Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Cleveland Indians: 9th Inning Failure Prevents Victory

7-26-11     vs. Los Angeles Angels     L, 2-1     52-49

     A 2nd consecutive dramatic Tribe victory appeared to be inevitable.
     Trailing 2-1, the Indians had loaded the bases against Jordan Walden in the bottom of the 9th before the flame-throwing closer could record a single out.
     As Matt LaPorta stepped into the batter's box, the Angels shifted their infield toward home plate.  LaPorta worked the count full, but he chopped the 3-2 pitch to the 2nd baseman, Howard Kendrick.  The Halos' defensive alignment gave Kendrick time to retire the lead runner, Orlando Cabrera, at the plate.  Jeff Mathis then doubled up Laporta, who was jogging to 1st base instead of sprinting.  Suddenly, Cleveland was down to its final out, and Jason Kipnis, the hero of Monday night, whiffed to end the ballgame.
     The contest was scoreless until Mark Trumbo cranked a 2-run double in the top of the 7th.
     The Tribe pulled to within a run in the home half of the frame courtesy of LaPorta's solo tater that sailed into the left field bleachers.
     Jered Weaver - 7 IP, 1 ER - earned the win, while Josh Tomlin - 8 IP, 2 ER - suffered a tough-luck defeat.
The Indians watched their late rally fall short

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