Anderson Tames The Tigers As Indians Top Detroit 4-0 to Take 2 of 3 in Weekend Series

By Adrienne Goehler

Yesterday’s beating at Comerica didn’t stop the Indians from coming back and stealing the series from the Tigers with a much needed 4-0 victory. RHP Cody Anderson came out strong going 7 complete innings, striking out 3, and only allowing 2 hits on 92 pitches. Anderson improved his record to 3-3, and lowered his season ERA to 3.72.

The Indians offense recorded nine hits on the day, but recently called up Michael Martinez, who made his debut with the Indians last night, surprised everyone with three of them.

He led off the 6th with a single, and Jason Kipnis followed up with another. Francisco Lindor was squaring to bunt at first in the at-bat, but manager Brad Ausmus came out to have a meeting with his defense.

Lindor, who read the defense charging in hard, got the green light to swing and took advantage of a fastball down the middle for a bases clearing triple to put the Tribe up 2-0. Santana singled in the same inning, scoring Lindor, to make it 3-0. Martinez knocked in Abraham Almonte in the 9th to put the Tigers away 4-0.

After the game Lindor was asked about the changed approach in the 6th, and he replied, “I mean, if you were watching the game, the guys were coming in hard. It was going to be a very tough bunt for me to do it, and the sign, they took it away and they let me hit.”

“I’d much rather get the bunt down and give Brantley a RBI situation. After I missed the bunt the first time, they went out, and the guys were coming too hard. At that point I was like you know, I gotta swing it. All I gotta do is hit the ball on the ground hard somewhere, and the ball is going to go through and I can get them over, or maybe get a RBI.”

The Indians improve their record to 66-69, and have three more on the road against the White Sox before coming home for an 11 game home stand.

Tomorrow’s match-up:

RHP Trevor Bauer vs LHP Chris Sale