The Indians have been shut down in the middle innings this afternoon at Progressive Field, but Tribe starter Josh Tomlin managed to keep Baltimore in the rear-view mirror by stifling two Orioles’ rallies — including a truly crucial shut-down in the fifth inning — and Cleveland leads 6-2 as we head to the seventh.
Baltimore got their second run on their second hit of the game in the fifth — and their second home run, a blast off the bat of Luke Scott. But that was not the end of the inning, an inning where Baltimore threatened to get right back in the game.
The Orioles loaded the bases, still with only one out, but then Tomlin retired Dave Roberts on a shallow fly ball to left and got Nick Markakis to ground out to first, ending the threat.
A marvelous job there of keeping the damage to a minimum and leaving the Tribe’s lead at 6-2.
Again in the sixth, the Orioles put two on — this time with two outs — and again, Tomlin was able to get out of the inning, this time retiring Mark Reynolds.
As we go to the seventh, Vinnie Pestano is on in relief of Tomlin, who allowed two runs and six hits, walking none and fanning four.
The Indians have collected eleven hits, but have been kept off the board since their four-run outburst in the third inning.