The Cleveland Indians head into Texas looking to put their most recent series behind them and start a new winning streak.
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Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) can’t reach the pick off throw allowing Texas Rangers’ Jonathan Lucroy (25) to steal second base during the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016.
It was exactly the kind of outing the Cy Young candidate wanted.
“When you’re able to come home for that first game you want to set the tone”, said Hamels, who was the first Texas pitcher to go at least eight shutout innings since Colby Lewis had a complete game shutout last September 11 “I think that’s kind of what we were really focused on was making sure we had the right plan”. We just executed pitches. They (the Indians) are a good hitting team. “You don’t want to work you too deep into the count”. After allowing a soft single to Francisco Lindor in the first inning, he retired the next 13 batters. Texas jumped on Tomlin for three runs in the second inning on a three-run homer from the newly-acquired Carlos Gomez.
“I just tried to take the first pitch and drive the first pitch”, said Gomez. “We have to keep that up and continue to win games”. He also struck out five but walked three on the afternoon as Evan Longoria hit an RBI double in the third inning to ppen the scoring. Adrian Beltre added his own three-run home run in the fifth. He had recently begun a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus, pitching six innings across six games and allowing four earned runs on seven hits alongside six strikeouts.
Three innings later, the Rangers made Tomlin and the Indians pay for giving up four hits and a pair of defensive errors. Overall with Atlanta and Texas this season, Stubbs has batted.259 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI in 39 games.
“Hopefully we just had like three days of amnesia”, Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “He’s got a fastball, he can cut it, a great changeup”.
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Josh Tomlin will start for the Tribe. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we come out of it here soon”. Then, left fielder Carlos Gomez put the Rangers in front, 3-0, with a three-run home run to left field. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star outfielder hit.210 with 5 home runs in 85 games this season with the Houston Astros before being designated for assignment and then last week given his unconditional release.
