Indians nip Astros 2-1, move into Wild Card lead.

the rain started just in time.

If the season ended this instant, the Indians would be in the playoffs. The Cleveland Indians. Playoffs.

Well, they’d be in the one game Wild Card play-in game, but still¹.

Playoffs.

The Indians are really getting by on the skin of their teeth, aren’t they? A win is a win is a win and and a cheap, rain soaked win versus the worst team in baseball counts just as well in the standings. A day after needing an 11th inning a walk off from a career minor leaguer, the Indians (84-70) were gifted two unearned runs from Houston (51-103) and got a little help from Mother Nature to squeak by with their 2-1 victory. The Kansas City Royals also helped out the Wahoos by beating the Rangers (on a bases loaded walk!) to move Texas (83-70) a half game behind Cleveland.

Rain delay wins. Bases loaded walks. They all count.

Zach McAllister started for the Tribe and went five innings, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out three. Houston’s only run came on a solo shot from third baseman Brandon Laird in the second and the Tribe answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Carlos Santana led off with a single to right and moved to second when Asdrubal Cabrera’s shot to third was too hot for Laird (Laird’s glove actually fell of his hand when he went for the play). Michael Brantley followed with single to load the bases and Santana scored when Laird turned a potential double play ball from Mike Aviles into a fielder’s choice.

Houston’s defense had a hand in the Tribe’s second run as well. After Santana struck out to start the fourth, Ryan Rayburn singled and Cabrera followed with a walk. The Astro defense went to work. Astros first baseman Chris Carter threw Michael Brantley’s potential double play grounder into left field, allowing Rayburn to score fromsecond. Both Cabrera and Brantley took an extra base when the throw home got by Houston catcher Carlos Corporan. With men on second and third with only one out, it looked like the Indians were poised for a big inning. But rookie lefty Brett Oberholtzer shut the door, getting  Aviles and Bourn to ground out to get out of the inning unscathed.

And that’s the game! Marc Rzepczynski and Bryan Shaw combined for two perfect shutout innings (Shaw had three Ks) and Oberholtzer never saw the seventh inning. Mother Nature did the rest.

Wild card, baby!

Take your time, Terry. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one waiting for the rain to start once the game became official and Tribe had the lead. I appreciated Francona going to the bullpen twice and stalling for the rain. It was also necessary. McAllister’s pitches are rising as he went along and after giving up a two out triple in the fourth, needed a bases loaded double play to get out of the fifth. The pen responded. Both Rzepczynski and Shaw were awesome.

Before my time. Former Indian Cory Snyder was at the game and spent an inning in the booth with Rick Manning and Matt Underwood. I’m too young to remember Snyder and it’s too bad, because I feel like I would’ve gotten a kick out of all the strike out jokes that  bombarded my twitter feed during Snyder’s appearance. Everything made a bit more sense when Snyder chuckled, “I was here for five years and I saw the cage like once”.

Somewhat scary way to start the game. The first out of the game came when Michael Bourn made a diving catch on a Jonathan Villar liner. Bourn landed hard on his chest and looked uncomfortable, but stayed in the game.

You’re not gonna believe this, but the Indians had trouble with a rookie lefthanded starter. To their credit, seems like Brett Oberholtzer gives everyone trouble. Oberholtzer, 24, is 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA in eight starts this season and he held the Tribe to just four hits over his six innings. His defense did him no favors, as both Indians runs were unearned.

[OBLIGATORY ATTENDANCE REFERENCE]. 17,310. Better than recent games, but still not particularly great.

A win is a win, but… Not to complain after a win but the Tribe offense ain’t exactly giving anyone confidence over these past couple days. Yes, they’ve taken two games from the Astros but really, just four runs against the worst team in baseball? Really?

and finally…

Playoff push! Scott Kazmir (8-9, 4.34 ERA) starts for the Tribe on Saturday night, facing Houston’s Paul Clemons (4-5, 5.54 ERA). First pitch is 6:05.

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

1. man I can’t wait for that fight [↩]