No one in the Indians’ clubhouse was going to overstate what has taken place over the course of the past two nights. No matter the month, a loss is a loss. The job of the players is to push each defeat quickly behind them, move on and focus on aiming for a win at the next opportunity.
Cleveland closer Cody Allen led that familiar refrain Tuesday night.
“We’ll show up tomorrow and be ready to play,” Allen said after a gut punch of a 4-2 defeat to Detroit at Progressive Field. “We’ll move on.”
Two games into this crucial September-opening series against their American League rivals from the Motor City, the Indians have come up short. Corey Kluber, the leader of Cleveland’s rotation, could not get through three innings in a rout at the hands of the Tigers on Monday. Allen, the anchor of the Indians’ bullpen, lost his footing in the ninth inning Tuesday, spoiling another strong outing by starter Carlos Carrasco.
Playing the role of villain in the Tribe’s latest trip to the loss column was Detroit left fielder J.D. Martinez, who has antagonized Allen and the Indians throughout this season. This time around, it was a three-run home run into the bushes beyond the center-field wall, giving Allen a rare blown save and dealing the Indians a second straight defeat.
Do not be fooled by the postgame cliches. This one stung.
The late swing in momentum also had a ripple effect on the American League standings. The AL Central-leading Royals picked up another win, maintaining their half-game lead on the Tigers in the division. The third-place Indians dropped 5 1/2 games back of Kansas City in the Central and five games behind Detroit for the AL’s second Wild Card spot.
“It’s September,” Martinez said. “This is win-or-go-home time.”
The Indians were in position to pick up a much-needed win in the ninth, when Allen took the mound armed with a 2-1 lead. Due up for Detroit in the decisive frame were Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, and if anyone reached, J.D. Martinez. As strong as Allen (2.24 ERA and 18 saves in 66 games) has been, that lineup of hitters is no easy task.
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