The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Tribe drops lead to Reds in the 9th, lose 7-4
Takeaways from the Indians game vs. Cincinnati on July 10:
• The best ability is availability, coaches and managers are fond of saying, and that makes Lonnie Chisenhall a liability to the Indians.
The Tribe, before the game with the Cincinnati Reds on July 10 at Progressive Field, announced Chisenhall will miss an additional eight to 10 weeks with a strained right calf muscle. The right fielder missed most of the second half of 2017 with calf injuries and has played in only 29 games this season. Now he might be out until midSeptember or even later, and even then the Indians would be gambling to assume he’ll stay healthy for what the Indians hope is a deep playoff run.
The injury update on Chisenhall, coupled with the uncertainty of Bradley Zimmer, who is down with a shoulder injury with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, makes it more imperative for the Indians to acquire outfield help before the July 31 trading deadline. Possible targets for the Indians include Billy Hamilton plus Adam Duvall from the Reds and Adam Jones from the Baltimore Orioles. The Indians should be able to acquire any of the three without mortgaging the future.
Jones, who hit 25 or more home runs each year from 2011-17 for the Orioles, has only 10 home runs through 86 games this season. Duvall had 22 RBI over his last 26 games prior to the game, though he was hitting just .235 during that clip. Hamilton in the same 26-game stretch is hitting .337 with 12 stolen bases and 23 runs scored.
Jones and Hamilton are center fielders. Duvall plays left field. Indians manager Terry Francona would find a way to make it work if team president Chris Antonetti got him some outfield help.
• Francona is happy five Indians have been selected to play in the AllStar game on July 17 in Washington, D.C., but he made it clear in his pregame talk with reporters his first priority is to the Indians and not the American League All-Star team.
Trevor Bauer, the Indians’ starting pitcher July 10 vs. Cincinnati, is one of the Tribe’s five All-Stars. He would make his next start July 15 against the Yankees — two days before the All-Star game — in his normal rotation.
When asked if he would make an adjustment so Bauer could rest so he could pitch in the AllStar game, Francona responded in the negative
“We’re not going to skip
him so he could pitch in the All-Star game,” Francona said. “We really would like him to pitch for us. That would be a first.”
Bauer threw eight shutout innings against the Reds. He allowed only three hits, walked four batters and struck out 12. He threw 111 pitches and left with a 4-0 lead, but got a no decision because the wrecking crew in the bullpen gave up seven runs in the top of the ninth inning. Six runs were charged to closer Cody Allen.
Pitcher Corey Kluber, shortstop Francisco Lindor, third baseman Jose Ramirez and left fielder Michael Brantley are the Indians other All-Stars.
• The Indians placed right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin on the 10-day D.L. with a hamstring injury. Tomlin is one of Francona’s favorite players, but if and when Tomlin will ever be activated from the D.L. is a question that can only be answered with time.
Video: Francona discusses Tomlin’s injury
“He can pitch with (the injury), just not the way he needs to,” Francona said. “We’ll get that straightened out, maybe give him a couple days down, and then we’ll put our heads together on the best way to get him back. He’ll never stop working. I have no doubt he’ll find a way to contribute to our team while he’s on the D.L., because that’s who he is.”
Tomlin is 0-5 with a 6.49 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .300 against him. He has given up 10 home runs in 49 innings.
• In a move sponsored by U.S. representatives Jim Renacci of Ohio and Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, the United States House of Representatives passed the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act. The legislation honors Doby, who broke the color barrier in the American League with the Indians on July 5, 1947.
“The Cleveland Indians organization is extremely proud of Larry Doby’s legacy,” Bob DiBiasio, Indians’ senior vice president of public affairs, said in a statement. “Mr. Doby, a symbol of equality and freedom of opportunity stood with grace, dignity and a competitive spirit that resonated throughout Ohio and across America.”
A statue of Doby stands outside Progressive Field.