Indians reach new low with six-game losing streak

For the first time since July 2015, the Indians are on six-game losing streak. The magical thing about sports is that there is always an end in sight, but right now it seems pretty far away.

The offense finally begins to wake up and now the pitching falters. Tomorrow’s off day can’t come soon enough.

The Tribe were once against swept away by dingers against the Twins, and as a result they lost, 7-5. Triston McKenzie’s slider was hit hard, but he still struck out seven over 4.1 innings and only walked one. All three of his homers allowed came on pretty clear mistake pitches over the heart of the plate — two sliders and a fastball. One of those homers immediately followed a four-pitch walk to start the third inning. Just one of those things he’ll work on and improve as he matures as a pitcher.

James Karinchak may not have had his typical wipeout stuff today either, but I can appreciate the way that he was deployed by acting manager Sandy Alomar. The Tribe’s defacto “fireman” was brought in with runners on first and second and one out, following a rough relief effort by Cal Quantil. Karinchak allowed a run and ended up loading the bases, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was a good decision to bring in arguably your best reliever in the highest leverage situation.

As for the offense, it was once again attempted to be carried by the top of the order with virtually no input from anyone else. Ten of the Tribe’s 13 hits came from the top-four of Francisco Lindor, César Hernández, José Ramírez, and Carlos Santana.

Franmil Reyes capped off a brutal week with an 0-for-3, three strikeout day. He did get an RBI via a sacrifice fly and he drew a walk, but he also had the chance to put the Indians up with one big swing in the top of the ninth with runners on first and second.

You can guess how it went.