Indians Score Two Runs On Foul Ball Due To Umpire’s Blown Call In 10-7 Win Over Astros

After a blown call from the umpire in the third inning that allowed Cleveland to score two runs, the Indians cruised to a 10-7 home victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon.

Indians Score Two Runs On Foul Ball Due To Umpire’s Blown Call In 10-7 Win Over Astros

With the win, the Indians split their four-game series with the Astros 2-2 at Progressive Field. The American League Central-leading Tribe also increased their lead to six games over the second-place Tigers. Houston, meanwhile, fell to 2 1/2 games behind the Orioles for the AL’s second Wild Card spot.

“We know every game is important, and there’s no letting down,” said Cleveland’s Mike Napoli. “Detroit has a good team. By no means are they out of this. I’ve seen leads shrink pretty quick. Our goal is to have the best record in the American League and try to have home-field advantage.”

In the bottom of the third inning, with the bases loaded, Cleveland’s Lonnie Chisenhall hit a ball from rookie righty David Paulino that bounced in the dirt. It clearly looked like a foul ball, although home-plate umpire Jim Joyce ruled it as a wild pitch, apparently having missed both the sound of the bat hitting the ball and having failed to notice from the angle it ricocheted that it likely didn’t just hit the ground.

Joyce let the play go on, but Astros catcher Jason Castro refused to let the call stand. Castro stood up and removed his mask to argue with Joyce as two Indians base-runners came around to score and Jose Ramirez wound up on third base. The play is not reviewable, but afterwards Joyce sent Ramirez back to second base. The Indians managed two additional runs in the inning.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Indians starter Trevor Bauer said. “That was a big inning for us. I’m glad it turned out that way. I still don’t really know what happened there, but I’m glad it worked out for us.”

Cleveland’s Abraham Almonte contributed a two-run triple, and first baseman Carlos Santana scored his 30th home run in the fifth, although it was Joyce’s flubbed call that ultimately gave the Indians the momentum to win.

With his home run, Santana joined Napoli as the only other Indians player to earn 30 homers this season.

After allowing all four runs in the third, Paulino lasted only three innings in his Major League debut for the Astros.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor added two hits and three RBIs for Cleveland, while rookie Alex Bregman got three of Houston’s runs. Bregman doubled home a run in the first and later added an RBI triple in a two-run seventh.

“You’re as good as your last game, you’re as good as your last series,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “We come in here and get a split. You feel really good about it, except how it happened. We win the first two and lose the back two. Psychologically you’re going to be a mess about, it because you feel like there’s an opportunity lost.

“We have a big series ahead of us with the Cubs. We have the Rangers following them and a nice homestand. We play complete baseball, we’ll win these games.”

The Astros (74-66, 2nd in AL West) next open a three-game home series against the Cubs on Friday night. Rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove will make his seventh career start with Houston.

The Indians (81-58, 1st in AL Central) will travel to Minneapolis to begin a three-game weekend series against the Twins on Friday night. Righty Danny Salazar (11-6, 3.78 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 08: Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Progressive Field on September 8, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Astros 10-7. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)