Despite three consecutive home runs to lead off the top of the fourth inning and a fourth solo shot two innings later, the Chicago Cubs could not put the game away, and the Cleveland Indians used a four-run seventh to defeat the Cubs 10-6. The bad news for Cleveland, though, is that before the game began, the Indians got word that starting pitcher Gavin Floyd has reinjured the fractured elbow that ended his 2014 season on June 20 while he pitched for the Atlanta Braves.
MLB.com's John Schlegel reports that Floyd has reinjured the fracture in the elbow and will consult with team physicians to determine the course of action.
Surgery is an option at this point, but there is no official word yet, nor is there word of the extent of the injury. Schlegel quoted Indians manager Terry Francona discussing his pitcher's injury. Said Francona,
"That was a tough pill for him to swallow this morning, I'm sure. He had done his rehab so diligently. He did everything, came out early, worked hard. He was so ready, and I think he felt really good about things. So it's kind of like you get punched in the stomach."
Floyd also missed the second half of 2012 and nearly all of 2013 because of Tommy John surgery. Now, 2015 is in jeopardy.
The Indians, meanwhile, scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Ryan Rohlinger sacrifice fly and a double each from Dustin Hood (ground-rule), Roberto Perez, and James Ramsey.
Cub fans saw something they hope to see all season long when three of the team's highest-rated young sluggers, Jorge Soler (1), Javier Baez (1), and Kris Bryant (1) went back-to-back-to-back to open the fourth inning.
Welington Castillo added a solo shot (1) in the sixth, and the Cubs scored their final two runs in the ninth on RBI hits from Kyle Schwarber (single) and Matt Szczur (ground-rule double). By that point, though, the game was out of reach.
Cleveland scored a pair runs in each of the second and third innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead before the Cubs' trio of long balls. Tyler Holt had an RBI in each inning (triple, single). Michael Bourne later broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth with an RBI single, and Francisco Linder extended the lead to 10-4 in the eighth.
Shaun Marcum (W: 1-0, 2.25 ERA) pitched two innings in relief to earn the win, allowing one earned run on two hits, one of them Castillo's home run. Trevor Bauer started and lasted four innings. He was unscored-upon through the first three but allowed the three straight home runs in the fourth.
Blake Parker (L: 0-1, 9.00) took the loss by allowing the go-ahead run in the sixth. He pitched one inning and allowed two hits while walking one and striking out two.
The concern now for the Indians is Floyd and his elbow.