A four-game series wrapped up Sunday in Seattle with the Cleveland Indians finally breaking through in the 12th inning vs. the Seattle Mariners to win 6-3. The Indians had multiple opportunities to win this ballgame all game long and just couldn't come up with the clutch base hit that they needed until the 12th when they finally broke through.
Danny Salazar was on the bump for the Indians and turned in a decent performance for the Tribe. Salazar lasted 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out five while walking four more Mariners. The four walks were an issue as that drove up his pitch count a bit, but the bullpen backed him with just one hit in 6.2 innings of relief.
Seattle struck first in this one as they put up a three spot in the fifth inning, getting contributions from a Dustin Ackley bunt/throwing error, an Austin Jackson RBI single, and a Robinson Cano sacrifice fly. This 3-0 lead didn't last long, however, as the Indians answered right back against Mariners starter J.A. Happ.
Happ had another solid outing as he lasted 5+ innings on the hill, giving up just two runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking one. Ryan Raburn hit a solo shot for Cleveland in the sixth and was followed by Brandon Moss, whose single chased Happ from the game. This eventually set up an RBI single for Michael Bourn to make it 3-2. Moss had a great day at the plate as he was 4 for 7 with a double.
The score stayed at 3-2 until the eighth when Jason Kipnis cashed in with a sac fly to left to tie the game and eventually send it to extras.
It was a stalemate until the twelfth inning when Dom Leone, the Mariners last reliever, came into the ballgame and lost control for Seattle. He loaded the bases and walked Michael Brantley on four pitches to give the Tribe a 4-3 lead. That walk was followed by David Murphy's two-run single to make it 6-3. Austin Adams made quick work of the Mariners in the bottom half of the inning to preserve the lead for Cleveland and get the win.
The Indians had many opportunities to break this game open, but they couldn't do so as they left 17 runners on base and were just 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position. They also out hit Seattle 18 to 5. Credit Mariners pitching for getting out of those tough jams. The Mariners had opportunities to win it in the tenth and eleventh, but they couldn't cash in.
With this win, the Indians took the series three games to one and will continue their road trip in Kansas City starting on Tuesday. As for the Mariners, they turn to Felix Hernandez Monday at home vs. the Yankees to get back on track.
WP: McAllister (1-2, 3.38 ERA)
LP: Leone (0-4, 7.71 ERA)
SV: Adams (1, 1.35 ERA)