The Cleveland Indians helped themselves out in the AL Wild Card race, as they defeated the New York Mets 8-1 Friday night in Cleveland. 

Nick Swisher all but sealed the victory for the Indians with his eighth inning grand slam off Mets’ reliever Tim Byrdak. The grand slam gave Cleveland an 8-1 lead. 

Cleveland took the lead early after Carlos Santana’s sacrifice fly off Zack Wheeler in the first inning. Michael Bourn added another sacrifice fly in the second to increase the lead to two.

Santana recorded his second RBI of the night with a run-scoring single in the fifth off Wheeler and Cleveland tacked on a fourth run in the sixth inning against New York reliever Gonzalez Germen. 

The Mets scored their first run of the night against the Cleveland Indians in the seventh inning after Justin Turner’s solo home run off Cody Allen sailed over the center field fence. 

Allen relieved Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir, who pitched six terrific innings and struck out 12 batters against the team that drafted him 11 years ago. 


The Cleveland Indians have added another run in the sixth inning and lead the New York Mets 4-0. Southpaw Scott Kazmir has been terrific thus far, with 12 strikeouts through six innings.

Cleveland used two sacrifice flies and an RBI single to score three runs of Mets’ starter Zack Wheeler. They tacked on their fourth run in the sixth inning against New York reliever Gonzalez Germen after an RBI double from Lonnie Chisenhall. 

Cody Allen has relieved Scott Kazmir to start the seventh. 


Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir is dealing at Progressive Field. The southpaw has recorded 12 strikeouts against his former organization. Cleveland leads 3-0 after two sacrifice flies and an RBI single. New York met’ starter Zack Wheeler has dealt with trouble every inning, but has had a solid outing nonetheless.

Wheeler has been replaced by reliever Gonzalez Germen to start the bottom of the sixth. 


The Cleveland Indians have increased their lead to three in the fifth inning after an RBI single from Carlos Santana against New York Mets’ pitcher Zack Wheeler.

Cleveland jumped ahead early in the first after a sacrifice fly from Santana and increased their lead to two in the second with Michael Bourn’s sacrifice fly.

The New York lineup has looked overpowered against Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir, who has struck out nine through five innings. 


Even when his defense lets him down, Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Scott Kazmir has cruised through five innings while striking out nine New York Mets batters. Cleveland leads 2-0 after sacrifice flies from Carlos Santana and Michael Bourn against Mets’ pitcher Zack Wheeler, who will return to the mound for New York in the bottom of the fifth. 


The New York Mets have been unable to get anything going against Cleveland Indians’ starting pitcher Scott Kazmir. the lefty has eight strikeouts through the first four innings. The Indians gave Kazmir a two-run cushion after two sacrifice flies, one by Carlos Santana and one by Michael Bourn. Zack Wheeler is set to start the fourth inning for New York. 


Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Scott Kazmir has cruised through the first three innings and has struck out seven New York Mets. Cleveland gave Kazmir an early lead in the first after a sacrifice fly from Carlos Santana and extended the lead to two with Michael Bourn’s sacrifice fly against Zack Wheeler. 


The Cleveland Indians increased their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second after a sacrifice fly from leadoff man Michael Bourn against New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler. Cleveland gave starter Scott Kazmir a 1-0 lead in the first before increasing their lead an inning later. Travis d’Arnaud is set to lead off the third for New York. 


Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Scott Kazmir pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top half of the second and increased his strikeout total to four. Cleveland leads the New York Mets 1-0 following Carlos Santana’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first against Zack Wheeler. 


The Cleveland Indians took a 1-0 lead after loading the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the first. Carlos Santana hit a sacrifice fly, but New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler recovered to escape the rest of the inning unscathed. 


Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Scott Kazmir struck out the first two New York Mets’ batters in the first inning before allowing a two-out single to Josh Satin. However, Kazmir recovered to strike out Andrew Brown to end the inning. 

Mets’ rookie pitcher Zack Wheeler is set to take the mound against a Cleveland starting nine that features 90 home runs in its lineup. 


The Cleveland Indians (74-65) will host the New York Mets (63-75) on Friday night in a matchup Mets fans are sure to be looking forward to. Mets’ rookie phenom Zack Wheeler (7-3, 3.36 ERA) will take on former Met product Scott Kazmir (7-7, 4.36 ERA).

Wheeler has pitched well lately and has excelled on the road this season (2.19 ERA in eight starts). Meanwhile, Kazmir pitched poorly in August, having gone 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA.

New York is fighting for third place in the NL East, while the Indians look to keep up in the tight AL Wild Card race.

The Mets’ lineup will consist of Eric Young (LF), Daniel Murphy (2B), Josh Satin (DH), Andrew Brown (RF), Lucas Duda (1B), Justin Turner (SS), Juan Lagares (CF), Travis d’Arnaud (C) and Wilmer Flores (3B).

Cleveland’s starting lineup includes Michael Bourn (CF), Nick Swisher (1B), Jason Kipnis (2B), Carlos Santana (DH), Jason Kubel (LF), Asdrubal Cabrera (SS), Yan Gomes (C), Lonnie Chisenhall (3B) and Drew Stubbs (RF). 

First pitch at Progressive Field is scheduled for 7:05.

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