The Cleveland Indians are still winless in Spring Training after an 11-5 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Monday’s Spring Training contest started off great. Greg Allen led off the game with a home run to give Cleveland an early 1-0 lead. A strong pitching performance from Trevor Bauer kept the Indians in control through his three innings of work. Bauer allowed one hit and struck out two in his Arizona debut.
Jon Edwards, Justin Grimm and Brooks Pounders each recorded a hold. A.J. Cole is credited with a blown save as the game tying run came in to score while he was on the mound. After that things got ugly.
Ben Taylor came in to pitch during the eighth inning and it was a disaster. In just two-thirds of an inning Taylor allowed seven hits and seven runs. The game was blown open and the Indians had no shot at coming back. Taylor allowed four consecutive two out hits resulting in four runs scoring. Dalbert Siri replaced Taylor and was not all that much better. Siri gave up two runs while allowing one hit and walking two batters in one-third of an inning. Rob Kaminsky pitched the final frame, allowing two hits and one run.
Cleveland was able to add four runs onto the home run that led off the game. Ernie Clement hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning which drove in Dioner Navarro. Two more runs came across to score in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Indians final run total to five.
While it is only Spring Training the Indians have not exactly impressed thus far. It is not time to panic, it is only Spring Training and the games do not count. If the team is unable to put things together when the regular season starts that may change things.
