Bullish On the Clip Joint

Jeanmar Gomez

For as much crap as I give Jeanmar Gomez, dude tossed a beauty tonight.  Gomez (2.53) threw eight full innings allowing a single run on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4.  He picked a great night to do it as well.  The recently anemic Columbus offensive was at it again, producing just a single matching run in regulation.  While Gomez's numbers are eerily familiar to those of Zach McAllister's (Call him up!), I still do not believe the Jeanmar has a future in bringing wins to the lakefront.  His stuff simply is not good enough to get big league hitters out.  We have already seen that this year.

Even though the Clips looked like stale dog doo at the plate (four runs or fewer in 5 of their last 6) again, the kids that will matter on the North Coast came through when it mattered.  After taking 0-fers during both last night's tilt and the first nine innings tonight, Ezequiel Carrera and Cord Phelps stepped up.  With one out Zeke walked and Phelps followed with a double.  The legend that is the Chiz Kid was intentionally walked to load the bases.  [The Heat just lost game 2!]  With the lead in sight, Chad Huffman went down on strikes.  That left it up to Jason Kipnis.  He responded with great patience against a Bulls reliever that walked four in an inning and a third, drawing a freebie of his own to snare a 2-1 advantage that the Clippers would not relinquish.

On a night where the Tribe looked sloppy, their AAA mates looked crisp and that was nice to see.

David Huff tries to right the ship (0-2, 7.98 in his last 3 starts) as Columbus start a brief two gamer in Louisville tomorrow at 7:05p.

A Minor Points of Interest --

Thank goodness that Steven Wright pitched tonight because nothing else worth relaying crossed my ticker.  Wright (1.69) continued his impressive shift to the knuckleball with his first seven inning (4 K) outing of the season.  He allowed six hits and 3 walks but got a pop-up and a K to escape a bases loaded jam in the second and induced a doubled play to end the 4th.  Wright's progression is notable as he seems to be learning how to use his new pitch in a more cerebral way, setting up hitters instead of just tossing it up.  Best of luck, Steven.

Cheers.