CLEVELAND —
You might know that following a game in which a total of 19 runs were scored, Tuesday’s contest between the Indians and Cincinnati reds would be a pitcher’s duel.
The result was the same, though-- a one-run win for the Indians, with this one coming by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings. This time, Asdrubal Cabrera was the hero with a one-out, two-run homer to the opposite field in right off fireballing left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman (4-3), after the Reds had scored a run in the top of the 10th.
Cleveland moved to 35-32 and into sole possession of first place as the Chicago White Sox were defeated by the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, on Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Cincinnati leads the NL Central at 38-29.
The Reds failed to clinch the Ohio Cup, but have won three of five meetings between the two teams, with the final game to be played tonight at 7:05. The Indians clinched the current three-game series with wins in the first two contests.
Cabrera’s drive came on a 3-1 count, after Shin-Soo Choo had singled to right-center for his third hit. It made a winner of Nick Hagadone (1-0), whose wildness had given Cincinnati the lead moments earlier.
“A great win — very dramatic,” manager Manny Acta said. “Two of the top hitters in our lineup stepped up and had a great at-bat.
“Everyone remembers the walk-off by Cabrera, but (Choo, who singled on a 3-1 count, also had) a great at-bat.”
Vinnie Pestano and Chris Perez, the Tribe’s top two relievers, had already come and gone by the time the 10th inning began. Number three, Joe Smith, began the 10th but was greeted by a double by pinch-hitter Willie Harris, who came in with four hits in 40 at-bats. Harris was then thrown out at third by Smith when Zack Cosart (3 hits) bunted back to the mound
After Smith got Chris Heisey to ground into a force, Hagadone came on to face Joey Votto and uncorked a pitch that sailed to the screen, as Heisey took second. Joey Votto then beat an infield hit behind second base, sending Heisey to third. With Brandon Phillips at the plate, Hagadone then threw a pitch in the dirt that bounced away from Carlos Santana. Santana retrieved the ball and threw to Hagadone, whose tag on Heisey was just late.
Earlier, Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin and Cincinnati’s Mike Leake locked horns in a duel that saw both give up just one run.
Tomlin lasted 62⁄3 innings, with the only run against him coming in the first. He gave up six hits and walked two, both in the seventh inning.
Tomlin seemed to tire in that seventh frame, and was removed with the bases loaded and two outs. Esmil Rogers used nine pitches to fan Devin Mesoraco to keep the score tied at one apiece.
Tomlin induced a pair of double-play grounders, and was backed by stellar catches by outfielders Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo.
Leake went seven innings, with six hits and one walks allowed. he retired the final 11 batters he faced.
“It was a well-pitched ballgame by both sides,” Acta said. “Both (starters) made the adjustments (from when they faced each other five days earlier). That’s what the big leagues are all about.”
The Reds jumped on top in the first inning when Cosart led off with a double over the head of left fielder Shelley Duncan, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Heisey’s infield single.
The Indians tied it in the fourth when Santana lashed a double inside the right-field foul line, took third on a Brantley grounder and came home when Casey Kotchman landed a soft liner in front of Heisey in center field.
The run came after the Tribe had missed two other chances. Choo was stranded at second after opening the first with a double. The in the third, Cabrera lined a one-out single to right to send Choo (3 hits), who had walked, to third. But Cabrera was cut down on Jay Bruce’s throw trying to stretch it into a double.
Goldman is a freelance writer from South Euclid.
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