Indians Confidential

Now come on, you didn’t actually think that Ichiro Suzuki wasn’t going to make the catch – did you?  If you watched the Indians latest 5-3 setback to the Mariners Sunday afternoon, you know what I’m talking about.  It was the bottom of the 9th, a man on, and the Indians down two.  Victor Martinez sends a deep drive to right-center, and just as it’s about to be a game-tying homer, Ichiro leaps and…..makes the catch.

Reminds me of the game where Grady Sizemore did just about the same thing, this time to straight away center and the Tigers Curtis Granderson robbed him of a game-winning homer in an earlier setback this season at Progressive Field.

For Martinez and the Indians, it was just another day at the office, a bad day that is.  He and the team once again had a light day of offense, putting up just six hits and three runs as they lost their third straight to start the post All-Star break losing three of four to the Mariners at home.

The Indians Sunday saw another former Tribesman hit a homer, as Franklin Gutierrez took a break, and this time it was Russell Branyan, who hit a long blast off starter Aaron Laffey in the first inning to make it 2-0.  Gutierrez did get his licks in, hitting a shallow single to make it 3-0 after one.

Ben Francisco homered to make it 3-2 in the second, and then the Indians tied it as Martinez scored on an error in the 5th to make it 3-3.  The Mariners though won it with a sac fly in the 8th from Jack Hannahan, and then in the 9th Gutierrez hit into a fielder’s choice to score another run to make it 5-3.

Laffey allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings, walkng two and striking out three.  His ERA is at 4.27.  Rafael Betancourt allowed the 8th inning rally to take the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season.  Shawn Kelley won in relief for the Mariners to move to 2-1.

The Indians go North to Toronto after an off day Monday as they start a nine-game road trip.  They won’t be back at home till the 31st of this month as they will play Detroit for three, then the Twins for three.