A flurry of blockbuster deals prior to the trade deadline gave the Rangers what is arguably the best bullpen in the American League.
Apparently, the Indians never heard the news.
On Saturday night, the Tribe tallied 4 times in the top of the 9th against a pair of Texas relievers to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
In that crucial 9th frame, the Rangers turned to Neftali Feliz, hoping that their closer could protect a 4-3 lead. However, the 1st batter Feliz faced, Kosuke Fukudome, produced a double to advance the tying run into scoring position. Feliz attempted to wiggle out of the jam, but the Indians, who have recently struggled to capitalize on golden opportunities, finally executed. Ezequiel Carrera's sacrifice bunt moved Fukudome to 3rd base, and Lonnie Chisenhall's RBI single scored the Japanese import. Visibly rattled, Feliz yielded a Michael Brantley double that chased home Chisenhall with the go-ahead run.
At this point, Texas manager Ron Washington had seen enough, prompting him to change pitchers. Yoshinori Tateyama replaced Feliz, but Tateyama met the same difficulties that had plagued his predecessor. Jason Kipnis' 2-run homer into the right field bleachers rudely welcomed Tateyama to the ballgame, and it stretched the Tribe's advantage to 3 runs.
The Kipnis bomb would loom large because the Rangers roared back in the bottom of the 9th. Chris Perez allowed 1 tally, and runners were at 2nd and 3rd when Cleveland's closer induced a game-ending groundout.
The 9th inning rally overshadowed Fausto Carmona's quality start. The hard-throwing righty continued his late-summer resurgence as he pitched 6 1/3 innings, surrendering only 2 earned runs.
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| Chisenhall slides across home plate in the 9th |
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