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No walk-off magic for Kipnis, Indians this time
AP
Photo
Cleveland Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan tracks down a ground ball by Los Angeles Angels' Jeff Mathis during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Cleveland. Hannahan threw Mathis out at first. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
The Cleveland Indians had another brush with walk-off glory Tuesday night. This time they fell short.
The Indians, who scored two runs in the ninth inning to win Monday’s game, failed to score after loading the bases with no outs in the ninth and dropped a 2-1 decision to the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s a tough game to lose,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “We played good baseball. The only thing we didn’t do was get a key base hit.”
Another unproductive night from the offense ruined a superb outing by starter Josh Tomlin (11-5), whose only mistake cost him the game.
Tomlin gave up a two-run double in the seventh to Mark Trumbo that broke a scoreless tie.
Matt LaPorta’s solo homer in the bottom of the inning was the only offense the Indians managed off Jered Weaver, who earned his eighth straight win and lowered his lowered his ERA to 1.79, best in the majors.
Just as they had done Monday, the Indians entered the ninth trailing by a run against rookie closer Jordan Walden. Travis Hafner started the inning by bouncing a single into right field. Carlos Santana’s single moved pinch-runner Orlando Cabrera to second. Catcher Jeff Mathis fielded Lonnie Chisenhall’s sacrifice attempt, but his throw to third was late and it looked like the Indians were ready to pull off their 12th last at-bat win at Progressive Field.
LaPorta fell behind Walden 0-2, but battled back to run the count full. With the infield playing in, LaPorta hit a slow roller to the right side. Second baseman Howie Kendrick threw home to force Cabrera and Mathis fired to first to complete the double play.
Jason Kipnis, who won Monday’s game with his first major-league hit, struck out on a 1-2 pitch.
“We had our chance at the end,” Acta said. “We couldn’t get the ball out of the infield. They stopped the magic tonight.”
Kipnis, called up from the minors last Thursday, has experienced the highs and lows of life in the majors in a 24-hour period.
“I could see by the way the inning was going that I would be up there,” he said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t happen this time. It’s part of the game.”
Tomlin matched Weaver (14-4) until the seventh.
“I made more mistakes than he did,” Tomlin said. “That’s why they won.”
Bobby Abreu singled and moved up on a groundout. With two outs, Acta ordered Tomlin to intentionally walk Kendrick to face Trumbo, who was in a 1-for-15 slide. The big first baseman broke out of it by lining a 1-2 pitch off the wall in right-center.
“Kendrick is a lot better hitter than Trumbo in the big leagues, more accomplished,” Acta said. “He’s hitting .300. The other guy is hitting 50 points lower. You live with it. I’ll make that decision again tomorrow if I have to.”
Tomlin gloved Kendrick’s hard liner in the second. Kendrick then singled in the fifth. Trumbo tapped weakly to the mound in each of his first two at-bats.
Tomlin didn’t have a problem with his manager’s strategy.
“I have to make pitches to both guys,” he said. “I’d have to make pitches to Trumbo just like I’d have to make pitches to Kendrick. It was a cutter away [to Trumbo].”
“He’s really good,” Trumbo said.
“My first two times up, I didn’t have very good at-bats at all, especially the second time. He throws a cutter that goes down. It’s tough. I hit one for the double that he left up just a little bit.”
Tomlin allowed two runs and four hits, striking out three over eight innings.
“It’s a shame Tomlin had to lose the game,” Acta said. “I’ve never seen something like it, 26 out of 28 first-pitch strikes. One of them was an intentional walk. That’s unheard of. He was in command the whole night.”
Tomlin has worked at least five innings in each of his 33 career starts, tied with Pat Malone (1928-29) for the third-longest streak since 1900.