Dateline: Browns Chapel
On a warm and very pleasant Spring evening, the Tribe rolled into their final game of the road trip. The White Sox came in flying high as they were leading the American League. Coach Grossman juggled the lineup and Charles led off with a double. He moved to third on a wild pitch but didn’t score. Charles started on the mound in the bottom of the first and got the first batter to hit a sharp one hopper to Brendan at second who flipped to Will at first for out one. The next two batters walked and one scored on a ground out back to the mound. After one it was 1-0 White Sox.
The Indians offense came alive in the second with a leadoff single by Christian V. Connor then hit a blistering line drive to deep right for a long triple. Brendan walked and stole second and Chad came up with a huge double to center to score Christian V. and Connor. Brendan scored on a huge RBI ground out by Nicholas. Charles was great in the second by inducing a leadoff ground out to Brendan at second, a ground out back to the mound and a high fly to left that Nikhil calmly camped under and caught for a huge out three. After two it was 3-1 Indians.
In the third, the Indians poured it on with a single by Christian T., a single to center by Will, and a long double by Christian V to score Christian T. and Will. Connor picked up an infield hit and Brendan walked to load the bases. Chad grounded out to first to score Christian V. and Pedro singled to score Connor. In the bottom of the third Charles gave up a single and a walk but settled down to record a strike out. The next batter beat out an infield hit and Coach Grossman reluctantly pulled Charles after a great strikeout but he had hit his 55 pitch limit. Nicholas came on and did a great job striking out the last batter. After three it was Indians 7 Twins 3.
In the fourth, the White Sox brought in their ace closer who shut down the Indians one two three. Coach Grossman went to the bullpen after Nicholas ran into some control problems. Bryon came on and walked two and Coach Grossman came out to get him. Chad game on for his first appearance of the year and he looked good, but the Sox hit a bloop single and picked up their fourth run on two more walks. After four it was Indians 7 Twins 7.
In the fifth, with two outs, Christian T. was walked. He stole second and then Will was walked a wild pitch put runners on at second and third. Christian T. then shocked Indians fans as he stole home as the pitcher was trudging back to the mound. Will then did the same thing and he scored. Indians fans celebrated. In the fifth Will came on and the first three batters walked. Will settled down and struck out the next three.
In the sixth, the Indians went down in order. Will came on to try to secure the win. The first batter walked and stole second. The next batter hit a long fly to deep right. Chad drifted over and made a great catch and fired to Bryon at second for a double play. The next batter grounded back to the mound and the Will tossed to Christian T. for out three. Indians fans celebrated.
Coach Grossman said, “Whew…what a game. It was exciting and it was great to see our bats really do well with nine earned runs against the first place ball club. We’re on a roll.” Coach Goldstein said, “Our catchers looked great and how about that fine work done on the hill by Charles and Will.” Coach Cassidy, team sponsor and bench coach, called in and said, “What a big win for our team this year. Lets just enjoy it and I think we’ll build on this in the future.”
