Frustrating loss as they left Quantrill in one inning too long. Then Stephan had nothing. Basically the Indians got beat by two guys; Schwarber and Arrauz. Schwarber had a double and a home run with 3 RBI's while Arrauz had a double and a home run off Quantrill.
Arrauz came into the game with one hit in his last 25 at-bats. That hit was the three-run game winner off Karinchak a week ago today that got James sent down. So now the guy hits a home run and a double off Quantrill. What is it with this guy that we keep throwing him pitches belt high down the middle?
The home runs by Arrauz and Plawecki were on 2-1 pitches by Quantrill. He fell behind and came in with fat pitches. Arrauz hit a spinner belt high middle. Plawecki got three straight breaking balls and with the count 2-1 was looking for a fastball and got it.
Renfroe's HR off Stephan came on the 9th pitch of the at-bat; all fastballs and sliders. The Red Sox announcers were saying Stephan is a two-pitch pitcher and they were right. He needs a third pitch, or better command of the two pitches he has. He had Schwarber down 0-2 and Hedges wanted a fastball above the zone. He got a fastball dead center of the zone and Schwarber drilled a 2-run double into the gap that made it 5-3. That was the backbreaker and it came on an 0-2 pitch right down the middle.
At least Josie is looking like himself again with three hits after getting skunked in KC. Franmil not so much. He was 1-for-5 with two K's and now has one hit in his last 19 AB's.
Altogether the Indians struck out 13 times and lost to a team that has nine players out with COVID. Embarassing.
No Xander Bogaerts? No problem. Arruaz filled in nicely with a home run and two-run double. No Enrique Hernandez? No problem. Schwarber filled in with 3 RBI's.
The bottom third of the Indians order had 5 hits and 3 RBI's. They did their part. Tonight it was the pitching that let them down as the Indians almost always win when they score five runs.
Bobby Bradley had two hits and a walk. Chang didn't get to bat even though he's white hot.
Maybe five or six more Red Sox will test positive tomorrow morning.