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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The seven-inning doubles program distorts traditional baseball times. In the game without a clock, this puts things on the fast lane.
Or as interim manager DeMarlo Hale put it when asked how to run a game in seven innings, “you just subtract two innings” from the normal management way of thinking.
The Indians lost a seven-innings doubles program to the Royals on Monday at Progressive Field. Tuesday night they still seemed to be running at high speed in a 4-1 win over the same Royals. They scored four runs in the first two innings, while Cal Quantrill held off the Royals with a pair of double plays.
Then they did rope-a-dope the rest of the night to go 12-3 against the Royals this season. The Indians were eliminated in AL Central on Wednesday, but the division-leading White Sox lost to Detroit, keeping them in the divisional race for at least one more day.
The White Sox magic number to win is two.
Quantrill (7-3, 2.83) continued his streak of 3.5 months. He allowed one run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He’s 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in his last three starts and 6-1 with a 1.73 ERA since the all-star break.
“The only thing I’m most happy with is we played a really good game after being swept away in the doubles program on Monday,” Hale said. “You go out and play that kind of game. I thought about it as the game was falling behind – it’s a really good team effort. It was defense, pitching and timely strikes. It was a good feeling.
Quantrill has pitched nine consecutive quality starts (six innings or more, three earned runs or less) at Progressive Field this year.
“I think his body got used to starting,” Hale said. “It’s like, ‘I’m starting.’ He’s got his routines between his starts. He’s been really good at keeping his routines intact. He’s become a starter and does the things he needs to do.
“For me it becomes a pro and I understand what it takes to become a beginner.”
Lefty Daniel Lynch (4-6, 5.40) suffered the loss. Lynch, who made his big-league debut against the Indians on May 3, allowed four runs on four hits in six innings.
Lynch loaded the goals in the first on two walks and a no-out single. Franmil Reyes took a third call-up on a 3-2 pitch, but Yu Chang sent a double to left field. Andrew Benintendi had a pearl on the ball, but slid across the wet grass of the outfield – light rain was falling – as the ball jumped out of his glove for a triple in goals and a 3-0 lead.
Chang, who is only on his third short-term start of the season, entered the game with an average of 0.282 (22 for 78) since his recall from Class AAA Columbus. The treble gave him 13 more hits and 19 RBIs in that 26-game streak.
“I thought he was going to catch it,” Chang said, hitting .429 (3 for 7) with seven RBIs in base-loaded situations this year.
Regarding his improved hitting since his recall on Aug. 13, Chang said, “I tried hitting in the opposite field. I had a lot of discussions with the batting coaches and my teammates.
Ernie Clement made it 4-0 with a home run with one out in the second. He hit a 1-1 pitch in the center-left bleachers for his third homerun and the first since hitting two against Detroit on Aug. 13.
Quantrill used the double game to get out of trouble. Whit Merrifield started the game with a single. Hot hitter Nicky Lopez knocked out the singles sting by hitting in a 4-6-3 double play.
In the second, Benintendi hit on a single back Quantrill, who lined up the ball running and tried to pass it behind his back to Owen Miller at first. They didn’t make connections.
Quantrill struck out Carlos Santana on catches, but Adalberto Mondesi shot a right single to put the runners in the corners. Michael Taylor sent a bouncer to third-place Jose Ramirez. Ramirez struggled to get the ball out of his glove before throwing it to Clement on second base for strength. Clement then made a quick turn and pitch to get Taylor’s fleet back first to end the round.
The double play sent Quantrill off the field screaming and giving props to Ramirez and Clement.
“Ernie is a really good player, but he’s very special when I pitch, I think,” Quantrill said. “On his own, he’s already saved me 4, 5, 6 runs this year. He’s my favorite player on this team.
The Royals didn’t score until Hunter Dozier hit a home run with two strikeouts in the seventh. When Quantrill walked Kyle Isbel around, Blake Parker was relieved as Hale turned to the bullpen. Parker, Bryan Shaw and Emmanuel Clase closed the door. Clase threw the ninth for his 24th save on 28 occasions.
Clase has allowed an earned run in the last 28 2/3 innings. In that streak, he converted 13 straight save chances.
“I have met some farmer carriers who have been very good,” said Hale. “I think the state of mind of a loved one is sometimes a little different from that of the other guys in the pen. You finish games and I think he’s got that mentality and mindset like, ‘Give me my head and I’ll shut it up. And that’s good to see.
The Royals beat the Indians, 9-5.
Next: The Indians will start with southpaw Logan Allen (1-7, 7.11) on Wednesday night. The Royals will face right-hander Carlos Hernandez (6-2, 3.90). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM, WMMS and the Indians Radio Network will broadcast the game.
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