Rumors of the demise of the Indians’ offense were greatly exaggerated.
Only a handful of games ago, Cleveland was scratching and clawing in an effort to find home plate. Things have changed in a hurry for the suddenly potent Tribe. The Indians launched seven home runs, beat up on Phillies starter Roy Halladay and cruised to a 14-2 rout on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
Right-hander Zach McAllister turned in a quality effort for Cleveland (11-13), but it was the lineup that stole the show against the two-time Cy Young Award-winning Halladay. Cleveland’s seven homers, including a quintet of two-run shots and a pair from Ryan Raburn, marked the second-highest total in a single game in team history.
“I think we’re starting to get on that roll a little bit,” Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi said. “We’ve pushed through the tough times and we’re starting to play really well offensively. That game tonight, against Roy, that’s unbelievable to have that type of game tonight against him.”
The Indians’ team record of eight homers in one game was set against Milwaukee on April 25, 1997, and matched against Seattle on July 16, 2004. Cleveland also had a seven-homer showing against the Tigers on July 17, 1966. Tuesday’s showing represented the most home runs at home in the Tribe’s long, storied history.
The Indians pieced together a four-run burst in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings to swiftly build a gaping lead. Carlos Santana and Mark Reynolds both launched a two-run homer in the first inning off Halladay, who went on to allow eight runs in just 3 2/3 innings. That marked the most earned runs yielded in fewer than four innings for Halladay since May 5, 2000.
Whether coincidence or plain bad luck, that outing 13 years ago was also against the Indians.
A dozen of Cleveland’s 14 runs on Tuesday came with two outs.
“We did a really good job of extending innings,” Indians manager Terry Francona said, “and then doing damage after we extended the innings, especially off a guy like Halladay. He’s always one pitch away from getting that double play, because there’s so much movement, especially when he’s down in the zone.
“We stayed on him and got the barrel to a lot of balls, and didn’t get in that roll-over mode where he can get out of an inning with a quick double play.”
Reynolds’ home run gave him eight blasts and 22 RBIs for the season. That represents the most for either category by an Indians hitter in April since 2001, when Juan Gonzalez opened the campaign with eight homers and 26 RBIs.
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