Shane Bieber Impressive Again as Indians Top Rockies 7-1 in Goodyear

After being held to just four hits in a 2-0 loss to the Giants on Friday, the Indians were back in the win column on Saturday, as they defeated the Colorado Rockies 7-1 at Goodyear Ballpark.

Shane Bieber was solid in his third start of the spring, as he threw four innings of shutout ball, allowing a hit with four strikeouts to earn the win.

Bieber, who is slated to be the fourth or fifth starter in the Indians rotation, is 1-1 this spring, and has been impressive, allowing a run in nine innings in Cactus League Play.

On the offensive side, DH Matt Joyce finally got things going at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. He got the Tribe’s scoring going, smacking a two-out single in the bottom of the 3rd.

The Indians broke the game open with a five-run 6th inning courtesy of a two-run triple by outfielder Trayce Thompson, (1-for-3), an RBI-single by shortstop Ryan Flaherty (1-for-2, BB) and a two-out two-run single from first basemen Nelson Rodriguez.

Shortstop Eric Stamets added an additional run in the seventh inning with an RBI-trip

Oliver Perez (1.0IP), Tyler Clippard (0.2IP, 1H), James Karinchak (0.1IP), Jon Edwards (1.0IP, 1H, 1SO), Brooks Pounders (1.0IP, 1H, 1R/ER, BB, 1SO) and A.J. Cole (1.0IP, 1H, 1SO) combined to allow just four additional hits and one run to the Rockies after Bieber departed.

Edwards continues his impressive spring, as he has now worked 5.0 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts (3H).

Clippard was pulled from the game in the sixth inning after suffering tightness in his right pec muscle, and will be looked at again Sunday in Goodyear.

The Indians will hit the road on Sunday afternoon to face the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex at 4:10pm.

Carlos Carrasco will make his first start of the spring against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. The game can be heard on WTAM 1100 and the Indians Radio Network.