I don't know how it is that Rajai Davis isn't on the team anymore, but I don't think that was a good idea. Had to big of a hit in Game 7 to be let go.
He left in the off-season. He went to the A's, and was just traded to the Red Sox.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I don't know how it is that Rajai Davis isn't on the team anymore, but I don't think that was a good idea. Had to big of a hit in Game 7 to be let go.
I certainly miss him after that home run, but the truth is that he was a 36 year old outfielder who's main asset was speed. We also were pretty stacked in the outfield with young guys coming up. We couldn't really justify giving him a big contract with the logjam we had in the outfield.
Good win last night. Salvaged a split with the 2nd best team in the East and the bats finally woke up. I suppose it's good to also get inside the head of Sale since we'll probably see him twice in the postseason.
Let's hope Kipnis and Miller can get well soon.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Ryan Merritt baffles Kansas City Royals, Francisco Lindor goes deep again in Cleveland Indians' 4-0 win
2 Updated on August 25, 2017 at 10:13 PM Posted on August 25, 2017 at 9:52 PM Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ryan Merritt delivers in the first inning against Kansas City. Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ryan Merritt delivers in the first inning against Kansas City. (Tony Dejak/Associated Press) 2 shares By Joe Noga, cleveland.com
Kansas City Royals Cleveland Indians 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 R H E 0 8 1 4 10 1 Fri Aug 25 W: Merritt L: Vargas Stats CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians rookie pitcher Ryan Merritt kept his cool on a crisp August night, and shortstop Francisco Lindor's bat remained hot as the duo led the Tribe to a 4-0 win against the visiting Kansas City Royals.
Merritt pitched a career-high 6.2 innings and scattered seven hits while walking one and striking out three.
The lefty, who endeared himself to Indians fans with 4.1 scoreless innings in Game 5 of last year's American League Championship series, worked out of a jam in the second inning with runners at second and third by getting Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert to pop out to second baseman Jose Ramirez.
Giovanny Urshela put the Indians ahead in the first inning with an RBI double off the glove of Alex Gordon in left field. Gordon raced back and leapt against the wall, but could not make the catch as the ball rolled far enough away to allow Yan Gomes to come all the way around and score from first.
It was Urshela's third hit in two games and fifth RBI. He later added a single on a screaming line drive that narrowly missed hitting Royals pitcher Jason Vargas in the fifth inning.
After a Lindor ground out, Austin Jackson followed with an RBI single to right, giving the Indians a 2-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Merritt's command was impeccable. He did not allow a three-ball count until Cuthbert's two-out walk in the seventh inning, and a 3-1 single to Alex Gordon before he was lifted with runners on the corners in favor of Joe Smith.
Smith came on to get Whit Merrifield on a line out to right field, ending the threat.
Lindor increased Cleveland's advantage in the fifth inning when he blasted a two-run home run off Vargas to the bleachers in left field. It was Lindor's 23rd home run of the season, the most by an Indians shortstop since Asdrubal Cabrera hit 25 in 2011, and the third highest total by a shortstop in franchise history.
The victory marked Cleveland's 13th shutout of the season, tying the Indians with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most in the majors. Kansas City was shut out for the 11th time on the year.
What it means
The Indians pulled ahead of Kansas City in the season series 7-6, and evened their home record against the Royals at 2-2 in 2017 with six games remaining. The Indians increased the gap between themselves and the third-place Royals to 7 games.
The pitches
Merritt threw 97 pitches, 66 (68 percent) for strikes. Vargas also threw 97 pitches, but just 58 (59 percent) for strikes.
ADVERTISING
Bad glove, good glove
Lindor got Cleveland's defense off to an inauspicious start early when he allowed Royals leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield to reach base on a throwing error in the first inning. After Merrifield stole second, Lindor turned things around, cutting down the KC second baseman as he tried to advance to third base on a fielder's choice by Lorenzo Cain.
Lindor then turned in a diving stop on Melky Cabrera's grounder up the middle and used his glove to flip the ball to Jose Ramirez, who made the turn at second base to complete an inning-ending double play.
Thanks for coming
The Royals and Indians drew 34,061 to Progressive Field on a crisp Friday night. First pitch was at 7:10 p.m. with a temperature of 69 degrees.
It marks the eighth sellout of the season. Saturday's matchup has already been announced as the ninth sellout, the most since the club sold out 11 games in 2007.
Next
The series continues as RHP Mike Clevinger (6-5, 3.97 ERA) faces RHP Jason Hammel (6-9, 4.73) at 7:15 p.m. Fox Sports 1, WTAM/1100 and WMMS will carry the game.
Clevinger will make his fourth career start against the Royals. He is 2-0 vs. Kansas City with a 3.31 ERA. Clevinger has already made two starts against Kansas City this season, earning the win at Kauffman Stadium on May 7 and taking a no decision on May 26 at Progressive Field.
Great outing for the young guy. The Indians really have some serious pitching depth in their organization.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
And the lead over the 2nd place Twins is now 6-1/2. Royals are now 8 GB. Plus we now only trail the Red Sox by 1/2 game. It would be nice to have home field advantage in the divisional series, rather than have them have it at Fenway.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
Royals starter Eric Skoglund's ERI took a hit today.
ERI - Earned Runs per Inning average.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
The last time the Indians threw three consecutive shutouts was September 18-19, 1956.
That was before I was born. (unless you’re a “Right-to-Lifer” - I was conceived sometime in January 1956. My mom wouldn’t tell me my conception date) (or real father)
But I digress.
That’s over 9,000 games.
Are you with me? Do you grasp this? Nine thousand games is a lot.
It didn’t happen in the 60s. Or the 70s. Or the 80s, 90s, or 2000s. Those are decades;.
Our #6 and #7 starters. (though I believe that Clevinger will have displaced Tomlin when he returns)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
The last time the Indians threw three consecutive shutouts was September 18-19, 1956.
That was before I was born.
i was already 4 yrs old
lol i was -30
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
yeah, Kluber is a guarantee tonight IMO. Coming off a poor performance. NYY seem to struggle against him too
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif)
(though I believe that Clevinger will have displaced Tomlin when he returns)