The Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox put on an offensive clinic in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, combining to score 29 runs as the Indians came away with a victory, winning 19-10.
The two teams simply couldn't pitch to each other, as every batter who came up to the plate recorded a hit (other than Alex Rios, who still hit a sacrifice fly).
A total of 12 players pitched in the game, throwing a combined 406 pitches, 246 of which were strikes.
Coming right before a second game, the two teams slugged it out, starting in the bottom of the first inning.
The White Sox took their only lead of the game in the first inning, as Rios' sac fly, Adam Dunn's two-run home run, Jeff Keppinger's solo shot and Gordon Beckham's RBI double put the team up 5-0 early.
Right from the get-go it looked like Trevor Bauer was off, and the White Sox were able to chase Bauer after just 0.2 innings.
The Indians were 2.5 games back of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, and every game counts at this point for the team. Unfortunately, it looked like the Indians would fall further back in the Central race, but the offense had other ideas in mind.
The Indians would score 14 unanswered runs to go up 14-5 in the fifth: five runs in the top of the second, six in the top of the fourth and three more in the top of the fifth. What's even more impressive is that the Indians scored 14 straight runs without a home run.
While the Indians clearly had their bats working, the White Sox didn't exactly help themselves on defense, as seen by this Nick Swisher double, where the ChiSox had Swisher dead at second, but couldn't get him out.
Cleveland scored two more runs that inning.
However, the fireworks were far from over.
The White Sox didn't go down quietly, quickly scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth to bring the score back to a respectable 14-9.
It looked like the White Sox would have a chance to come away with a victory after all, but the Indians brought them back to earth quickly and effectively, scoring five more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to bring the score to 19-10.
As the game entered the ninth inning, the game was all but decided. The White Sox knew they would lose the game, but bearing in mind that they would have to play another game in just a few hours after this marathon of a contest, the team decided not to waste another arm.
Left fielder Casper Wells was told to head to the mound and pitch.
Wells was apparently ready for the challenge, as he came to the mound throwing fastballs that hit 91 mph and changeups that were filthy enough to get Asdrubal Cabrera to strike out swinging. He was also the only pitcher to get Jason Kipnis out in any of his seven at-bats.
After a 400-pitch game, the players undoubtedly just wanted to head home and take a nap (I know I would have), but the day was only half over.
Doubleheaders are grueling enough as it is. Playing two three-hour contests in one day is tough for even the best athletes in the world, but when that first game is such a lengthy one, it's next to impossible to motivate yourself for a second game.
Too bad.
Carlos Carrasco and Jose Quintana will toe the rubber in the second game of the doubleheader on Friday night, and the key factor to watch for in the second game will be whether or not fatigue sets in.
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