The Indians went 5-5 on a three-city trip but lost the final two games against the Pirates.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gerrit Cole allowed three runs in eight innings and Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double in a five-run fifth as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Indians, 5-3, Sunday afternoon at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa. Cole improved to 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA.
Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:
Underwhelming: The Indians reached the mathematical halfway point of their season at 38-43. Given that the expectations coming out of spring training were high internally and externally, they rank among MLB's most disappointing clubs.
Unless the Indians magically become more consistent, particularly offensively, it is difficult to envision a turnaround dramatic enough to make the playoffs. But stranger things have happened, and the Indians have Terry Francona as their manager.
Interesting route: The Indians closed their three-city trip at 5-5.
They opened by getting swept in a three-game series against Baltimore; swept a four-game series against Tampa Bay and won the first of a three-game series against Pittsburgh; and dropped the final two.
Bitter pills: The Tribe can talk about how a 5-5 trip is acceptable, especially when the three opponents are above .500 at the beginning of the respective series. But the Tribe needed to be, and could have been, better. Three games stand out as missed opportunities:
*June 26 at Baltimore (L, 4-3): Led, 2-1, after 5 1/2 innings with Corey Kluber dealing. And the score was tied, 3-3, after 7 1/2.
*Saturday at Pittsburgh (L, 1-0): Managed two singles in eight innings against lefty Jeff Locke, who is not to be confused with Steve Carlton. Locke retired the final 19 he faced. He pitched eight innings for just the second time this season.
*Sunday at Pittsburgh (L, 5-3): Led a terrific pitcher, Cole, 3-0, after 4 1/2 innings with Danny Salazar dealing. Cole retired the final 16 he faced (accounting for 17 outs).
Operation shutdown: On Saturday and Sunday, Tribe bats produced a combined three runs on eight hits, two walks and two HBPs. From the fourth through the ninth innings, they produced a total of three runners -- all in the ninth against closer Mark Melancon (walk, infield single, HBP).
So much for that: Salazar allowed one hit and walked one through four, but he did not make it out of the fifth.
His final line: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 7 K (88 P)
Salazar's start unraveled because he failed to put away batters after being ahead in the count and because he made bad pitches to Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker and McCutchen.
Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Salazar's outing:
FIRST INNING
(R) Josh Harrison -- 93 fastball called strike; 96 fastball outside; 95 fastball swinging strike; 96 fastball, swinging strikeout (up and in).
(L) Neil Walker -- 94 fastball bunt foul; 95 fastball high and outside; 85 changeup inside; 83 changeup swinging strike (down and in); 96 fastball down and in; 97 fastball, fly to left.
Skinny: Pitch to hit but Walker tardy.
(R) Andrew McCutchen -- 97 fastball outside; 88 slider outside; 96 fastball swinging strike; 86 changeup, grounder to catcher.
(14 pitches)
SECOND INNING
(R) Starling Marte -- fastball called strike; 94 fastball called strike (inside corner); 97 fastball outside; 86 changeup, swinging strikeout.
Skinny: Salazar and catcher Roberto Perez masterfully set up Marte. It helped that the changeup was nasty.
(R) Jung Ho Kang -- 87 changeup in dirt; fastball called strike; 84 changeup swinging strike; 96 fastball up and in; 86 changeup low; 97 fastball, swinging strikeout.
(L) Pedro Alvarez -- 95 fastball called strike; 97 fastball foul; 97 fastball, swinging strikeout.
(13 pitches)
THIRD INNING
(R) Jordy Mercer -- fastball high; 95 fastball high; 95 fastball down and away; 95 fastball called strike; 95 fastball outside, walk.
(R) Chris Stewart -- 95 fastball up and in; 96 fastball called strike; 96 fastball called strike; 86 changeup in dirt; 95 fastball, single to left (inside).
Skinny: Good piece of hitting results in bloop.
(R) Gerrit Cole -- 95 fastball bunt foul; 96 fastball outside; 94 fastball bunt foul; fastball, fielder's choice/3-5.
(R) Josh Harrison -- 96 fastball foul; 96 fastball foul; 87 changeup, swinging strikeout (in dirt).
(L) Neil Walker -- 85 changeup down and in; 85 changeup foul; 96 fastball swinging strike (catcher Roberto Perez throws to shortstop Francisco Lindor to pick off Stewart).
(20 pitches)
FOURTH INNING
(L) Neil Walker -- fastball called strike; 81 curve foul; 96 fastball foul; 86 changeup, swinging strikeout.
(R) Andrew McCutchen -- 85 changeup low; 95 fastball outside; 96 fastball away; 95 fastball called strike; 96 fastball called strike; 96 fastball, swinging strikeout (at belt)
(R) Starling Marte -- 87 changeup swinging strike; 87 changeup swinging strike; (Marte winces because of discomfort in right side); 97 fastball foul (outer thiird; emergency hack); 87 changeup in dirt; 87 changeup foul. (Marte exits game); (L) Gregory Polanco -- 97 fastball, grounder to short.
(16 pitches)
FIFTH INNING
(R) Jung Ho Kang -- 95 fastball foul; 96 fastball called strike; 96 fastball outside; 86 changeup in dirt; 86 changeup, single to left (down and away).
Skinny: Good piece of hitting results in looping liner over leaping Lindor.
(L) Pedro Alvarez -- 93 fastball outside; 95 fastball foul (outer half); 96 fastball swinging strike (above belt); 97 fastball, two-run homer to left (Perez set up outside; outer third at thighs).
Skinny: Why Salazar and Perez did not opt for a 1-2 changeup away is puzzling. Exclusive fastballs worked in the second inning, and the Indians didn't think Alvarez could catch up to Salazar's heater and didn't want to speed up his bat. Still, Alvarez is bound to run into one if given enough consecutive chances, especially when provided swinging room.
(R) Jordy Mercer -- 95 fastball foul; 96 fastball foul; 86 changeup down and away; 87 changeup down and away; 96 fastball outside; 95 fastball, fly to right.
(R) Chris Stewart -- 96 fastball called strike; 86 changeup foul; 81 curve, single to shortstop (up middle).
Skinny: Stewart initially was called out after terrific play by Lindor; Pirates won challenge. Salazar is too good not to put away Chris Stewart when ahead, 0-2.
(R) Gerrit Cole -- 94 fastball, sacrifice bunt to pitcher (Stewart to second).
(R) Josh Harrison -- 84 changeup swinging strike; 86 changeup down and away; 95 fastball called strike; 85 changeup, single to third.
Skinny: Harrison's slow chopper was a bad break for Salazar. At the same time, another Pirate found a way to reach after count 0-2 or 1-2.
(Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway visits mound.)
(L) Neil Walker -- 95 fastball, RBI single to left-center (outer half).
Skinny: Walker, a hot hitter, was sitting on the first-pitch fastball after a pitching coach visit. Location helped him serve it the opposite way.
(R) Andrew McCutchen -- 85 changeup, two-run double to center (hanger).
Skinny: Good idea to open off-speed, bad execution. Salazar's worst pitch of the day was the equivalent of a batting-practice fastball.
(25 pitches)
(Nick Hagadone relieves Salazar.)