This Week In Indians Baseball: Week 8

The Indians struggled in the eighth week of the season as they worked through injuries. Cleveland opened up the week with a win to the Kansas City Royals, but dropped the next two games. A series with the Minnesota Twins had a similar fate, as the Tribe won with ease in the opener but couldn’t carry their success into the next two games. Overall, the Indians went 2-4 in the eighth week of the season.

• Game 48: Indians 8, Royals 5

W: Josh Tomlin, L: Nathan Adcock

Lonnie Chisenhall made his return to Cleveland in a big way on Monday, sending a shot over the right-field fence in his first at-bat. Overall, it was a big inning for the Tribe that paved the way to a win, easing the burden on starting pitcher Josh Tomlin, who was making his first start since May 7^th. Jason Kipnis also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. (full recap here)

• Game 49: Royals 8, Indians 2

W: Will Smith, L: Justin Masterson

Justin Masterson continued his trend of struggling early in games on Tuesday, allowing seven runs to cross the plate in the first two innings. The Indians were unable to counter at the plate, mustering only two runs on five hits. Both runs came in the first, which tied the game at the time, but the Royals put up five runs in the top of the second to create a deficit too great for the Tribe to overcome. (full recap here)

• Game 50: Royals 6, Indians 3

W: Bruce Chen, L: Jeanmar Gomez

The Tribe jumped on an early lead in the second inning, bringing home three runs on singles from Casey Kotchman and Shin-Soo Choo and a force out off the bat of Luke Carlin. That would be the only offense the Indians would be able to muster on Wednesday afternoon. The Royals, however, were able to tack on runs throughout the game. Jeanmar Gomez got the start, going five innings and allowing five runs on ten hits and one walk while striking out three. (full recap here)

• Game 51: Indians 7, Twins 1

W: Derek Lowe, L: Carl Pavano

The offense came alive on Friday night with fourteen hits, led by a grand slam from Jason Kipnis. Lonnie Chisenhall also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer. On the mound, Derek Lowe had a strong outing, allowing only one run on five hits over the course of 6.2 innings. (full recap here) 

• Game 52: Twins 7, Indians 4

W: Brian Duensing, L: Josh Tomlin

The Twins battered Tomlin in the first with four runs, but the Tribe was able to erase the deficit by clawing away at the Twins’ lead, adding runs of their own one by one. With the game tied in the top of the sixth, the Twins took the lead for the final time on a Trevor Plouffe home run. (full recap here)

• Game 53: Twins 6, Indians 3

W: Scott Diamond, L: Justin Masterson

The Indians were one step behind the Tribe for most of Sunday’s series finale. The Twins got on the board in the first, but the damage was limited to one run. Through three and a half innings, the Twins were up by three, but the Indians put up two runs of their own. The Twins added two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth. The Tribe was only able to muster one more run in the seventh. Justin Masterson lasted six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out three. (full recap here)