Out of three choices, it's safe to say Branyan made the least productive in a game where one run made the difference in the Indians' 7-6 loss to the Phillies.
View full sizeIndians first baseman Russell Branyan.Clubhouse confidential: The way manager Manny Acta sees it, first baseman Russell Branyan had three choices in the first inning Wednesday when Ryan Howard sent a grounder to him with one out and runners on first and third.
He could have stepped on first and thrown home to try and get Placido Polanco at the plate.
He could have thrown to second to start a double play and awaited the relay from shortstop Jason Donald to complete it.
Or Branyan could have stepped on first to retire the slow-footed Howard -- which he did -- removing the force at second, thrown to second where Donald had to tag Chase Utley just after Polanco scored to cut the Tribe's lead to 2-1.
Out of three choices, it's safe to say Branyan made the least productive in a game where one run made the difference in the Indians' 7-6 loss to the Phillies.
No action: Two-thirds of the way through this nine-game interleague trip, it's clear DH Travis Hafner could have stayed home. He's come to the plate five times as a pinch hitter and hasn't gotten the ball out of the infield. He reached first base in his first plate appearance when he was hit by a pitch.
Stat of the day: The Indians are 5-19 in National League ballparks over the past three seasons.
-- Paul Hoynes