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The seventh inning is a perfect example of how the Indians could win more games next year if they had a left-handed relief pitcher, like an Oliver Perez, for example.
Starting the 7th the Red Sox pinch hit for right-handed Jack Lopez, bringing lefty Travis Shaw to the plate. Their next four hitters were now Shaw (left), Arrauz (switch), Schwarber (left), and Devers (left). Arrauz is 2-for-24 batting right-handed and .250 left.
The situation was perfect for a left-handed reliever, but we don't have one, other than Hentges, who Hale doesn't trust and I don't blame him. If we had a decent LOOGY to use in that situation I'm pretty sure the Sox don't have a five-run inning.
Quantrill walked Shaw and then gave up a double to Arrauz. To be fair, it was just a routine fly ball down the left field line that would have been an out in any other ballpark but Fenway. So now there are runners on second and third with nobody out and Schwarber and Devers coming up. The situation screamed for a lefty but we don't have one, so they brought in Stephan. Schwarber doubled in two runs, which was the back breaker.
To his credit, Stephan then struck out Devers and J.D. Martinez, two of the best hitters in baseball. But after an intentional walk to Verdugo he couldn't put Renfroe away and on the 9th pitch he got too much of the plate. Stephan threw two bad pitches out of 25, but the Red Sox hammered them both.
This off-season the Tribe needs to make it a priority to acquire a lock-down left-handed reliever, or develop Hentges into one. Hentges came on in the 9th and retired Scwarber and Devers, although J.D. Martinez hit a line drive that was caught.
Starting the 7th the Red Sox pinch hit for right-handed Jack Lopez, bringing lefty Travis Shaw to the plate. Their next four hitters were now Shaw (left), Arrauz (switch), Schwarber (left), and Devers (left). Arrauz is 2-for-24 batting right-handed and .250 left.
The situation was perfect for a left-handed reliever, but we don't have one, other than Hentges, who Hale doesn't trust and I don't blame him. If we had a decent LOOGY to use in that situation I'm pretty sure the Sox don't have a five-run inning.
Quantrill walked Shaw and then gave up a double to Arrauz. To be fair, it was just a routine fly ball down the left field line that would have been an out in any other ballpark but Fenway. So now there are runners on second and third with nobody out and Schwarber and Devers coming up. The situation screamed for a lefty but we don't have one, so they brought in Stephan. Schwarber doubled in two runs, which was the back breaker.
To his credit, Stephan then struck out Devers and J.D. Martinez, two of the best hitters in baseball. But after an intentional walk to Verdugo he couldn't put Renfroe away and on the 9th pitch he got too much of the plate. Stephan threw two bad pitches out of 25, but the Red Sox hammered them both.
This off-season the Tribe needs to make it a priority to acquire a lock-down left-handed reliever, or develop Hentges into one. Hentges came on in the 9th and retired Scwarber and Devers, although J.D. Martinez hit a line drive that was caught.