Mike Napoli's Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers, 11-4, Friday night in Cleveland. BTW: Napoli needs to get extended, asap.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Napoli went 3-for-4 with one walk, one double, one homer and four RBI and right-hander Corey Kluber allowed four runs in seven innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers, 11-4, Friday night at Progressive Field. The Tribe (85-62) increased its lead in the AL Central to 7.0 games over the second-place Tigers (78-69).
Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:
Beyond impressive: The Indians are 12-1 this season against the Tigers, having outscored them, 90-40.
Twelve and one. Ninety to forty.
Let those numbers marinate.
Early advantage: The Indians led, 2-0, after one inning; 4-1 after two innings; and 4-1 after three.
In the season series, they have outscored the Tigers, 26-2, in the first three innings.
Naptastic: Napoli hit a two-run double in the first. It amounted to a gift because Justin Upton lost the ball in something and the ball bounced behind him on the warning track.
Napoli walked in the third.
Napoli, perhaps feeling guilty about the first-inning AB, removed fielders from the equation by going Neil Armstrong off talented rookie righty Michael Fulmer in the fifth.
With the Tribe leading, 4-1, Jason Kipnis led off with a walk. Francisco Lindor grounded to second baseman Ian Kinsler for what should have been a double play, but Kipnis stopped near Kinsler and used a spin move to avoid the tag. Kinsler threw to first to retire Lindor, but Miguel Cabrera's throw back to shortstop Erick Aybar was too late to get Kipnis.
Another game, another opportunity for Kipnis to showcase his off-the-charts baseball IQ.
Napoli took a fastball (95 mph) for a strike at the top of the zone; a fastball (95) high; a fastball (95) high; and a fastball (95) on the inside edge for a strike.
Then Fulmer got greedy. Instead of opting for a breaking pitch, Fulmer -- and catcher James McCann -- thought it was a good idea to throw a fifth consecutive fastball. It zipped over the plate at 95 mph and above the belt, and Napoli launched it where only Armstrong could catch it. The ball landed deep onto the home-run porch.
Yes, pitchers have thrown high fastballs to Napoli and gotten him to chase -- but it still is a proceed-with-caution type of deal. What Fulmer and McCann did by quintupling up on fastballs amounted to an insult. Napoli only has 34 homers and 98 RBI.
Memo to Indians bigwigs: Extend The Man.
Napoli is playing on a one-year deal. If he becomes a free agent, he is gone. Heck, it is possible he already is gone -- but at least there still is time.
No question that the most pressing issue at hand is trying to win a division. Everybody, including Napoli, gets it. But a franchise can do two things at once. While the club is trying to win a division, ownership and the front office can get a multi-year deal done and pump that much more positivity into Progressive Field.
When Michael Brantley returns healthy in 2017, imagine what this lineup can do -- provided Napoli goes nowhere.
No question it will be pricey, probably beyond market size and projected budget. But if ever someone was worth it, Napoli is that guy. Beyond the middle-of-the-order thunder, Napoli is a clubhouse and fan favorite. He is a leader in all senses of the word.
Outstanding work: Kluber allowed five hits, including two homers by Upton. He walked three and struck out seven.
Kluber did not meet the criteria for a John Lowe Quality Start (6+ IP, 3- ER), but don't be fooled: This was a quality start, and then some.
Kluber skillfully navigated a potent lineup in the beginning of what could turn out to be the Tribe's most important homestand since 2007.
Kluber earned his money in the seventh.
With the Tigers trailing, 7-4, No. 9 batter Andrew Romine punched a 1-1 two-seamer insider the left-field line for a double. More credit to the lefty Romine for a good approach than blame on Kluber for a bad pitch.
Kinsler, one of the Tigers who has antagonized the Indians for the years, grounded an 0-1 cutter (90) sharply but directly to second baseman Kipnis. The spray charts had Kipnis in the correct spot, pinched toward the bag.
Kluber overmatched Cameron Maybin in three pitches: two-seamer (92) called strike; two-seamer (94) foul; and two-seamer (94) swinging strikeout. The decisive pitch featured serious run inside below the belt; catcher Roberto Perez was set up away.
Cabrera stepped in. He had flied to center, struck out in three pitches and walked.
Of course Kluber did not want to let Miggy "beat'' him with even an RBI single. But Victor Martinez was on deck, which meant a walk to Miggy would bring the tying run to the plate in the form of another dangerous hitter.
Kluber fell behind, 3-0, with balls out of the hand: cutter (89) outside; two-seamer (93) outside; and slurve (85) outside. The slurve was Kluber's 96th pitch.
Fox Sports Time Ohio play-by-play voice Matt Underwood said: "Kluber's not going to give him anything to hit. He's going to take his chances against Victor Martinez.''
Fox Sports Time Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "Yeah, but he won't be in there to face Victor, I wouldn't think, because he's the tying run.''
Miggy stepped out to battle the "midges.''
Kluber threw a cutter (89) on the outer third above the knees for a called strike. Tremendous pitch selection and location.
Kluber threw a slurve (85) down and away, and Miggy swung and missed by plenty. Miggy nodded toward Kluber. Nasty pitch. The key was, the pitch stayed near the outside edge long enough that Miggy could not automatically know it was a ball.
Manning said: "Cabrera was looking for that pitch away, but then he got too aggressive.''
Kluber threw a two-seamer (95) with serious run and tilt. Miggy barely got a piece and nodded again. The pitch ended over the plate at the knees instead of on the outside edge, but the element of surprise worked in Kluber's favor. Miggy clearly was looking for a breaking pitch away.
Kluber threw a slurve (86) that stayed belt-high off the outside edge. Cabrera fouled it to the right and smiled and shook his head toward Kluber.
Manning said: "Look at Cabrera: He's figuring, 'OK, I should have hit that one.' That's the one he was looking for....but sometimes they miss them. He was trying to shoot it to right-center field.''
Kluber came back with another slurve (86), this time with better tilt and location -- outer third above the knees. Miggy flied routinely to right.
Underwood said: "Took the sting out of his bat.''
Manning said: "Yes, he did.''
Miggy finished 0-for-3 with the walk and one run. He is batting .190 with three RBI against the Indians this season.
