The third inning of this game saw five runs scored and only two outs recorded. Cal Quantrill started the third, faced three batters in the fourth, and got only two outs. Bobby Bradley hit a three-run blast en route to being passed over in favor of Jake Bauers for the first base job. Kind of sums up spring training 2021.
I did not look this up, but I believe this was the first half of the only nine-inning doubleheader played in the majors in 2020. By the time this is actually posted we will know whether it was the last ever played; as I write this in March 2021, they remain a casualty of the COVID rules.
Cleveland did all of their scoring early, getting four in the first three frames (aided by a Bradley Zimmer homer and Daniel Johnson’s first major league hit), then held on for dear life. Aaron Civale loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but got the force at home on a Luis Robert comebacker. James Karinchak was first out of the bullpen and had a dominant/wild performance emblematic of his 2020 (walk, wild pitch, 3 Ks). Nick Wittgren loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but a grounder to first led to another home plate forceout, and he worked out of it. Brad Hand allowed a double to Tim Anderson to leadoff the ninth, got two outs, surrendered a single to Yasmani Grandal, but then froze former teammate Edwin Encarnacion to end it.
Corey Kluber allowed three straight singles to open the game, but still breezed through the first three frames on just 29 pitches, with Roberto Perez’ third-inning solo shot tying the score. He got two quick outs in the fourth, then yielded three straight hits to go down 3-1. Things got worse in the fifth when his forearm was fractured by a Brian Anderson line drive. It would be his last pitch as an Indian.
Caleb Smith and Drew Steckenrider held the Cleveland offense in check until Carlos Santana hit a ninth inning homer off Sergio Romo, but it ended 4-2 in a very bad day for the Tribe
Corey Kluber got an early hook after allowing five runs in the first three innings, spoiling a showdown with Justin Verlander. Verlander worked seven, allowing two runs with five strikeouts and four walks.
