multi-hit games tonight.
• Speaking of Perez: his slashline is better than Ramirez’s so far this season. I don’t think anybody would have put money on that in March.
• Carlos Santana went hitless, though he did walk twice. His OBP remains above the .500 mark at .506.

What’s next?

The Cleveland Baseball Indians get the day off tomorrow before the Miami Magikarps flounder into town. Consider this a preemptive warning about overabundant Marlins Man jokes.