May 8th Game Review: Let the Controversy Begin

Oakland Athletics vs. Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians 4               Oakland Athletics 3

WP: Masterson (5-2)
LP: Griffin (3-3)

The home run replay was brought into the game on this one, as Chris Perez once again can't seem to find the ability to have a 1-2-3 ninth for save opportunities, but the Indians were on the winning side of a controversial home run call that everyone, including the announcers thought was a home run, but let's start from the beginning and see how we got there.

Justin Masterson pitched well, having only one bad inning, surrendering four singles in the fourth inning which plated 3 runs, but that was it.  The Indians bat were quiet until the 5th, which just seems to be their inning.  Lonnie Chisenhall hit a screamer (not really) that sawed off his bat and barely made it past pitcher A.J. Griffin, thus loading the bases. Drew Stubbs grounded into a fielder's choice when Santana was forced at home.  Then, Michael Brantley hit into what would have been an inning ending double play, but his hustle down the first base line forced SS Rosales to hurry the throw, which he ended up throwing away, allowing Ryan Raburn and Lonnie Chisenhall to score, making it 3-2. 

The following inning, the Indians displayed their power, as Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana rocked Griffin for solo shots, giving the Tribe a 4-3 lead.  It stayed that way until the top of the 9th.



Nick Swisher watches as his ball flies
over the center field wall

Athletics SS Rosales blasted a ball that headed towards 19 ft wall in left.  At first it appeared to hit high off the wall, and was ruled a double.  However, after watching video replay, the ball clearly hit the railing.  Rick Manning and Matt Underwood both agreed, all the fans saw and agreed, all the Indians and Athletics saw the replay and were 99% sure that we had ourselves a tied ball game as the umpires headed inside for the video review. 

However, that 1% held us in the game, as the call stood, and Athletics manager Bob Melvin was ejected from the game for arguing after a video replay, which states in the rules you cannot do.  If I was him, though, I would have done the exact same thing.  As the play stood, Perez then hit the next batter, walked John Jason, but finally managed to get a come backer to the mound to end a crazy 9th inning in Cleveland for his 5th save of the year.  The Indians have won 9 of their last 10, and go for the four game sweep tonight, but expect Oakland to come out with some fire as I'm sure they're livid from last night's ball game.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin is tossed
from the game after arguing the video
replay call.

Scott Kazmir takes the mound versus former Indian Bartolo Colon today at 12:00 PM for a day game.