The Indians’ bullpen came up big following a mid-game rain delay and rookie Giovanny Urshela delivered a tie-breaking RBI single to help Cleveland claim a 4-3 Interleague victory over the Cubs on Thursday at Progressive Field.
Cleveland closer Cody Allen escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning, teamed with Zach McAllister to strike out seven consecutive batters between the sixth and eighth inning, and set the tone for a strong four-plus-inning showing from the bullpen. Urshela’s run-scoring hit off Chicago lefty Travis Wood in the seventh inning made the relief corps’ work hold up for the win.
“I think there are so many different guys, different looks, different guys that can get big outs,” Allen said about the Tribe bullpen. “You can piece it together any way you can to kind of maneuver a lineup or manage the game. We’re all for it. We just want to win ballgames.”
The game was delayed by rain for 25 minutes prior to first pitch, and then the clubs had to wait through a delay lasting one hour, 16 minutes in the top of the fifth inning. Between the weather, Cleveland and Chicago traded blows to pull into a 3-3 deadlock.
The Indians struck for three runs against Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel, who allowed an RBI double to Michael Brantley in a two-run first inning and a sacrifice fly to Yan Gomes in the fourth. Hammel struck out six and walked two in his four innings, though one run was unearned due to a passed ball.
Danny Salazar worked 4 2/3 innings, yielding three runs (two earned) with four strikeouts and a walk. Dexter Fowler delivered an RBI single off the hard-throwing righty in the third inning, and Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber continued his two-day hot streak, crushing his first career homer — a two-run shot off Salazar — in the fifth.
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