The major story from last night’s Indians’ game was obviously their walk-off single from Russell Branyan, but there were some little things that might have gone overlooked that make one feel good about the victory.
After being forced to throw 39 pitches in the first inning, and 69 through two innings, and being victimized by three unearned runs due to three errors at the hot corner, Mitch Talbot blanked Boston through the third and fourth innings and allowed Manny Acta to be able to use a semblance of a bullpen rotation. Jensen Lewis threw two scoreless frames as the Indians crawled back into the game against Jon Lester. Frank Herrmann followed and, after two quick outs in the seventh, got into a jam with a double and a walk, and was bailed out by Chris Perez, who held the fort until departing in the ninth.
It should also be noted that Branyan did not even enter the game until pinch-hitting for Andy Marte in the seventh, and Marte contibuted two hits of his own to assuage his fielding gaffes.
Every Cleveland starter except for Travis Hafner had at least one hit, as the Indians found a way on a night when it looked as if Boston was going to leave town having won three-of-four.
Washington should be an interesting series, as Manny Acta faces the team he managed last year. The Nationals are creeping close to .500 after having just swept the Pirates, and phenom Stephen Strasburg is slated to go for the Nats on Sunday, fresh off of his major league debut, a 14-strikeout seven-inning performance that earned him the victory over Pittsburgh.