Cleveland Indians: 3 takeaways from the good start to the second half

The Cleveland Indians refused to let any bullpen blunders take away from their strong offensive outing as they take down the Rangers.

The Cleveland Indians stepped into the second half of the season on the right foot. They started a three-game series against the Texas Rangers with a 9-8 win.

The game was a back and forth, on the edge of your seat, and long, long, game. But it had plenty of scoring and plenty of reason to believe the Indians will have a great end to their season.

Bombs away Jose

The Jose Ramirez show never quits and he had another showing in the Tribe’s first game after the break. Ramirez knocked a home run off Rangers starter Martin Perez in the sixth inning.

The homer tied the game at four and jump-started an inning where Cleveland scored three runs and took a 6-4 lead.

But even more notable about the home run was it was Ramirez’ 30th of the season. That means he is now in sole possession of first place in MLB lead home run leaders.

He’s the first player to reach 30 home runs this season and it sets a new career high in home runs hit after knocking out 29 last season.

Ramirez yet again proved to be the difference maker in his team’s win by not only setting them up with a chance to win but by scoring the winning run himself in the top of the eleventh inning.

Yandy is next gone….right?

After the Indians made the move for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber, they moved around some pieces to free up for roster spots.

Hand and Cimber took two, leaving the last two for AAA call-ups. Those spots went to Yandy Diaz and Melky Cabrera, with many believing that Diaz would be the one to go when Bieber is recalled Tuesday.

Batting sixth and making his season debut, Diaz did everything possible in his power to show why sending him down Tuesday over Cabrera would be the dumbest move the Indians could make.

Diaz went 4-6 on the night bagging three singles and a triple as he scored two runs and paired it with a couple of RBIs as well.

While the Tribe could use the outfielder Cabrera with so many issues plaguing the outfield, it wouldn’t be so crazy as to give Yandy a shot out there or even moving around the infield to put him at third.

Either way, if he keeps hitting like this there’s no way they can keep him out of the lineup.

Why Cody….why?

Okay but seriously what was that? I think I blacked out. Your team has a 7-6 lead. They go out and get you an insurance run in the top of the ninth. All you need is three outs, give up one or less run and you’re home sailing.

That’s it. I don’t have to do it. I probably couldn’t. But I’m not being paid absurd money to do it (10.5+ million to get three outs every so often is always absurd but so is being the seventh highest paid closer in MLB while having by far the worst ERA out of the 25 relievers with the most save opportunities).

Two outs, one to go. Fastball. Home run. Fastball. Home run. Not only was it back to back home runs for Robinson Chirinos and Joey Gallo, but it was on consecutive pitches to tie the game at eight and force extra innings.

Any semblance of quality pitching had been used up by that point so fans were greeted by Zach McAllister strutting to the mound for the bottom of the tenth as they all quickly and quietly turned their TVs off and went to bed, saving them the time and stress of watching McAllister put the cherry on top of Cody Allen‘s ineptitude.

But, surprisingly, McAllister somehow held, albeit by loading the bases with no outs first, but nonetheless, the Indians survived.

Next: Looking ahead to the second half

Jose Ramirez doubled in the eleventh inning before Edwin Encarnacion singled to send him home, proving to be the winning run. But regardless, that was a terrible showing, Cody Allen.