The Tribe offense has been a feast or famine group all season, but that fact seems to have intensified. Lately, it lays dormant most innings, looking like some version of Akron Aeros North. Then, all of a sudden, it erupts for a big inning. That’s what happened last night as the Indians chased Chicago lefty Mark Buerhle from the game in a five-run sixth inning on their way to a 8-4 victory to get them back to .500 at 71-71 on the season.
Jack Whonnahan? The offensive star of this game was third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Just like Shelley Duncan did on Wednesday afternoon, Chisenhall blasted a pair of two-run homers to lead the Indian offense. Lonnie smoked a cutter into the right field seats in the second off Buerhle to put the Tribe on the board. Then, in the sixth, he took Buerhle yard once again to right-center field. This time, it was a hanging curveball that Chisenhall crushed. The Tribe third baseman has had his struggles this season, especially against left-handed pitching, so it was nice to see him go yard twice off an elite lefty like Buerhle. He’s hitting just .233 this season with a .686 OPS, perhaps not having the immediate success the team had hoped. But, there have been flashes, and with the Indians firmly out of the race now and Hannahan still out of action, Chisenhall should and will get everyday at-bats.
I’m taking this opportunity to cast my ballot for Jeanmar Gomez for the fifth starter next season over David Huff. Gomez won his third straight start last night, giving the Tribe 6 innings while allowing 2 runs, 6 hits, 0 walks, and 3 strikeouts. In 7 starts this season, Gomez has had two lousy outings (5 earned runs in each), but in the other five starts, he has allowed three runs or less. His biggest problem has been staying in the game long enough. He has exited in the sixth inning or earlier in five of his seven starts. Gomez’s sinker plays to contact, and the White Sox weren’t making a lot of good contact last night. Jeanmar coaxed nine groundball outs out of the green-clad White Sox (halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, really?). If Gomez can keep the type of control he is currently displaying, I see no reason why he can’t be an effective back-end starter in 2012.
The one inning in which Gomez struggled was touched up a bit was the third, where Gordon Becham singled and Juan Pierre doubled to leadoff the inning. Beckham scored on the Pierre extra base hit. Then, two fly ball outs from Alexei Ramirez and Paul Konerko brought Pierre home to tie the game. Personally, I would’ve walked Konerko with one out to setup a double play and pitch to Pierzynski.
The White Sox got two baserunners the inning before, one coming on a Lonnie Chisenhall error which could have just as easily been a double play. With runners on second and first, Gomez had one hit right back to him by Tyler Flowers which could have been a double play too. Instead, Gomez bobbled it and could just go to first for the easy out. Gomez did strike out Brent Morel to end the inning. It’s a credit to him, but more importantly, I was shocked that defensive blunders didn’t kill the Tribe for once.
As for the sixth inning that was the key to victory, the Tribe batted around, but with a piecework lineup, it was surprising to see the bottom of the order do the real damage. Carlos Santana walked with one out, and after Shelley Duncan flew out, Chisenhall hit home run number two. But, the Tribe went for the kill against Buerhle as Lou Marson singled and Trevor Crowe walked to set the table for Ezequiel Carrera. Carrera singled to left plating Marson, and then Kosuke Fukudome, who continues to do the job, hit a two-run single to give the Tribe a five-run advantage.
Nick Hagadone pitched the ninth in this game after two innings from Joe Smith. His stuff is undeniable, as he touched 97 mph on his fastball that has a decent amount of break to it. He did work himself into quite a jam though as he loaded the bases courtesy of two walks, a hit by pitch, and a passed ball. It forced Acta to get Chris Perez warm in the bullpen. That’s the second time this week Perez has had to get up in a near-blowout situation heading into the ninth. At least this time, unlike with Herrmann earlier this week, Perez did not have to enter the game as Gordon Beckham was called out on strikes after a 12-pitch battle. Hagadone allowed just one run in the 39-pitch marathon that was the bottom of the ninth.
Today, the Tribe and White Sox square off in game three of the four game series, with Fausto Carmona taking on Philip Humber, who might still have a headache from his last start against Cleveland.
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