Teams that hit into two outfield forceouts in four innings probably figure the day is not going to be theirs.
Indians teammates welcome Jason Donald back to the dugout after Donald's two-run homer in the sixth inning tied Sunday's game with Kansas City, 2-2. But the Royals broke the deadlock in the seventh inning and pulled away to a 6-2 victory.INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Indians lefty Tony Sipp knows how to economize.
In the Tribe’s 4-3 victory over the Royals on Saturday, Sipp entered in the sixth inning with a runner on first and two outs. Before throwing a pitch, he caught Willie Bloomquist attempting to steal.
The previous time an Indians pitcher had entered a game and recorded an out without throwing a pitch was July 25 against Tampa Bay. Sipp erased Evan Longoria attempting to steal second to end the eighth.
Sipp entered Sunday’s game against the Royals having allowed just seven of 28 inherited runners to score (18.4 percent). The efficiency ranked third in the American League.
Sipp inherited a runner in the seventh Sunday and stranded him. But Sipp gave up a solo homer in the eighth in a 6-2 loss.
Orange and brown: Indians clubhouse manager Tony Amato doubles as a Browns fanatic. He is encouraged by what he has seen in the preseason. He watched Saturday’s Browns-Lions game twice.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said. “I love the new regime, the [Mike] Holmgren-[Eric] Mangini dynamic.”
Amato said his main concern is lack of speed on defense.
Sweet music: Kayleigh Collins, 6, of Painesville did a terrific job with the national anthem. She received a protracted ovation.
Dunk tank: Shelley Duncan singled in the sixth to snap an 0-for-15.
Stat of the day: The Indians are 3-42 when scoring two or fewer runs.
— Dennis Manoloff
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Teams that hit into two outfield forceouts in four innings probably figure the day is not going to be theirs.
The Indians felt the double dose of pain in a 6-2 loss to the Royals on Sunday.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Asdrubal Cabrera reached on a bunt single. In his previous at-bat, Cabrera hit a walk-off homer Saturday night.
Shin-Soo Choo followed with a sinking liner to center. As Gregor Blanco charged, Cabrera froze between first and second. The ball short-hopped Blanco, who made the clean pick and threw to second baseman Mike Aviles for the out. Choo lost a hit, but Cabrera should not be faulted because it looked as if Blanco would catch the ball.
In the fourth, Shelley Duncan drew a one-out walk. Jayson Nix lined to shallow right, where Mitch Maier slid. The ball bounced off Maier, but it did not travel far. Maier recovered and threw to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt for the out. Nix lost a hit, but Duncan should not be faulted because it looked as if Maier would catch the ball.
Whiff kings: The Indians' final seven hitters struck out. Pinch-hitter Michael Brantley began the parade of ignominy by getting called out to end the seventh against righty Jesse Chavez.
Royals righty Blake Wood toyed with Nix (swinging), Jason Donald (swinging) and Andy Marte (swinging). Donald had homered in his previous at-bat against starter Bruce Chen.
Royals closer Joakim Soria, deprived of a save situation when the Royals scored two in the top of the ninth, took out his frustration on Chris Gimenez (swinging), Luis Valbuena (swinging) and Trevor Crowe (looking).
Soria will have to wait to try to extend his franchise record of 28 straight save opportunities converted. He has 60 strikeouts in 55 innings.
Sitting tight: Brantley and Travis Hafner, who happen to be two of the Indians' hottest hitters, did not start as part of scheduled days off. Brantley recently missed four games because of an ankle injury.
Rough patch: A scouting report can be an invaluable tool for a major-league pitcher trying to figure out how to attack a hitter, especially a hitter he has not seen in months, if at all.
The report also can be a trap. If the pitcher is not careful, he can become beholden to it.
Indians rookie right-hander Mitch Talbot thinks information overload is one reason he has struggled through the past two months. In eight starts since July 1, Talbot is 0-5 with a 5.87 ERA in 38 1/3 innings. He has allowed 48 hits, walked 24 and struck out 28 while throwing 739 pitches. He has pitched six innings just once.
Talbot starts Monday against the White Sox.
"For a while, because of scouting reports and stuff, I've been trying to change the order of the way I do things," he said. "That's kind of hurt me. I've been trying to trick the hitter instead of pitch to him."
Talbot is 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA in 14 2/3 innings of three starts since being activated from the disabled list. He had a back issue.
"The back's fine," he said. "I'm totally recovered from that."
When Talbot checked the chart from his previous start, Aug. 25 against Oakland, he noticed his average fastball velocity had decreased by a couple of miles per hour. He gave up six runs in six innings of a 6-1 loss. The Athletics scored five in the first.
Talbot, 8-11 with a 4.44 ERA in 135 2/3 innings of 23 starts, does not think he has hit a wall.
"I feel fresh," he said. "I'm not tired. A drop in velocity will happen periodically throughout the year."
In addition to trying to out-fox hitters, Talbot said he simply has been missing spots.
"I'm not going to overpower guys, so I have to keep the ball down," he said. "I haven't done a good enough job of that. And instead of missing off the plate, I'm missing over the plate.
"I'm learning that the stuff that got you here is going to keep you here. You don't really have to change a lot. You just need to keep improving what you do best."
The White Sox have brought out the best in Talbot this season. He is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in three starts:
• On April 16 in Cleveland, he allowed one earned run in a complete game -- the first of his major-league career. The Tribe won, 6-2.
• On May 25 in Cleveland, he gave up two runs in seven innings of a 7-3 victory.
• On June 5 in Chicago, he gave up one run in seven innings of a 3-1 victory.