The Indians were outplayed today before the game even started.
You see, the Orioles knew there were would be a rain delay as storms were expected to pass through Baltimore right around first-pitch. Knowing this, they “scratched” Andrew Cashner at the last minute and set Shawn Armstrong as the starting pitcher. Armstrong, as with Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac, both had to warm up prior to the regularly scheduled start time of 4:10 p.m. as the teams still went through the rigmarole of the pregame routine and national anthem before the delay was officially called.
When the newly minted 5:10 p.m. start time was announced, Andrew Cashner was the starter, and could do his normal warm-up routine, while Zach Plesac would be forced to do it all a second time, potentially messing with his timing.
The Indians reportedly knew that was the Orioles’ plan from the get-go, so it’s not like they were hoodwinked at the last second. The Orioles were just better prepared for the rain delay. And, as it turns out, the game.
I say this all not because I think it really affected their performances — Plesac made it though it three innings before he completely imploded — but because it was indicative of the type of game the Indians would have. And the one they had last night. And following recent trends, the one they’ll probably have tomorrow.
The Orioles ran circles around them, at the plate and on the mound. Aside from one beautiful pick-off by Plesac early in the game, there’s hardly anything even worth mentioning, and I’m fairly confident in sending out this recap somewhere around the sixth inning because the Indians have shown exactly zero fight this series.
As of this writing, the Indians only have two hits off of Cashner by way of a Carlos Santana seeing-eye single and a far-too-late single by Plawecki in the top of the sixth.
Anyway, here are some cute animals:
Forget this game, send pictures of cute animals. Here's mine looking how I feel pic.twitter.com/8I8gEQIAn3
— Let's Go Tribe (@LetsGoTribe) June 29, 2019
Me, watching this game pic.twitter.com/gt9cWjZxOJ
— Indians Tweetman (Blue Checkmark) (@FerrellCarson) June 29, 2019
Here is my dog ATM can't even watch lmao pic.twitter.com/dtZMyLA446
— The Baseball is juiced @MLB thinks we are stupid (@Jarhead3534) June 29, 2019
Linus is chilling in a pool today while I slowly decay in the Orioles press box. He wins this round. pic.twitter.com/yxnugj7DBn
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) June 29, 2019
Lucy’s annoyance level with this team matches mine pic.twitter.com/glY65sWSwK
— Bryan (@NachoHelmet) June 29, 2019
— Colin Valencic (@VALENCIC_) June 29, 2019
The score is WHAT?!? pic.twitter.com/PtxYcGxMcf
— Shelly Verougstraete (@ShellyV_643) June 29, 2019
Same mood, different pup pic.twitter.com/eo8LJRDLFn
— Jenny (@WahooJen) June 29, 2019