The misplay hurts the Indians because they would have had a chance to tie the game thanks to two singles by Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera.
View full sizeThe Indians' Trevor Crowe is caught stealing by Seattle's Josh Wilson in the ninth inning during Friday's botched hit-and-run.Clubhouse confidential: Here was the thought process on the hit-and-run play that didn't work in Friday's 1-0 loss to Seattle. Trevor Crowe, with the Tribe down, 1-0, drew a leadoff walk in the ninth against closer David Aardsma.
With Michael Brantley batting, manager Manny Acta thought the Mariners would be looking for the sacrifice bunt and Aardsma would groove a pitch to Brantley to get an out. Aardsma, however, was having trouble throwing strikes and threw a pitch down and away that Brantley missed. Crowe was thrown out at second by strong-armed catcher Adam Moore.
It hurt because the Indians had a chance to tie the game when Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera followed with singles.
"With an offense like ours, you can't always stand pat," said Acta. "You have to try and create some offense."
Gifts from Choo: A representative of an Asian company making titanium necklaces was in the Indians' locker room Saturday. Shin-Soo Choo received several necklaces and was giving them to teammates.
Said Frank Herrmann: "I used to wear them at night because I thought it increased the blood flow when I slept. But maybe it's just the placebo effect."
Stat of the day: The Indians are 20-27 since the All-Star break.
-- Paul Hoynes