Here are 14 Walk-Off Thoughts after the Indians’ 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday night.
1. On Opening Day, not many would have thought you could say that the Indians need the Josh Tomlin of the first half to re-emerge, but they’re in that position now.
2. For a stretch, Tomlin looked to be putting together an All-Star-caliber resume. But over his last four starts, he’s struggled, owning a 10.02 ERA in that stretch. On Saturday, he gave up six home runs, which included three home runs.
3. Said Indians manager Terry Francona, “First two runs were on the swinging bunt. Then they got a couple balls up and hit them good to right-center. Both went out. He had a clean fourth, we fought back and then he gave up the solo. That one hurt. Even though we had a lot of game left because both bullpens did a good job. It was a tough night for him to pitch because he’s a fly-ball pitcher. They’re a very good hitting team and he probably didn’t get the ball in as much as he would’ve liked.”
4. After the Indians tied it, Tomlin immediately give up a solo home run to Edwin Encarnacion, giving the Blue Jays a 6-5 advantage. As he often has, Tomlin took credit for the loss.
5. Said Tomlin, “It’s very disappointing. Because the offense puts up a fight, they tie the game back up and make it a game. For me to go out there after that big inning and give up a home run to the first batter that inning. It erased that five-run inning which stinks. But I have got to do a better job of limiting the damage the previous innings. … They fought back and made it a game. For them to get that much adrenaline, to get the momentum in your dugout and then the first guy you faced you give up a home run. It knocks everyone down a little bit and I understand that. Obviously, wasn’t trying to do that but I have to execute a pitch there and get the lead guy out. I just didn’t do it and it ended up costing us a game.”
6. Since returning from the disabled list in the second half of the 2015 season, Tomlin has been one of the more consistent and productive players on the club, bringing a level of reliability rare for the No. 5 spot a team’s starting rotation. Lately, he’s been a bit shaky.
7. After the Indians’ Walk-Off wins on Thursday and Friday, it really felt like it wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of who would be the one to hit the game-tying and then game-winning home runs in the bottom of the ninth.
8. Tyler Naquin won Thursday’s game with a walk-off sacrifice fly. Then he won Friday’s game with a walk-off inside-the-park-home run, which followed Jose Ramirez’s game-tying home run.
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9. On Saturday, the Indians’ magic came in the fourth inning. Trailing 5-0, they put together a five-run fourth against Aaron Sanchez, capped by Lonnie Chisenhall’s three-run home run to tie it.
10. Chisenhall’s home run came on a 10-pitch the included him recovering after chasing a curveball. It ended with his eighth home run of the season.
11. Said Chisenhall, “After chasing early, it was nice to kind of settle down there. I don’t know how many pitches I saw. Being able to see that many pitches in a row, I was able to calm down. It was a good swing. It was nice to come back right there and answer back after they put up a few runs and put us in a good spot.”
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12. To Chisenhall, that fight in the team has always been there, saying, “Since I’ve been here, we’ve had it. Even two years ago, three years ago when we weren’t even it it, we were still coming back in games and not giving up. That’s something to have. You don’t want to roll over, especially when you’re trying to pick up games or extend a lead or just make your organization proud. You go out there and you fight until the ninth and then come back and get them tomorrow.”
13. Chisenhall probably hasn’t gotten enough credit for the season he’s having, hitting .298 with eight home runs and 48 RBI. He also now has seven games with at least three RBI, the most on the team. He says it’s his mindset, and him doing a better job of transitioning from game to game.
14. Said Chisenhall, “Even-keel. Not putting too much thought into a good day or a bad day. So 0-for-4 with four K’s, you understand what happened and try to be positive and move on to the next day and not let bad things carry over and let the good things get in the way.”http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-indians/cleveland-indians-1.282227/indians-rally-for-five-run-fourth-inning-but-fall-short-6-5-to-toronto-blue-jays-1.706151