The Indians believe that their offense is capable of much more than it showed throughout the month of April. The team feels that the production from the lineup to this point in May is more representative of the group’s potential.
That said, no one would expect the kind of outpouring that arrived on Wednesday night.
“Tonight was obviously an extreme scenario,” Indians right fielder David Murphy said with a grin. “But, it’s fun to be a part of.”
In the second game of this three-game series north of the border, Cleveland churned out a season-high 22 hits en route to a 15-4 romp over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Starter Corey Kluber gave the Tribe another strong outing, but his effort was understandably overshadowed by the Indians’ overwhelming offensive attack.
Murphy and Lonnie Chisenhall paced the lineup with five hits apiece, marking the first time since July 10, 1932 that at least two batters ended with at least five hits in the same game for the Indians. That contest was an 18-17 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in 18 innings. In the defeat, Cleveland’s Johnny Burnett (9-for-11) was one of three players to achieve the feat.
The Indians have not had a pair of teammates with at least five knocks in a nine-inning game since Johnny Hodapp and Luke Sewell delivered in a 24-6 win over the Yankees on July 29, 1928.
“You’re not going to get five-hit games very often,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, offering an early entry for understatement of the year. “But, just the idea of being able to try to have a chance to score every inning is important.”
Murphy went 5-for-6 for the Indians, who scored 11 of their runs after chasing Toronto starter Dustin McGowan from the contest three batters (and no outs) into the fifth inning. Cleveland’s right fielder singled home a run in the second, doubled and scored on a hit from Chisenhall in the fourth, chipped in an RBI single in the seventh, collected a two-run double in the eighth and added a run-scoring double in the ninth.
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