Austin Romine hit a hard chopper back up the middle, where the ball struck Indians starter Justin Masterson in the side before dropping to the grass. Masterson hustled off the mound and retrieved the baseball, but the Yankees’ catcher raced up the first-base line to reach safely.
It was that kind of night for the Indians. Bruised, and beaten.
Cleveland rolled into the Bronx on Monday and was dealt a 7-4 loss at Yankee Stadium that felt more lopsided than the final score indicated. Masterson surrendered seven runs in a subpar showing, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was lost to a right leg injury, and the Indians lost for the 10th time in the past 14 games.
“It’s a no-excuse type attitude, man,” Indians first baseman Nick Swisher said. “We’re not going to point fingers. We’ve got to pick each other up.”
This was not the start Cleveland hoped for when it embarked on this nine-game, three-city venture through New York, Detroit and Texas.
The Indians (30-27) believe that can contend for a place in the postseason, and this trek will go a long way in testing the team’s mettle. The Yankees, Tigers and Rangers currently represent three of the American League’s top teams and a kind of gauntlet for the Indians, who are now without a planned starting pitcher, an All-Star closer and their two-time All-Star shortstop.
One loss on the field is unlikely to cost Cleveland its season.
The Tribe is also more confident this year that a loss on the roster will not initiate a tailspin.
“That’s what makes this team so good,” Masterson said. “We’ve been in a stretch right now where we haven’t played as well as we’d like to, but … I think what makes this team good, and what will in the end win it out for us, is the fact that we do have good depth.”
Masterson exited after allowing nine hits, including a seventh-inning homer to former Indians slugger Travis Hafner, in 6 1/3 innings for the Cleveland.
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