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Indians offense sluggish in loss to Marlins
CLEVELAND -- The Indians’ bats remained cold Sunday afternoon as they
fell, 5-3, to the Marlins in the final game of a three-game Interleague
series at Progressive Field. Cleveland scored a combined seven runs in
the series, and dropped two out of three to Miami.
It was another quality outing for Cleveland starter Derek Lowe, but he
took his second loss of the season. Lowe allowed two runs over six
innings, and he gave up just one hit in his final three innings of work.
After throwing 2 2/3 innings of hitless baseball on Saturday, the
Cleveland bullpen struggled in relief of Lowe. Nick Hagadone and Jeremy
Accardo combined to give up three runs in the eighth as the Marlins
broke the game open.
The Indians couldn’t seem to solve Marlins starter Josh Johnson. They
managed only five hits in seven innings against the tall righty,
including just one extra-base hit.
Cleveland scored its first run in the fifth on an RBI single from Jose
Lopez. Michael Brantley ended an 0-for-13 streak with a single to lead
off the inning, and Johnny Damon moved him to third with a groundout to
the right side. That set up the RBI opportunity for Lopez, who
delivered with a base hit to right. Lopez has reached base in nine of
his last 19 plate appearances.
The Indians had an opportunity to do more damage in the inning with
runners on first and second and Shin-Soo Choo at the plate and only one
out. But Choo bounced into a fielder’s choice, and Lou Marson was
called for interference at second base when he got in the way of
Miami’s Jose Reyes. It appeared unlikely Reyes would have completed the
double play, and Indians manager Manny Acta stormed out of the dugout
to argue the call.
Pinch-hitter Casey Kotchman had a chance to give the Indians a 3-2 lead
in the seventh with runners on second and third, but he grounded out to
third after working a full count.
Cleveland’s two, three, four and five-hitters went a combined 1-for-15
with four strikeouts in the game.
The Indians threatened with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but
Choo flew out with a runner on third to end the game.
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