 MLB the show's coverage of Major League Baseball is on the air. Today we've got a good match up in store between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees. The Yankee Baseball starts now. Jordan Montgomery will be the starter in this one for the Yankees. What's your take on him, Ben? Really like this guy. He reminds me a lot of Andy Pettit, left-hander from the University of South Carolina. Not an overpowering fastball, kind of like Andy Pettit. Low to mid-90s fastball, good curveball. His secondary pitches, he needs to improve on a little bit, but this guy has a bright future. Quality arm from the left side. Digging in, Cesar Hernandez. And we are ready for some daytime baseball. He's ready, here's the first offering. Hard hit ball to second, gloved by LeMayhew. And he will whip this one over to first in time for the out. Static second, the Ketterfield number 35, Oskar Mercado. Stepping up now, Oskar Mercado, first shot for him here. Two hits in five trips a night ago. And now a pitch on the way. A ball and no strikes. Well, this Yankee ball club entering play this afternoon here. It dropped another one last time out, and in fact, they've won just twice in their last eight tries. Yeah, Matty, in this sport at this level, you have to find a way to be a little bit realistic. You're not going to win every ball game, so they lost last game, fine. Drives it the other way to deep right. Going back is the right fielder. Gone! A solo shot here to straight away right field. Third home run for him on the year as the tribe move out in front one to nothing. What a way to get things started while playing on the road. On the top of the first and a big fly just like that, they take the lead. And Jose Ramirez, the third baseman, Jose. A fastball here as he'll take a look at ball one, one and oh. And you see that average below the dreaded Mendoza line. One out count, here it is. Nope. Looks like they bombed earlier in the inning, kind of put this pitcher on the defensive. That being very aggressive right now. So let's take a look at our umpire and crew in this one working the plate, Rusty Valentine. Dan Rusty Valentine behind the dish tonight. He is north-south without question, letters to knees. Well, I tell you what, he really favors a power pitcher. If you can consistently pitch at about the chest level and above, he'll call that high strike zone. I think he's a very friendly pitcher's umpire. Lying toward the gap in left center. And he'll lay out to make a spectacular catch. Wow, boy that would look like a since extra base hit off the bat. But a terrific diving catch in left center field. So bases are empty here with two gone. And here's Franmille Reyes stepping in. Ready to deliver, here's the first pitch. One ball and one strike to their designated hitter this afternoon. A one-one is swung on and missed in that strike two. It's not easy to get your barrel to a pitch that high. That can be an effective location as long as he keeps it above the letters. Down the first baseline. But this is a foul ball as the count holds steady at one and two. Two out, nobody on. To two balls and two strikes now. He might have to look for a different way to put this guy away on two-two. He's already seen the curve ball a couple of times, so he might be looking for it. Full count, three and two to the Indians DH. Pretty easy pitch to lay off there two and two. Not even close to being in the strike zone. He made it easy for the hitter in that one. Three-two pitch and he misses ball four. I know one thing, he earned that free pass right there. He was tempted with some really good pitches, but he stayed disciplined and drew the walk. Ready now, Carlos Santana. And he's a guy really in need of something to click at the plate right now. It's been a rough go for him. First pitch coming, here it is. Swing and a miss and he's in control 0-2. The count doesn't mean much to this batter. He's all in. He's not concerned with striking out, so he's going to get his A swing off. Working for the punch out and the offering. Ground ball sent back up the middle and that finds its way through for a base hit. On to the shortstop, but thrown away. You know D-roll, the old school thinking sometimes isn't when you're going through a bad streak like this guy. Any way you can get on a little jam shot, even though it wasn't pretty, maybe this could get this guy finally going. Yeah, I can't tell you how good that had to feel right there. There's moments where you slap that donut off your bat. You don't even want to walk to home plate. You're scuffling so bad. Standing in now, Domingo Santana. This he'll take a look at a pitch too low, it's ball one. This is exactly the situation you drew up from an offensive standpoint. Good pitcher on the mound, but you got a chance to bury him early in this one. Ready with the 1-0 and that's too high ball two. Ready with the 2-0. There, three and one. Three and one with two on, and this is where you gotta be geared up for something to drive. I don't think you can just groove in one right here. You still have to try to make a competitive pitch. Three and one, here it is. Fastball in there, three and two. Here's the payoff pitch. Count still full, three and two. Heading out towards shallow right. Tuckman is there and he'll put it away to retire the side. Aaron Savali will be on the bump for game two of the series. Dan, please, Zach, what do you got? Hey, just like batters go into slump, pitchers go into slumps too. This guy really struggled in his last one. He took the loss and wasn't able to get out of the third inning. Hopefully he can flip that mojo around in this one. So here's the veteran Brett Gardner. He'll lead things off here in the bottom half of the first. He's got four like Yankees. The center fielder, Brett Gardner. Now the pitch, ball one. So fellas, this Indians ball club, as they begin play here this afternoon, four and two over their last six games, including a win last time out. Yeah, Maddie, they started yesterday off on the right foot. If they could put together two games in a row, a lot of positive vibes start happening. You never know. It could be a jumpstart to big things. One and one to count. Now here's the pitch. Slap hard the opposite way. And Gardner's going to reach. It's a base hit. So here in the first inning, the leadoff man's aboard to kick things off. Hard bullet single to left field on a pitch that was kind of a middle down in the zone D row. He's going to have to make some better pitches than that one. Yeah, if he's going to leave pitches over the harder play, he's going to have a long night. The middle of this order does serious damage. That'll bring in Giovanni Urchella as the sinker to him finds the zone for strike one. You see the great batting average coming in. Three homers, 10 RBI's. Oh, and one delivery. I got one ball, one strike. A board here at first with nobody out. The late with the swing, but he stays alive, still two and two. Come set, now the pitch. Going good cutting action to that pitch as that's the first out of the inning. Baddie third. The catch. Striding into the box. Gary Sanchez swings for him in this one with a runner still at first and one gone. Now with throw over, and he'll get back in safely. Other throw over, and a dive, but he's back in. First pitch on its way. Runners on first with one down. Drilled right back up the middle. Hernandez at second. Flo to Santana, the double play, and that's how the side is retired. So no runs on one base hit, no errors, and no one left on. We'll go on to the top of any number two. The Indians lead it one to nothing. Plate, Jordan Luplo. It's been a really slow start to the season for him, as you can see by the April numbers on your screen. First pitch coming, here it is. Strike taken, good bender on the outside there. Fouled away. 0 and 2, here it comes. Way outside, one and two. Grounded back up the middle. Throw to first will be in time, and there's one gone here to start the second. Starting it. The quick though, Ernie Clement. So striding in, Ernie Clement is back in the starting lineup for this one after sitting out last night's game. Ready with the first pitch, here it comes. No balls and a strike to count. Into the wind up, here comes the 0 and 1. That misses wide, one ball and one strike. And he lays off for a ball, two and one. Well, we all know he's not the greatest threat with a bad up there. His numbers certainly aren't that pretty. But hey, I give him credit. He's really working to count right here. He breaks out the hook there, good for strike two. Now a swing and a miss, he struck him out. And it's two up, two down to start the second. On the mound, he's thinking, grab some pine rook. Listen, for almost everyone, the adjustment, the hitting, big pitching is a big one. Some guys have success when they first get called up. But as soon as teams start figuring out how to get you out, that's when the learning process really starts. Stepping in now, Sandy Leone has the first pitch to him. It's a change up that can't find the zone. It's ball one. He'll work on keeping this top of the second alive. The 1-0 home is fastball taken high for a ball. Two outs here, and the focus needs to stay sharp. You don't want that lineup turning over and an inning if you can help it. Three and 0 now. Cesar Hernandez would be next. Now the 3-0 offering is taken strike one. Just the second inning, but already 37 pitches to this point. Gets him to swing and miss there, 3-2 off pitch home. And he misses here for ball four. Already two walks surrendered in his first couple of innings of work. Well, this guy's been told to giving up walks at bunches, and that's already two walks here in the early going. We'll see if this continues to be an issue for him as this start continues. Digging in the switch hitter, Cesar Hernandez. He got on top of one and was a ground out victim last time. He comes set. Here's the nothing and nothing pitch. I get it. They want to run this guy's pitch count up, but that was a pretty good pitch to hit. He might be kicking something. He didn't swing at that one. And a breaking ball down and in here as he's got to hop out of the way there, a 1-1 home. Softly hit here to the left side. And as it turns out, the two out walk doesn't come around to haunt him as that ends the inning. One left for the tribe. And after an inning and a half, it's one to nothing. Giancarlo Stanton now. Leading off for the Yankees. The designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton. In field in the overshift here, now the pitch to third. Ramirez is up with it. And that's out number one. Batting fifth, the left fielder, Tyler Wade. Now at the plate, Tyler Wade. Here comes the first pitch. Bases are empty, one man out. And it's one and one. One and two now as that one's fouled off. Pitch on the way. Ball at the side. Good bite to that sinker as he gets him to swing through it for route number two. Boy, that's really disappointing for a guy that has wheels, right? All he wants to do is get on base and take advantage of the strength of his game, which is his speed. But with a strikeout right there, you can't get on first base if you strike out. And that'll bring up Glibert Torres. He'll go after the first pitch and bounce it into foul territory. Swung on and lifted in the year to left center. Mercado will get there. And he puts it away to retire the side. One, two, three go the bombers. They're down 1-0. Welcome back to the Bronx, where these fans have witnessed a lot of good pitching from their Yankees this season. At the start of the day, they have the highest strikeout total in the entire league and one of the best team ERAs. So it's no surprise some of the pitchers I talked to were proud of what they've accomplished and confident in what they're capable of. Despite the success, they explained how they really try to push each other to get better every day. As one of them put it, we have amazing stuff on this pitching staff. Just look at all the strikeouts. But we take pride in continuing to get better as a unit every single day. It sounds like they're always trying to stay one step ahead of the hitters, guys. OK, thank you, Heidi. And the first pitch of the inning here misses down and in for a ball. It's 1-0. Little late that time as he swings and misses for strike one. Failed off, ready to deliver the 1 and 2. That a time to fool around right now on a 3-2 count with the middle part of the order coming up. Expect a good pitch to swing at. They off pitch home. And he lays off their ball four. So the leadoff man is on here to begin inning number three. That is not the way he wanted to start off this happening. It's one thing to walk the leadoff hitter, but it's even more painful when the leadoff hitter is an absolute burner and he can really wreak some havoc on the bases. At the plate, Jose Ramirez, over one here in the early going. Kicks and deals. That's a great call right there. Fast ball away with a guy who's got some jets on first base, almost like a hybrid pitch out. Great for a catcher if that guy is running. Easy transfer, throw to second base. There's a fast ball on the inner third taken for a strike. Nice adjustment out on the mound. Over through the first one a little bit, but got on top and let that ball rip right out in front of him. 1-1 in the dirt here. Runner holds as the count moves to 2 and 1. Now towards shallow right. Right fielder coming on. Oh, and he has some trouble with it. He'll get it into second. And he is in there. They couldn't get him at second. Man, I want to give him the benefit of doubt and just say he lost sight of it. But then I watch and say, no, that's just a blundered play. Can't really sugarcoat it. Following the error, it's now runners at first and second. And next, the dangerous power threat, friend Malraeus. First pitch of the at bat on its way, hitting the air out to left field. He's out for it, but he can't pull it in. Now this will rattle up against the wall. And the run's going to come into score from second as they grab a 2 to nothing lead now. You've got them on the effort there for the left fielder. It just didn't work out as the ball squirts mine, resulting in a double. That's the danger of leaving your feet in the outfield. Here's Carlos Santana now. And that misses ball one, a base hit in his first trip. Hit the other way out toward right field. Right fielder giving chase. He gets there and makes the play for the first out. The left fielder number 24, Domingo Santana. Digging in to try it again. Domingo Santana, so far 0 for 1 with a fly out. Yeah, and I'm sure he'd like a base hit of some sort right here, Maddie. But hey, you know what? Another fly out wouldn't be all that bad. If he can get it deep enough, he should be able to drive in a nice run with Sackfly. The 1-0, a swing and a miss. That's the first strike. I know that fastball registered at about 92.93, but I guarantee you it looked about four to five miles an hour faster than that. For this offensive player, after coming off a curve ball, the old push to throttle and pull it is being used. Ready with two balls and a strike. Never tempted to swing at that ball down low, it's ball three. Well, to me, it just looks like he's really aiming the ball a little bit right now. And it's funny, when you do that, you usually don't have as good a control as you do when you just let it go free and easy. Full count, three and two. Here comes the payoff pitch. Struck him out. And now they'll likely need a base hit to get that runner home from third. Well, there's nothing better from a pitcher standpoint than out to that high fastball, a high piece of cheese, swung at a miss. That pitch looks so inviting to hit, but it's awfully tough to put in play. To the plate now, Jordan Luplow, fastball. And ooh, that ran in and drilled him. Yeah, that's a little suspicious if you ask me, guys. Whenever you hit a guy with runners on second and third and first base open, the players in the opposing dugout take notice and probably aren't too thrilled about it. Settling in now, Ernie Clement looking to put the ball in play here. He went down on strikes in his first at bat. Yeah, but it was a good change up, Mattie. Good arm action on that pitch. Look for him to try and stay back a little bit more. Let the ball get a little deeper. Don't be shocked if this pitcher tries to rush a heater right here. First pitch of the at bat on its way. Strike one to start the at bat. Oh, two now. Got to think he was sitting fastball right there to let that hanger go by. He won't see that pitch again the rest of the season. Got him. So the damage winds up not being as bad as it could have been as they'll strand the bases loaded. This side is retired. A run for the Indians on the RBI double. Bottom of the third coming up. It's now two nothing Indians. Look, Voight. And they'll need him to get something going here. Hey, we're still in the early stages. And this one, they're only down by a couple of runs. But it's really key for this lead off guy to try to get on and get a big inning started. Ready with the first pitch. Here it comes. Here's a strike with the breaking ball. Yeah, he made up his mind early to take the first pitch because that thing was right down the middle. Hit on the ground down the first baseline. But that'll get foul. It's 0 and 2 now. Week rounder back to the mound. Throws in time, and that's out number one. Batting it. The right fielder. Come on. So coming to the plate, Mike Tuckman. You'll get to take his first cuts here. Here it comes. First pitch sinker misses in on the hands that time. It's a ball and no strikes. And it's fouled away. One out, nobody on. 1-1 pitch is a sinker taken for a strike 1 and 2. One ball, two strikes. Now here's the pitch. This one's down to third. Ramirez is there. Throw gets him 2-0. Batting knife, the second baseline. DJ LeMayhew. Coming to the plate now, DJ LeMayhew. And he's a guy looking to break out in a big way. Hasn't been getting the results he or his club have been hoping for. He's ready. Here's the first offering. A swing and a drive sent out toward the gap. And that ball gets down out near the wall and should be extra bases. And he'll coast into second here with a two-out double. Everyone knows that this guy's numbers are not where he wants them to be so far this year. But you never know by that swing. He looked fluid and confident driving that pitch for a double. We'll see if that gets him going a bit. Here's Brett Gartner now. And he gets a piece of it here, but it's chopped foul. He lays off the sinker here, a ball and a strike. Two out here and a runner at second. Two balls and a strike down to the Yankees' leadoff man. Cold strike on the sinker, two and two now. Open to send him packing, pitch on its way. A full count, three balls and two strikes. Giorg Cella would be next. Runner in scoring position at second with two down. Curve ball, but a good job to lay off and he works out the free pass. Finally, up to this point, the entire lineup had been swinging at anything though. This guy decides to show a little more patience at the dish and is rewarded with a base on balls. That was a good at bat. So digging in now, Giorg Cella two on, two out for him here in the third. Here's the first pitch to him. Sent on the ground out to second, reigned in. And the two out threat will not come to pass as the inning is over. The Yankees strand of pair. They trail it here, two to nothing. Start of the fourth upcoming, but first, Heidi Watney is standing by with a report. Matt, I talked with manager Terry Franklona during the break about his thoughts on the Indians hitters to this point. And flat out, he was very pleased with the quality of their at bats. They've already worked out three walks, so he feels as though that kind of willingness to let the opposition work themselves into trouble will continue to result in good things for them on the scoreboard. All right, Heidi, thank you. Digging in now, Sandy Leone. He'll try to get it going here to begin the fourth. One of the keys to securing a win. They want to keep the pressure on and try to build that lead as much as they can, moving into the later innings. Ready to deliver, here's the first pitch. Ball in. And some action out in the Yankee bullpen now as a right-hander starts to loosen up. And a ball in a strike now to Sandy Leone. Turned on that one and crushed it, just pulled it a little foul. The 1-2 is a breaking ball that's taken for a ball. Tried to work in the backdoor breaking ball there for a strikeout, but he just couldn't quite get it to come back to the corner. That's a really tough pitch to hit if you can spot it. Heading out towards shallow right into a slide, and he makes a great catch for the first down. The batter number seven. Second base. That's a slick play out there as we take a look at it on show motion. He was charging in quickly, and he slides to get under the ball just before it reaches the ground and gets the out. Well done. Back to the top of the lineup, stepping in. Cesar Hernandez, 0 for 2 for him to this point. Ready with the first pitch, here it comes. Fastball just misses, that's ball one. And a strike to even the count, one and one. Now a curve ball that's low and in the dirt for a ball, it's two and one. Set up away with the fastball, but it misses three and one. Hitters count all the way, here it comes. Strike two called, and it's full three and two. Count remains full. The three, two, one more time. Lying toward the gap in left center, and that finds some outfield grass, it's a base hit. That was actually a well-executed fastball, and to in off the plate, credit the offensive player. He smelled that comment turned and burned. Plate, Oscar Mercado, so weighed out a breaking pitch here that finds the zone for strike one. He launched one over the wall, back in the opening frame. Just a bit late, and he's falling behind, 0 and 2. He's got that certainly timed up now. I'd be shocked if the pitcher goes to the well three times in a row at off speed. And he wastes a fastball high there, one and two. Pretty standard fastball right there, 0 and 2. Now he's changed the eye level of the batter so he can start working something in like an off-speed curveball down in the zone. Hit back up the middle. Step on the back for one. Fro will be well late as he reaches it first. After feeling this one clean, you see he tries to take it himself at second base, but they just can't turn the double play. Stepping in and ready for another shot, Jose Ramirez, an error, allowed him to reach base in his last appearance. First pitch on his way. 1-0. The 1-0 delivery, 2-0 now. He's gone back to back with off-speed stuff to start this AB, and neither has found the zone. He's trying to pitch him backwards, but that only works if you can get them for strikes. Now he'll probably have to challenge. Outside, 3-0 now. Well, he was definitely looking fastball here, and he got one, but that was good discipline to lay off and get himself into a 3-0 count. And this pitch misses for ball four, so that's going to move a runner into scoring position now with two away. Oh, man, I think this walk is going to grind him for a bit. He just missed, and now the inning continues with the man in scoring position. Here comes the Yankee skipper on his way to the mound, and he's going to motion for the bullpen, and that'll be all for his starter this afternoon. So he will curiously make his way to the dugout after what has to be considered a very brief appearance. Louis Sessa answers the call from the men here in the fourth as they didn't get the outing they were hoping for from the starter. Louis Sessa. Friend Moreas will be his first assignment here as he'll face him with runners at first and second and two away. He's set. Here it comes. And he takes ball one. Hey, this dude's clearly capable of clearing the bases with one swing, so I think to approach this guy and try to keep the ball off the plate, see if they can get him to chase something. And this one's in the dirt. Good job to corral this quickly as the runners hold on. Looking to wiggle out of this, here it is. Below the zone, a swing and a miss. Boy, what a time to pull the string on him. On 2-0, there's no way anyone's thinking change up, so if you can locate it, that's pretty much unhittable. Drill down the line, but this will be a foul ball as that evens things at 2 and 2. And that's taken high for a ball that's full now, 3 and 2. That was kind of a gift to the hitter. He's up there probably thinking of protecting on 2 and 2, but when you launch a ball that high out of the strike zone, it's obviously easy to take that one. Now Reyes with a drive, well hit out to deep left field. Into the second deck, and gone. He runs shot down the line and left. Seven home runs for him on the year now, as the Indians have now opened up a 5-0 lead. Yeah, and that's what you call a dream scenario or an absolute nightmare. Depending on your viewpoint, a power pitcher on the bump and a power hitter at the plate, A plus B equals C later. It's simple math, folks. So now Carlos Santana, as he'll look at a fastball too high for ball one. Now the 1-0, popped him up. Bershella is there for it. And that's the third out. Indians hang a crooked number thanks to this three-run home run. Bottom of the fourth coming up. It's the Indians five, and the Yankees nothing. Leading off the inning, Gary Sanchez. And they'll need him to get something going here. Lots of baseball left in this one, as we're still early on. But you don't want to fall too far behind. They're already down by a bundle. And one of the things you want your leadoff guy to get on and set the table for the big boys to start driving in some runs. Sanker, one ball, one strike. There's a swing and a high drive into left center field. Mercado is going to get back. And they'll put this one away on the warning track for the first out. The batter, the designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton. And digging into the batter's box, next will be Giancarlo Stanton. He's all for one thus far. First pitch coming, here it is. Squared that one up just a little late. No runs, two hits, and one error on the Yankee line score so far. Another one fouled off, and he's quickly behind 0-1-2. Nothing in two count, and the pitch. This is skied into the air to straight away center. Mercado is back, and he'll get there to make the play for route number two. Now batter, no left fielder, Tyler Wave. And that'll bring up Tyler Wave that comes into this that bad 0-for-1 in the ball game. Here comes the first pitch. No runs, two hits, and one error on the Yankee line score so far, and he's really getting the better of him now. It's strike two, and he misses there, 1-2. I love a well-executed changeup, especially one down in his zone. The only problem thrown in that situation, you leave that belt high or miss your spot just a hair, and you could have some problems. Santana's got it. A flip to the pitcher covering as that will retire the side. So no runs, no hits, no errors, and no one left. On to the top of any number five we go. It's the Indians five, and the Yankees nothing. Ready for another chance? Domingo Santana passed meetings against Luis Sessa. He's two for three. Domingo Santana. Ready with the first pitch. Here it comes. Now, oh my, this ball is crushed. Look at it go, and it's gone as they add still another. It's a solo shot here for Domingo Santana. Fourth home run for him on the season as they pile on, it's now six to nothing. Boy, when this guy gets in a groove, he can hit him. And when he hits him, he hits him in bunches. Hit a home run in last night's game. And if they continue to pitch him on the outer part of the plate, look out, this guy's going to do some major damage. Into the box. Jordan Luplo, and he's a bit tardy there on the first pitch. Fastball, it's nothing in one. Last time up, he was hit by a pitch. Here, not close, and it's one in one now. And there's a base hit on a line. Boy, this has been a tough one for him so far, D-Roll. Seventh hit of the game already. They're really making him work. Yeah, 100% Dan, as Dustin Badroia says. It's a laser show out there. Ernie Clement, as the first pitch to him, is off the plate for a ball. Oh, for two from him so far in this one. Oh, it's hit to third. Five, four, three, and they turn the double play. Now, that is catcher, Sandy Leone. So, base is a-empty here with two gone. And up next, it'll be the catcher, Sandy Leone. In field shifted well to the right. Here's the first pitch. And a fastball's in there for strike one. Line drive, and that's a base hit in a center field. Legs churning, he's headed for second. Hey, guys, I like the execution by the batter there. He got a hanger in the middle of the plate. He could have come unglued, but he didn't. He stayed focused and drove a line drive base hit. Standing in now, Cesar Hernandez. And he'll watch one miss up and away for a ball, one and own. Two out here and a runner at second. And he watches a called strike as this one bears in on him, one and one. A ball and two strikes now. He's looking pretty passive here, hitting with a chance to drive and a run. Gonna have to make something happen with two strikes now. Looking for the strikeout, here's the one two. We're gonna have to kill two and two. Off speed pitch, swung on and missed, and with that, the side is retired. But the Indians add to their lead thanks to this solo home run. On to the bottom of the fifth, it's the Indian six and the Yankees nothing. Welcome back to the Bronx as we check in with Heidi. Thanks, Matt. I talked with the Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, during the break about the team's offensive performance so far. And one thing he mentioned to me was the lack of discipline he's seeing out of their at bats right now. He said their pitch selection has been the main reason for their struggles today. As far too often, they've been swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. That's leading to a lot of soft contact and easy outs. So the focus going forward is on shrinking the zone and forcing the opposing pitching to throw more strikes. Leading off. Good stuff, Heidi. Thanks. The shortstop. Waiver. Soaring. First offering on its way and he fouls this one off into the wind up. Here comes the O2 pitch. Lays off that time and it's one and two. Ball two. Swing and there it goes. He got all of this one. A solo shot here to left center field. Fourth home run for him on the season and they're on the board. It's six to one. They've dug themselves quite a hole but they say the first thing you need to do when that happens is to stop digging. Well, with that solo shot, they've stopped digging but they've got a long way to go before they climb out of this hole completely. That loop point, the first baseman. It's here to take a look at a high strike here on the outside corner, it's 0-1. He's 0-1 after grounding out in his only trip to the plate so far. To make contact, down 0-2 now. Try and tempt him with one in the dirt but he'll hold back here. It's one and two. He's bounced on the ground and right after shifted in fielders. On to first so a good bounce back pitch there as he gets the ground ball for the first out. Now that right fielder, Mike Stockman. Digging in now for the Yankees. Mike Stockman 0-1 for him here in this one. First delivery to him on the way. And a ball 1-0. That one's down around the knees taken for a strike. He's got a piece of it as it's fouled back. Ready on one and two. Hard sinker misses two and two. Good bite to that sinker as he gets him to swing through it for route number two. This inning didn't get started the way he hoped with that home run but I've got to give him credit for flushing it and coming back here to get strikeouts on the last two guys. He's acting like it didn't even happen before. Here's the second baseman, DJ LeMayhew. A ball and no strikes. One for one as he reached base with a double his first time up. The 1-0. Scorched to third. Throw on to first gets him and the side is retired. Yankees do get one on the solo homer. We're through five here this afternoon. It's the Indian six and the Yankees one. Blake Oskar Mercado. He sets a lead us off in the sixth inning. Oskar Mercado. Pitch on the way. The 1-0 home. Misses ball two. It's a lot easier to hit when you're putting yourself in good hitters counts. This guy's done a great job not swinging at pitchers pitches and when he's getting the ball on his own he's getting the barrel to him. He's been hot lately. Liner toward right center. That gets down. He's got himself a base hit and this is going to find the wall out near the Yankee bullpen and he'll pull in the second here with nobody out. Now that's the third base. Now Jose Ramirez inside with the slider and that'll back him up a bit. Easy take there is the off speed pitch misses well inside. No one out with a runner at second. Hit in the air out to center field. Gardner is there. He gets there to put it away but the runner tags and breaks per third and he'll make it up to third and he's safely here with one away. Now that designated hitter from the rail. From the stretch a man at third with one away. A swinging strike and now it's 0 and 2. This is where as a batter you got to find a way to put something in the outfield. Get something elevated. I know you got a battle with two strikes and protect but if anything is belter above you got to swing. He'll go right back to him on the mound. He'll send it on over to first and a big out there as that keeps the runner anchored at third with two away now. Now batter the first base. Carlos Santana. Now in the box. Carlos Santana runner in scoring position with two gone. First pitch of the at bat. In there 0 and 1. Be thankful the batter was sitting on something else. That pitch might have went a long way. Those cement mixers you get the barrel to them. They can be torched. Behind 0 and 2 now. Nothing in two count and the pitch. In the dirt and block behind the plate. Good job there as the count goes to 1 and 2. Kicks and deals. Hit down the third baseline. But this is a foul ball as the count holds steady at 1 and 2. Two outs here with the runner at third. A swing and a miss as he chased with two strikes and that will retire the side. The Indians leave 1. They hold on to their 6 to 1 lead. So the batting order turns over now and set to go. And through five turns at bat they've only mustered a total of three hits. Not terrible but they're certainly not firing on all cylinders. Well let's getting a little bit too late in this game but this continues like this. In today's game with so many dominant bullpen arms you certainly don't want to wait until the 8th or 9th to try to wake the bats up. The wind up and the 0-1. One ball, one strike. Fly ball right down the line and left. And that gets down and we'll see if that's extra bases. He's going to get to second now with nobody out. When it left his bat I thought it might score a foul but it hugged the line and found its way into the corner. Thought it might be a little bit closer play at second but he cruised in there with relative ease. Oh now to the plate. Geo or Shella as the first pitch to him is in there for a cold strike one. This one's outside. Quite a bit off the plate that time. Sharp ground ball to third. Throw on to first and one third baseman grounds out to the other one away. Now batter. The catcher. Gary Sanchez. Stepping in. Gary Sanchez. He flew out in his last at bat. Almost Maddie almost went deep his last A-B certainly just missed it with this guy's big power. He's feeling pretty good at the dish. Look for him to try and get on something and drive it out of the yard this A-B. One ball no strikes the count. The 1 0. Is offered added missed for the first strike. In my opinion one of the toughest pitches in the game to square up just a heavy sinker with good downward action. No offer on that one two balls in a strike. Well he's having a good amount of success here and even though he hasn't really gotten a ton of swings and misses. Yeah but for him Matt he's more pitched a contact kind of guy and obviously it's working so far and the way he pitches it really keeps his pitch count down. Call didn't go his way on two and one but it's important here on three and one to still make a quality pitch. You have to have the mindset that you're still the one in the driver's seat. Hitters count all the way here it comes. Count full three balls and two strikes. Runner at second here with one man out. Hit sharply on the ground with a sneak past his outstretched arm a base hit. And they won't risk it at third so they're at the corners now with only one away. No matter. Hey there's a base hit right there. Now they have a couple of runners on with Rustin's two outs. They're down by so much of this game that hopefully maybe they can get something started here in this inning. Yeah 100 percent Dan. I've played the game a long time. I've never seen a big league hitter in that bad away. You chip away and fight until that 27th out is made. Two balls and no strikes the count is Stanton. Hey time to start making some quality pitches. He finds himself in a tough spot behind an account with guys on base. Now the two oh two tight with that one. Three and oh. Well the Yankees have been searching for that big hit pretty much all game. It remains to see if they can get it but now it sure would be a good time. Here's the three and oh pitch found off. Runners are at the corners with one man out and he misses with it. Ball four. So that'll load the bases and now he's really going to need to get a ground ball. I think he was trying to be a little too fine there and a walk is the result. Well the good news is he has a force at every base. The bad news a single probably drives in a couple of runs at the plate. Tyler Wayne. He was retired via the ground ball last time up. Yeah. They expect this pitcher to try and get the same result. That's his last at bat right here. The double play is in order. Anything on the ground the way this defense is they could certainly roll to one ball no strikes to count foul down the left side. One one. It often becomes harder to hit the zone when the pressure starts to heat up. Now the two one pitch takes a pitch for strike number two. Now the two two is in there a called strike three. Pretty clear he didn't like the call there on the outside part of the plate but probably too good to take and he's down on strikes for the second time. That was right on the black beautiful pitch and even if we had robot arms he'd still be out but the only difference would be he wouldn't be able to complain about it into the box. Torres as he'll take a cold strike here on a borderline pitch at strike one a hidden two at bats for him at this point in the ballgame. It's fouled away ready 24 pitches to this point in the inning. Yankee shortstop behind in the count one and two and he strikes him out. So a missed opportunity at the plate as he strands three runners in the side is retired back to back strikeouts keep him out of danger onto the back third here this afternoon and we've got it for you on the show. He's on the pitch from the bullpen now to start ending number seven number fifty three that Britain all set for the start of the inning now at the plate Domingo Santana. He's working on a one for three thus far. Domingo that last at that Danny he turned that fastball run. He didn't hit it a tiny didn't hit it a country mile. But hey listen a home run is a home run. He's set in the pitch started to go around but it's ruled strike one anyway. Action in the bullpen now as a right hander begins to throw out there. Now the 0 1 strike swinging timing a little off on that one you've got to be paying attention as an offense in a hitters meeting in this situation. When you've got a guy on the mound that you know the bottom can drop out of any pitch he throws you have to elevate your sights. Nothing in two count and the pitch on they really bunch him up on that one as he swings and misses for the first out. That was a nasty looking slider that time. Yeah that was really well executed Matt a classic strikeout pitch. You think it's fastball middle in then it starts bearing in on your back leg and unless you hit it out front there's nothing much you can do with that. At the plate now Jordan loop low as he'll take strike one on the inside corner a hidden two tries for him so far. Oh one pitch on its way tried to get him to go after the slider but it's one and one. That's a great take right there. Great pitch recognition to let that one go opposite handed that's coming across the plate you might think you got a shot to stay inside that one. A one one home. Here's a bouncing ball headed to LeMayhew at second throw in time at first for number two the batter the shortstop Ernie Clement stepping into the box Ernie Clement all for three with a couple of strikeouts for him to this point in the ballgame from the stretch here's the pitch on its way the 0 1 pitch pretty well struck high and deep to left field going back is the left fielder on this deflects right off him and he'll make it the second base now with two gone. That's what happens when a slider doesn't do what you want to do. That was just one of those cement mixers kind of just spinning but doing nothing. Nice job of punishing that pitch and picking up two bags on one swing. Standing in now Sandy Leon as he'll go after the first pitch and bounce it into foul territory the 0 1 pitch skied in the air to straight away left Wade is under it and he makes the catch for out number three danger reverted following the two out double more from the show Saturday baseball following this message and work from our local stations. It's the call from the men to take over on the mound and start the home seven bill. Half of the seventh year into the box. He was a ground out victim last time up. It doesn't look very promising so far in this one as we move into the later innings down by a bundle. It's time to get some base runners and hopefully a long ball to get them back into this one. First pitch coming here it is. Probably a design take right there. They need base runners so they're going to make them try to bring the ball in the strike zone. A shot down the first base line. This will get foul for strike two. He looks at a ball one and two pitch on the way. He fouls this one off the two two one more time is laid off and the count runs full. These are the kind of a B's regardless of the outcome you go back to the dugout as an example. Your teammates are loving on you for making that pitcher work and battling it out finally just wear him down as this one swung on and missed for the first out. Classic slider down and away from the strike out there. Not a whole lot to say about that pitch that hasn't been said a million times already. That's just a real tough pitch for a hitter to pick up out of a pitcher's hand so they end up chasing when they're in protect mode. Now Mike Tuckman as the home for strike one. No hits to this point. He's ready. Here's the 01 bases are empty one man out lined hard toward right center and that's into the outfield for a one out base hit. Well it took him till the seventh but he gets his first hit of the game here and that will extend his hitting streak. Yeah he didn't come out of his he didn't come out of what he was trying to do all day. Dan kept the front shoulder top kept the ice water in his veins and didn't try and get too big extends the hitting streak. Nice job. You know Dero I talked to him before the game about the streak and he said the toughest part is he hopes to get hits early in the game to take the pressure off. He had to wait to the seventh inning and this one to come through. Here's a sinker to start him out but he wouldn't bite its ball one one for two in the ballgame thus far on an old pitch on the way. Ball two. Now this is the kind of count this guy feeds on at the plate. You can bet he's geared to hit the fastball right here. The two on the way is in there for strike one unable to get the bat around in time and the count evens at two and two runner at first year one man out. Well hit but also well foul into the seats and left the two two one more time high and deep to right center center fielder giving chase and he tracks it down a nice running play to record the second out the center fielder number eleven Brett Gardner digging in and looking for more Brett Gardner. He'll try to follow up the double in his last act that with another big hit right here. Well he got a good pitch to hit last time up look for it up in his own and didn't miss it. Those are the pitches you only get maybe once an A B maybe once a game maybe once a week. So he certainly capitalized on it last time. Here's the 0 1 pitch and a good idea to hold off on that swing. It's ball one to out with the man at first at nibbled the corner there but missed two and one as a look now the pitch strike two swinging just out in front of the slider. Hey'd like to see a little bit more discipline in that you get to count your favor and swing at a pitch that bad not good slider called strike three as he couldn't pull the trigger and the side is retired one left for the Yankees the lead remains five it's six to one winning set to get underway standing in says our Hernandez he comes into this appearance in the midst of a one for four day becomes set. Here's the nothing and nothing pitch. Here comes the 1 0 now a swing and he pops him up. This is right out in front of the mound and he'll stay with it here as he puts the squeeze on it for route number one the center fielder number thirty five Oscar Mercado Oscar Mercado he doubled his last time through here comes the first pitch one app nobody on lays off the slider and it's one and one where this one almost in the books the story was clearly the long ball. What are your thoughts on this offense fellas. Well Manny V. I don't know what your thoughts are D-roll but boy when the weather starts to warm up and the ball starts jumping out like this it's clear that the pitchers need to start making better pitches. Yeah just great approach. No one really chased today really stayed staunch on their ability to get that pitcher to come into the heart of the plate and they did damage with a great pitch there as he couldn't get extended on that one and he's down on strikes for the second out really good late fight on that slider right there. Now the best ones have that late action that just darts at the last minute. They're so tough to get the bat on and when you've got that good slider going it's a great strikeout pitch to the box. Now Jose Ramirez Ramirez swings and this one's hit well the left and gone an absolute bomb. So a solo shot here to left center field home run number five on the year as it's now a six run ballgame now battle the designated hitter and that will bring in friend will raise as the first pitch to him a sinker in the dirt for ball one. He's two for three and looking for more here. The one and no delivery. Going out this inning really feels like it's getting away from him out there as a reliever and you can't let that happen nothing you can do about what's already happened and it's only going to get worse if you're not focusing on the guy in the batter's box bases are empty here with two men out down low and the plot thickens here three and oh now with the bases empty I think he needs to be careful not to just groove one here just because it's three and oh he's a guy that could ambush you and lose one over the wall. He loses him on ball four while with that's not a strike. I don't know what I know these have a tough job. I get it. We'll see if he gets the next borderline call or if there are any makeup calls coming up now with the play. Carlos Santana he was sat down on strikes in his last at bat. He's got to put that one behind them especially with runners in scoring position. Those punchouts will stick with you a little longer drops in a strike to start the at bat nothing in one that's over but low it's a ball and a strike had him off stride that time and it's one and two made him look silly with that one. He's set and the one two pitch hard sinker misses two and two yet if you get a guy flailing at a pitch like that. Heck you're going to go out there and throw that same pitch till he proves he can lay off of it. And he struck him out. So he's down on strikes for the second time this afternoon but the Indians add to their lead thanks to this solo home run bottom of the eighth coming up it's the Indians seven and the Yankees one stepping in Geo or Shella. No hits in three tries so far he's struck out once number twenty nine first pitch on its way. One O count. Here it is. Well they have him looking awfully confused up there right now it's one and two. See guys he is human occasionally an ugly swing right there. He's having a monster season so I'm going to give him a free pass. Hard hit ball to short and the throw to first is in time one gun. Now batting catcher Gary standing in Gary Sanchez. Here comes the first pitch and he lays off there one and oh inside and he falls behind the hitter now two and oh and a very low strike there trying to speed up the game perhaps it's two and one swing and a drive to center field that one's got a chance center fielder going back. It's a solo shot here for Gary Sanchez fourth home run for him on the season and it's a seven two game now. Well that's the sixth home run we've watched leave the yard in this one guys what do you think is behind the hitting we've seen here today. Then I can only speak for my own past experiences when the flags are going out you want as many at bats as you can and that's exactly what's happening. This ball is jumping out. You know this is always a nightmare for a pitcher not only is this a good hitting ballpark but the wind blows out on top of it. This is the last place you want to be a pitcher at Dominic Leone answers the call now looking to get this one on to the ninth inning without any trouble. Now that plate doesn't kill Stanton. He's over two in the ballgame so far. It's a fastball that misses now a cut fastball finds the target two and one. Here's the pitch bases are empty one man out three balls and two strikes to the Yankees D age every ballclub has that spark plug guy and this is the guy right here. He usually ignites a lot of productive innings now the payoff pitch home. It's a high fly ball headed for the left field corner. If it stays fair it's gone but it bends just fouled into the second deck the next three two and he misses ball for so he comes out of a bullpen and immediately walks the first man he faces. Well the reason power hitters generally draw more walks than other guys is exactly what we saw right there. Pitchers work around them and nibble the corners a lot more so they don't get burned. He made some good pitches but he just couldn't get him to chase enough out of the zone. So stepping in Tyler Wade one in one out and one on here in the inning. He sat here it comes. Runners on first with one down in there one and one swing and a miss that one tied him up. He's staring a hat trick in the face right now after that swing he has just got to find a way to zone up a little bit more. You cannot expect to make solid contact chasing stuff outside the zone. Try again one two and he lays off it to even the count two and two and two kicks and deals struck him out struck him out again. I should say his third punch out of the game. Now that he's got ready once again. He looked at bounce back striking out his last time up and you can live with punching out with the bases empty but in his last step that with two runners in scoring position you cannot go down not putting the ball in play too much on the line too many ribby opportunities out there to swing and miss in that spot. Oh one here's the pitch without one and one helping him out here as he swings and misses to fall behind a ball in two strikes hit in the air to left field. Santana is there and he'll make the catch to retire the side. Yankees do get one on the solo homer ninth inning coming up. It's now a 7 2 ball game. Jonathan Holder enters from the town to start the ninth inning as he'll try to keep the school right where it is heading to the bottom of the ninth Jonathan Holder out Domingo Santana struck out swinging in his last trip to the plate and he didn't put up much of a fight either Matty got to find a way can't go down three pitches. I don't care if you're staring at him or swinging him you have to find a way to make this picture work a little bit harder. But an atom ball right to him for the first down Jordan ready for another shot. Now Jordan loop low. He was retired via the ground ball last time up first offering on its way in there for strike one 0 1 one out nobody on in there and he's ahead 0 2 now right hander starts to loosen out in the bullpen now to the wind up. Here comes the 0 2 pitch interesting sequence of pitches right there a real ugly swing on a ball away and it looks like the batter has a much better idea of what he's looking for after that second pitch a ball and two strikes. Here's the pitch and a swing and a miss here and the first two are dispatched to begin the ninth the bat into the box now Ernie Clement comes into this appearance in the midst of a one for four day. First pitch of the at bat on its way cutter runs outside ball one skied into straight away right. Tokman is going to have room out there as he puts this away to retire the side Indians go down one two three there on top seven to two Adam Simber the six foot four inch right hander comes in out of the bullpen to do the pitching number 90 Adam Simber out of the plate Luke Boyd he's hit listening three to this point the first baseman first delivery to him on the way grounder hit hard down the first baseline but a foul ball here 0 1 pitch on the way action going on now in the Indians bullpen as they have a left-hander up and getting loose the deal here's the 1 1 all two Simber was known as a short relief specialist a guy who came in got one or two big outs but with the new pace of play rules they're forcing a change for this right hander and here's a slider strike three called and that will be the first out of the inning now batting right up to the plate Mike Tuckman he's got a hit in three at bats to this point first pitch of the at bat on its way 1 0 ball two with a sinker that runs off the inside strike called 2 and 1 that's the exact spot to lean on as a reliever as a hitter you just have to tip your cap and look for the next one bases are empty one man out and that's lifted the other way out to left oh and this kicks off of them and he's in there easily at second with a one out double and that's we look like self-defense a real quality swing but hey he muscle it out there it was enough to get him safely the second those are the kind of hits that would drive you nuts as a pitcher and that sends DJ LaMahew into the box as the first pitch sinker misses to him it's ball one so far this season LaMahew is holding on to a batting average way down in the two tens he'd be the first to tell you he's not happy with his bat and average this season but he can beach in a variety of different ways and he has to because he wouldn't be here otherwise one out and a runner on second base high in the air at the center field Mercado is there to God the center fielder number eleven that gardener so back to the top of the Yankee order digging in Brett Gardner and he needs to make something happen there down to their final out here in the ninth here comes the first pitch off the plate ball one man that's one of those how could you not swing at that one a good take there on that pitch he won a home runner in scoring position at second with two down no offer on that one two balls in a strike you got two balls one strike Q shot here out towards short on the first will be in time and the Indians have claimed the fourth consecutive victory here as this ball game is over yeah and they just keep on keeping on got a nice little run going here winning four in a row and playing with a lot of confidence success is never guaranteed in this game so you have to appreciate it when it comes seven to two the final score this afternoon Cleveland get the win on the heels of four home runs Aaron Savalli earns the win his second Jordan Montgomery couldn't escape the fourth inning as he slapped with the loss so that just about does it for Mark DeRosa Dan please act Heidi Watney and our entire crew I'm Matt Vaskers and you've been watching MLB the show for more make your way over to the show nation dot com