Cleveland Sports Forum

There is of course the itty bitty issue with Axford and home runs, but he's never allowed any long falls as a non-closer for the Tribe.

and of course that other minor problem of throwing the ball over the plate. He starts the confrontation with Worth with a ball, then another, then another, then a 4th. Now the bases are loaded. Rajai Davis bats. He's hitting .400 with RISP

Axford tries something new, and starts him out with a pitch over the plate, for strike one.
Then a ball in the dirt.
And finally a ground ball and we remain tied as we rise for the stretch.

Nice easy 1-2-3 7th for Mighty Max. He's at 113 pitches. Maybe good for one more inning, probably no more. Tigers will have to go that pen sometime today I guess.

Axford back out for the 8th. Kinsler singles. Cabrera-replacement Kelly follows with Victor on deck.

He walks Kelly. Axford really does stink, you know.
Maybe he can get Victor to ground into a nice quick 5-4-3 triple play, but it looks another pitcher may get that opportunity. Nope he's still in. Good luck.

Asdrubal error brings in the go=ahead run. That makes 2 errors and one passed ball for the Tribe today. The defensive deficiencies are pretty good ways to lose close games. Still no one out and Victor's namesake J.D. adds a legitimate single and the game is starting to get out of hand.

And Axford gets lifted. He really does stink, did I mention that?

Speaking of unreliable relievers, here comes Josh Outman. WE're up to 6 pitchers. Tigers have used One.

No problems for Josh. 1-2-3 with 2 on.

Joba the C in. No nats to bother him. Sets down two quickly.
Make that 3. And we go to the 9th, with Scherzer in line for the win and Tigers up by 2.

My favorite 22-year-old Tribe left hander, Kyle Crockett, comes in and although he walked a batter, got a DP, so it was a quick 11 pitch inning. 2-3-4 in the Tribe lineup in the 9th. Fortunately that no longer means Swisher and Santana.

Unfortunately Joe Nathan is not as bad as the typical Tiger closer.

Cabrera flies out.
Brantley singles and steals second.
Murphy and Chisenhall will have the chance to keep the game alive, or together end it in our favor.

Well, that was nice. MURPHY HOMER ties the score. I don't know how to add graphics but someone else can insert them later.

I was wrong about Chisenhall, he's hitting 8th so good old Nick Swisher followed Murphy and was called out on strikes.

Giambi up. We saw him come through in similar situations last year. Might as well as do so again.

Extra innings.

We have used 7 pitchers. Remaining besides Crockett who may never had pitched as much as 2 full innings in his brief minor league as well as major league career are our two co-closers Allen and Shaw.