*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*
Cleveland Indians catcher Rene Rivera hit the ball, and just started running. It was either going to score some runs and tie the game, or it was going to be a walkoff homer. It turned out to be the difference maker. Rivera hit the game tying double, Cesar Hernandez scored the winning run, and the Indians defeated the Mariners 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday afternoon.
Rivera said "I know Montero from the past. We were teammates in the New York Mets organization, so I know what he was trying to do. I just went out there with my plan. I planned to hit the ball somewhere that nobody’s at. It came big. Honestly, I just hit the ball, I started running. I know if I hit the wall a couple runs are going to score and we tie the game. If it goes out, it’s going to be a walk-off."
Trailing 4-0 entering the 8th, Hernandez got the Indians on the board with a solo homer to center field, making it a 4-1 Mariners lead. In the 9th, Bobby Bradley hit an RBI single to make it 4-2, and Rivera hit the tying two run double to make it 4-4. In the 10th inning, the Indians completed the comeback thanks to a throwing error from Paul Sewald, scoring Hernandez and giving Cleveland the win.
James Karinchak got the win for the Indians, throwing a scoreless 10th inning of relief. Triston McKenzie lasted just 2/3 of an inning in his start, allowing one run on 4 walks. The rest of the game, all 9 1/3 innings of it, was covered by an outstanding effort from the bullpen. Phil Maton, Nick Sandlin, Trevor Stephan, Nick Wittgren, Blake Parker, and Sam Hentges covered it, along with Karinchak.
Indians manager Terry Francona said of the win that "Everybody came in and did their job. Man, I tell you what, we’re just trying to get through the game without ruining our bullpen, but because Seattle never stretched it out, it kind of gave us that chance. Every once in a while, if you keep playing, you get fortunate enough to win a game like that."
The Mariners got on the board in the first inning, with JP Crawford scoring on a bases loaded walk to make it 1-0 early on. In the 3rd, a two run homer to right field from Jake Fraley gave Seattle a 3-0 lead to work with. In the 7th, Dylan Moore hit a long solo homer to center field, making it 4-0 Mariners, before the Indians came back to win.
Seattle manager Scott Servais said "There is no way to put a good vibe on the end of that ballgame. Sewald made a great pitch to tie Ramírez up, but you’ve got to make the plays and execute late. That’s as sour a taste as you can get in your mouth when you give away a game like that."
The Mariners and Indians conclude their series Sunday afternoon, with Logan Gilbert getting the start for Seattle, and Shane Bieber going for Cleveland.
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