Tribe Declaws Tigers 4–1 Behind Reyes Homers, Plesac Gem
Last weekend in the cold heart of Detroit, the Cleveland Indians visited the Detroit Tigers for Opening Weekend, where Cleveland’s bats were silenced until a nine run explosion that Sunday.
It was the first time they had lost to the Tigers in back-to-back games since 2018.
Five days later and playing at home in 75 degree weather in Cleveland, during early April no less, with the first pitch delivered just after 7:10 p.m., the Indians struck back and delivered early, handling Detroit by a final score of 4–1.
Zach Plesac took the mound for Cleveland, giving up a single to Willi Castro to open the game before getting the next three batters out without any damage.
Julio Teheran ended up being a late scratch due to tightness in his right triceps and was shut down. Derek Holland instead took the hill for Detroit.
Amed Rosario, one of the key pieces in the Francisco Lindor trade, got the start in centerfield, the first time he’s started anywhere outside of shortstop in his big league career.
Rosario got a late jump in a deep fly to center by Jeimer Candelario but recovered to nab the out on the warning track before lining a single to lead off the bottom of the first inning.
Rosario then reached base in the second inning on a throwing error by Castro before Cesar Hernandez flew out to center to end the bottom-half of the frame
He advanced to third on a Jose Ramirez single up the middle that bounced off the second base bag before Eddie Rosario drove Amed Rosario in by beating out a double play as the Tribe drew first blood.
On the night, Plesac went 7 innings giving up 3 hits, not allowing a walk or run. He struck out six batters on 97 pitches, 70 of them going for strikes and earned the victory.
For Holland, he lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs to go with three strikeouts and a homer on 46 pitches, 31 of them strikes. He did not issue a walk and took the loss.
With the offense struggling through the first five games of the year, the early jolt in the first frame was a welcome development for the Tribe with the unusually warm weather.
Reyes stayed hot, hitting a single up the middle past a diving Niko Goodrum in the third inning with two down. In the sixth inning, he smoked a ball out over dead centerfield, flying 446-feet before landing in Heritage Park.
It was Reyes’ ninth multi-homer game and his third round-bagger off of Detroit’s Michael Fulmer and a spectacle for the 7,775 fans in attendance, with the slugger going 3-for-4 on the evening.
Bryan Shaw replaced Plesac to begin the top of the eighth, promptly giving up a 443-foot solo blast over centerfield to Wilson Ramos, three feet short of Reyes’ second homer of the evening.
Aftering issue a walk to Baddoo, Shaw struck out the next two batters before getting Willi Castro to fly out to left to end the frame with limited damage.
Emmanuel Clase came on and swiftly shut the door in the ninth for his first save of the season, sending the Cleveland faithful home happy for the night.
— — — Tidbits — — —
Leading Off as Brothers-In-Law
Amed Rosario and Willi Castro led the game off for their respective teams’ lineups. Castro is Rosario’s brother-in-law, with Castro being a former Tribe farmhand.
Keep the claws in Detroit
After tonight’s game, the Indians own a 33–9 record versus the Tigers at home since 2016.
First Pitch Strike Success
Of the 23 batters he faced, Plesac delivered 20 first-pitch strikes. It enabled the young righty to stay ahead in counts and last deep into the game.
