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Cleveland Indians Playoffs: 3 Instant Takeaways As Tribe Takes 1-0 Lead Over Boston Red Sox

By Nick Dudukovich

October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (24) and catcher Roberto Perez (55) return to the dugout following the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (24) and catcher Roberto Perez (55) return to the dugout following the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez (55) reaches second in the fifth inning against Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez (55) reaches second in the fifth inning against Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Roberto Perez was this game’s MVP

Don’t kid yourself. When the Red Sox jumped out to the early lead, you were probably thinking, “Oh, here we go!” To make matters worse, the Indians tied the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. But then Trevor Bauer allowed a solo homer to rookie Andrew Benintendi. Just like that, the lead was gone.

Enter Roberto Perez.

Out of no where, the .183 hitter probably surprised himself when he yanked a solo-shot out of the park to tie the game at 2-2. It was the beginning of a home-run barrage that was joined by Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor. The three-home run inning marked the first time the Indians had hit three moonshots in an inning since 1998.

Later in the game, Perez manufactured himself a run by taking advantage of rookie Andrew Benintendi in left field. No one in the world though Perez was going to run on a sac fly to left field, and that included the rookie left fielder from Cincinnati.

But Perez was smart. Hustled to second and put himself into scoring position. Not long after he was celebrating with his teammates after scoring off a Kipnis single.

I haven’t even mentioned his defense, yet. He stopped a crucial second run from scoring in the first with an amazing tag. He also made several superb blocks throughout the night.

And of course, he showed that Perez hustle in tagging out Dustin Pedroia to end the game.

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