Three Takeaways From Cleveland Indians Game 3 Win

The Cleveland Indians are inching closer to making history!

All that stands between the Cleveland Indians and a World Series championship is now just two wins. After dropping Game 2, Cleveland needed to come back strong. Although not much happened offensively, the Tribe maintained their great pitching.

As we wait for Game 4 to begin Saturday with a 2-1 lead favoring Cleveland, let’s look back at what led the Indians to achieving the win.

Plenty Of Opportunities For Cleveland But Not More Scoring

The Chicago Cubs have talent everywhere. Their talent puts pressure on Cleveland’s offense to score run. The Indians had multiple chances throughout the game, and especially early to do damage on the scoreboard. Yet, no such result happened.

One thing after another came up to postpone any production. From double plays to strikeouts, and everything in between, Cleveland could not get anything going. Frustration started to mount as the game progressed into the middle of the game. Had the Indians been able to make something earlier, Game 3 would likely have been decided much sooner.

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Luckily, Cleveland did take care of business late in the game. Only one run was manufactured between the two teams, but that was that was needed. Outfielder Coco Crisp once again paid dividends in a game via his single to right field. On the play, utilityman Michael Martinez scored the lone and winning run after initially coming into the game as a pinch runner.

Strike Zone Did Not Help At All

Many players, along with fans were unhappy with how the strike zone was determined. Indians first baseman/designated hitter Mike Napoli perhaps was the most agitated with tonight’s strike zone.

Strike zones could vary a bit throughout the game, but nothing to the degree that was shown tonight. The word inconsistent does not even reach the level of how bad balls and strikes were called.

If either team had two to four pitches called differently, those pitches could have been a difference. It does not take much to maintain a set standard when determining the count.

On more than one occasion, there were at-bats where consecutive pitchers were located in basically the same spot. Yet, the calls were different. That cannot happen, especially in this series when it matters most!

Tomlin Set The Tone

Once again, an Indians pitcher was lights out. Tonight’s beneficiary was Josh Tomlin. Tonight, he went 4 2/3 innings while giving up only two hits. Tomlin was on a roll and it was a bit surprising that he was removed from the game so early.

What made his performance tonight that much more special was because he got to pitch in front of his dad. Tomlin’s dad had recently gotten severely sick, resulting in paralysis below his chest.

Tonight’s game was exactly what Cleveland needed from Tomlin. Even though there were issues with the calls behind the plate, Tomlin was the true difference maker tonight. Like in Cleveland, Chicago’s first home game during the World Series was filled with excitement and optimism by their fans. That did not last long ad we can thank Tomlin for that.

Next: Time For The Cubs To Feel The Weight Of History

Looking ahead to Game 4, Cleveland is in good hands. They are looking to take a commanding 3-1 lead and to do that ace Corey Kluber will need to keep up his level of play. The key will be whether or not pitching on short rest will affect him at all. Until then and always, Go Tribe