Sure, the Red Sox wouldn’t blow the game open until the seventh when they would extend their lead to 9-0, and the Indians were technically “in it” the whole time, but anyone watching the game today will tell you that the Tribe had absolutely no shot at winning this game.
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There’s the obvious Jackie Bradley, Jr. It’s the longest no-hit bid by a Red Sox pitcher since Clay Buchholz went seven innings without allowing a hit against the Rays on April 14, 2013. But the Red Sox are a powerful club, and are collectively giving off a much different look than the mediocre image they projected in April.
Mookie Betts had a grand slam and a solo homer, Bradley extended his majors’ best hitting streak to 26 games with an infield single. It wasn’t the best of throws by Kelly but catcher Ryan Hanigan saved him with some nice footwork at the plate.
2B Jason Kipnis sparked a four-run Indians’ fourth inning Friday with his three-run home run.
The St Louis Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2, the Atlanta Braves had a 2-0 shut-out win over the Philadelphia Phillies, the Seattle Mariners blanked the Cincinnati Reds 4-0, the Toronto Blue Jays lost 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers edged the Houston Astros 2-1. He finally gave up a hit in the 7th inning when he gave up a double to Uribe.
Kelly finished his outing having struck out seven and walking three, having only really run into trouble once, in the fifth inning. Nunez hit a three-run homer off Gavin Floyd. He also walked three times in the game, including two intentional walks. For a moment it seemed that Kelly kept his momentum going from last season. Carrasco is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA (22 innings) in four starts with the Indians in 2016.
Behind starter Trevor Bauer (3-2, 4.31 ERA), the Indians trailed for most of the day.
His high batting average has been a huge lift for the team and part of the reason why they’re in contention at the quarter-mark of the season.
Manager John Farrell said Holt had a “whiplash” type feeling after diving for a ball last week.
Kluber allowed a run in each of the first two innings, but gave up just one hit over the next five.
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To date, Joe Kelly’s season was one disaster, a start that ended in a first-inning injury, and the subsequent disabled list stint. Third baseman Travis Shaw then doubled off the Green Monster, and Bradley Jr. was intentionally walked to load the bases. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier left the game in the fifth with a broken left hand.
