Lucky for the Jays Brantley leads off for the Tribe in the 8th. His avg with bases empty is half of what it is when met on. He bounces out.

Reminding us of favorite closers of the past, Axford gets one out, puts one, gets one out, puts one on. Walks Bautista to load the bases.

Goes 3-0 on Encarnacion. Evens the count, gets a couple fouls, and he grounds up to 2nd. Tribe wins. That was easy.

Nice, thanks civ.

Watched this game, and Carrasco absolutely mowed Toronto down for 3 innings. They had no shot. Bad swings, you name it.

Then...

BULLPEN!

So he can pitch once through a lineup and then he's done? Which means he can help the bullpen?

Jose Mesa lite

OK, nice job tonight with key homers by Brantley but especially Kipnis.

Axford 7 out of 8 saves. That works in any way you look at it.

..............WE WIN!!!

A 7-pitch 3-out save is a nice way to close out a game.

The way I look at it, I fear that people who don't understand how tough it can be to close out any type of athletic contest without a clock haven't played that type of sport at a high level.

Closing out is tough!!


Today's lineup:


Lineup 4/22
Indians

Michael Bourn CF,
Nick Swisher 1B,
Jason Kipnis 2B,
Carlos Santana 3B,
Michael Brantley LF,
Asdrubal Cabrera SS,
David Murphy RF,
Yan Gomes C,
Lonnie Chisenhall DH,
(Danny Salazar P)

So Chisenhall either hits 4th or 9th. Nothing in between!

We're facing James Shields who comes in with a 2.00 ERA.
Salazar walked the leadoff man, but set the side down the next 3, 2 on strikes, and that was a not bad 18 pitches.
Bourn leads off for the Tribe; Swisher talks a called strike 3 on a 3-2 count. The counts gets to 1-2 on Kipnis and, at least according to the atbat app, 3 pickoff attempts follow, count now reaches 3-2. Bourn running and Kipnis fouls one off. Again. Kipnis flies out. He's up to 18 pitches and will face Santana, who specializes in long counts. Never mind;he bunts! the first pitch and is thrown out by Shields.

I was listening to Tommy but not closely enough. Why, exactly, was Santana bunting? Just because he needs to try SOMEthing?

Don't know; not listening; just reading the pitch by pitch on AtBat

As usual Salazar takes a 1=0 lead into the 4th, allows 4 runs, featuring a 3 run homer by a .145 hitter; and yet another Yan Gomes throwing error. Shields has now retired 5 in a row.