Indians top Twins in second straight walk-off win 5-4; three takeaways

Hammy calling a game-winner NEVER gets old!#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/91wgLGtGQ4

— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) August 9, 2018

1. Dr. Smooth comes in clutch

Michael Brantley came through in the ninth inning with the game tied, 4-4. Dr. Smooth’s single to right field brought home Greg Allen and gave the All-Star his sixth career walk-off plate appearance and his first since April 11, 2017.

As Allen crossed home plate, the team rushed to meet Brantley between first and second base, dousing him with baby powder and Gatorade just like they did to Lindor the night prior. So did Brantley think about trying to escape the celebration having just witnessed what they did to his shortstop the previous game?

“Yeah always,” he quipped. “But I’ll take the celebration as long as we’re winning. But it’s tough. You get Gatorade, some powder, you name it, it’s coming at you.”

Brantley continues to produce at home and maintains a .335 batting average in Cleveland this season, the sixth best home average in the American League coming into Thursday’s slate of games. Given Brantley’s experience and production offensively at Progressive Field, manager Terry Francona said he is exactly the guy that the Indians want up with the game on the line.

“You’re always kind of on edge, but boy it’s nice to have him up in that situation,” Francona said. “You know that the at-bat’s not going to get ahead of him or be too big. You’re not always going to get a hit, but he’s going to swing at a strike and rarely does he pull off.”

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