The Indians were feeling good about themselves following a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays at home, and then they started out their road trip with a solid win Tuesday over the Detroit Tigers.
Getting to win six in a row would not be as easy, as the Tigers returned the favor in front of plenty of green seats at Comerica Park Wednesday, piling up 12 hits in a 4-1 win.
The setback puts the Indians at 7-4 on the season after 11 games, while the Tigers push their mark to 8-4, a half game up on the Indians in the AL Central.
There was plenty of blame to go around in this loss, as Trevor Bauer was not as good as he was in his first two outings, and the offense didn’t do their part.
Here’s a couple takeaways from this Tribe loss.
1. Bauer Scuffled
You felt it might be a tough day for the Indians number two starter when he gave up three straight hits in the first.
The key one was the second hit, a two-out two-run homer by Niko Goodrum on a four-seam fastball that Bauer left up and was blasted out of the park to make it 2-0 Tigers.
On the day Bauer gave up four runs on 10 hits with a walk and seven K’s, going 5.2 innings.
Goodrum’s HR wasn’t the only mistake, the second was John Hicks who led off the sixth with a solo homer that made it a 3-1 game on a bad Bauer change-up.
“They hit some good pitches, they hit some bad pitches,” Bauer said after the game.
2. The Offense Had Their Shots
The offense had a really good day at the plate on Tuesday against the Tigers, but Wednesday had chances, but didn’t take advantage of it.
Overall the team went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, left seven runners in scoring position.
It seemed like they had plenty of shots, but just could not come up with that big hit, like in the 8th when they got three walks to load the bases, only to have Greg Allen pinch-hit for Roberto Perez, and he ended the threat with a ground out.
The difference between a win and a loss could have come with just one big hit, and today the team didn’t get it.
3. Wittgren Solid in Relief
Nick Wittgren stepped in and kept the Tribe in the game with a very good outing in relief of Trevor Bauer, going 1.1, allowing a hit and four K’s.
He just came up to the Tribe on Tuesday after the team put Mike Clevinger on the injured list, and while he might get sent right back down when the team needs a fifth starter, for now it was a good start to his Indians tenure.
The former Miami Marlins pitcher came to the team in February, and in a season where the bullpen may need all the help it can get, this was a positive sign.
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