I liberally mix spring training exhibitions and regular season games, but usually it’s safe to assume a July game is the latter. Not in 2020, though, as the Indians traveled to Pittsburgh for an exhibition and came away with a 5-3 win on the strength on a four-run eighth highlighted by Christian Arroyo’s three-run double.
Jessie Winker and Jose Iglesias each hit two homers off Trevor Bauer for the “visiting” Reds (who of course shared the Goodyear complex with the Indians), but the Indians got a big day from Kevin Plawecki (double, triple, homer, 4 RBI) and won 8-5.
A run-of-the-mill spring training game made noteworthy to me by the appearance of Tre’ Gantt as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth. He did not come to the plate nor get any action in the field, but nice to see nonetheless.
The White Sox took advantage of the last spring Arizona environment to launch five home runs, accounting for six runs, through eight innings, but it wasn’t enough as they trailed 7-6. Indians reliever Joe Colon had two outs in the ninth and the bases were loaded for White Sox batter Hayes (?), who launched a game-winning grand slam.
This AA All-Star Game was a rout, with the Eastern Division rolling over the Western Division (which included the host Akron RubberDucks). There wasn’t a ton of future MLB star power on display, but certainly some household names including Raimel Tapia, Jorge Alfaro, Rhys Hoskins (three-run homer in the first), Rowdy Tellez, Clint Frazier, Nick Pivetta.
Iowa took advantage of a Buckeye error to plate a run in the first, but it was all Scarlet & Gray from there as they launched four homers, including three in the fifth to roll to an 11-1 walkoff victory. On this Sunday getaway day, a run rule was in place, and so three walks and a double play that couldn’t be turned plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the margin swelled to ten.
I usually don't pay too much attention to the dates scoresheet post here - I don't do anything cute like post spring training scoresheets during spring training or playoff scoresheets in October. But this game was played exactly one year ago today.
I kept score of this game off the radio using my modified LL Bean-style scoring. It was a good but not particularly notable game as all runs were single tallies, Seattle in the first, fourth, and seventh, Cleveland in the third and ninth.
Daisuke Matuszaka was pitching for the Clippers in 2013, never making it to Cleveland, but he pitched very well this rainy night (I didn’t note the time on the sheet, but I believe there was a delay of at least an hour before first pitch) against the Bats, allowing one run, two hits, two walks, and fanning five over seven innings. Another former big league name that never made it to Cleveland contributed as Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer. Vinnie Pestano, also trying to find himself, recorded a 1-2-3 ninth to finish the game.
