Recapping Sunday’s AL Central Action
Kansas City Royals @ Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians benefited from both Josh Tomlin and their offensive in Sunday’s 10-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
The defending American League champions were not only looking to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of Kansas City, but were attempting to turn around a recent downswing that has seen them drop four of their previous five games dating back to May 22.
Josh Tomlin, however, would ensure that the Indians’ losing pace would not prevail in his one-run gem Sunday. Tomlin would only give up six hits in his first victory for Cleveland since April 30. The performance also marked Tomlin’s first complete game in over two years dating back to September 15, 2015.
“It means you did your job,” Tomlin told The Associated Press following his complete game.
“That’s a good feeling to know that. The offense put up great at-bats. They put a good lead up there. When we play games like that we’re a tough team to beat.”
Tomlin’s performance would also be praised by Kansas City manager Ned Yost.
“He’s always good against us because we’re an aggressive team.”
“He very seldom makes mistakes and he changes speeds so effectively,” Yost told The Associated Press.
Tomlin wasn’t the only one who led the way in Cleveland’s 10 run outburst. Cleveland’s offense put on a clinic, tallying 18 hits, one of which, a solo home run off the bat of Jason Kipnis in the bottom of the seventh inning.
.@jtomlin43 dominated. https://t.co/Qy3zADhFtQ https://t.co/1QJjcN73V9
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 28, 2017
“Games like this only reassure us this is the kind of product we can roll out there when everyone’s going well. This is how good we can be,” Kipnis told Steve Herrick following the game.
Ballgame!
Tomlin tosses a complete game, offense collects 18 (!!!) hits in 10-1 win. #RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/YADtvgKI14
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 28, 2017
The home run capped off a 4-for-4 performance in which Kipnis would also total two runs batted in.
Look for Cleveland to carry the momentum from Sunday’s performance into the new week as they play host to the Oakland Athletics on Monday.
Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox
Chicago’s Miguel González was nearly perfect in the White Sox’s 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. González would end up taking a perfect game into the seventh inning Sunday, before Detroit’s Andrew Romine would reach on an error and Miguel Cabrera would single to right center field.
All in all, Miguel González would finish his performance Sunday allowing three runs and six hits in seven and two-thirds innings pitched.
“(The key was) getting ahead, especially against this team that’s aggressive,” González told The Associated Press following the game
“It was fun to be out there again and get back on track,” he added.
Miguel González was brilliant today, setting down the first 18 batters he faced! https://t.co/hcmLtrPCTy
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 28, 2017
However, on the other side, Jordan Zimmermann would surrender seven White Sox runs, including three home runs off the bats of Melky Cabrera, Matt Davidson, and Todd Frazier.
“[It was] terrible,” Zimmerman told MLB.com following his start.
“I feel like my fastball’s good, my curveball’s good, my changeup’s good and my slider is absolutely terrible right now. Over my career, my slider has been my best pitch. It’s the pitch I can throw when I’m ahead in the count for strikes and right now, this whole year, it’s been backing up, it’s been middle, I’ve been spiking it and haven’t been anywhere close.”
Sunday’s victory gives the pale hose a 23-26 record for the season and drops Detroit to 23-27. The win also gives the White Sox a half-game advantage over the Tigers in American League Central standings.
The White Sox will now look to carry the win into the new week as they host the Boston Red Sox for the start of a three-game set. First pitch on Monday will take place at 1:10 local Chicago time.
The Tigers will now look to turn the page as they embark on a three-game swing of their own, visiting Kauffman Stadium and the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
[Featured Image by David Dermer/AP Images]
