CLEVELAND - Jason Kipnis said before Tuesday's game against the Yankees that he was still fighting things a little bit at the plate. With how he has done in July, the Indians second baseman is beginning to show some signs getting some consistency.
So far in July Kipnis is batting .310, going 9 for 29. He has struggled a little bit in the leadoff spot but got two hits and stole a pair of bases in Tuesday's 5-3 win. Kipnis batted leadoff on July 2 against the Dodgers when Michael Bourn got the day off. With Bourn on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring, Kipnis has batted at the top of the order the past three games.
In the four games Kipnis has batted leadoff this season, he is 3 for 17. A career .268 hitter, Kipnis is 20 for 102 batting first in four seasons for a .196 average. The only spot where he has a lower average is .184 when hitting eighth.
Said Kipnis of batting leadoff: "It is a battle. Do you want to see some pitches or ambush him and quickly try to get on base and really get going? I just want to be a table setter."
Kipnis, who is hitting .253 for the season, did say he had no preference on where he hits. Until the Bourn injury, he was in the cleanup spot. After being on the disabled list for most of May, Kipnis did add that he is still feeling some effects from time to time due to the oblique injury.
"There's still some hesitation staying through balls every now and then. It's not painful but it kind of still cuts my swing off," he said. "By no means is that an excuse. I should have been hitting better now."
Indians Live starts tonight on SportsTime Ohio at 6:30 p.m. as the Tribe and Yankees continue their four-game series. Here is what else to watch in tonight's game:
TOMLIN ON THE HILL: Josh Tomlin (5-6, 4.11 ERA) has allowed five earned runs in three of his last four starts, including last Friday's loss against the Royals. The right-hander is 1-3 during that span with a 5.63 ERA and has allowed four home runs. Tomlin is making his fifth career start against the Yankees and is 2-2 with a 6.14 ERA.
DRAWING EVEN: At 44-45, the Indians are trying to get back to .500 for the 12th time this season and first since June 20 (37-37). The Tribe is 5-2 in July and 3-2 on the current homestand.
CLOSING IT OUT: Cody Allen is 10 for 10 on saves and has allowed just one earned run over his last 11 2/3 innings (11 games), scattering just five hits and striking out 15.
MULTI MICHAEL: Michael Brantley has 30 multi-hits and has five straight games of two hits or more for the second time this season. He is 12 for 21 with a pair of home runs during the homestand.
PINSTRIPES DEBUT: The Yankees acquired Brandon McCarthy on Sunday. The right-hander went 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA in Arizona but received the eighth-lowest run support among starters in the Majors this season. He won his past two starts and has allowed just three earned runs in 12 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. This is McCarthy's 19th appearance against Cleveland, going 6-4 with a 4.38 ERA.
JETER TRACKER: Over his last 25 games since June 10, Derek Jeter is batting .301 (31 for 103) with 12 runs scored, five extra-base hits and 12 RBI.
STREAKING: Catcher Brian McCann is 6 for 18 on the Yankees' road trip with two doubles and an RBI.
YANKEES VS. TOMLIN: Ichiro Suzuki 3-12; Jacoby Ellsbury 1-11; Jeter 2-11; Mark Teixeira 2-10; Brian Roberts 3-7, HR; Brett Gardner 2-6; Brendan Ryan 1-6; Carlos Beltran 14; Kelly Johnson 1-3, HR; Francisco Cervelli 0-2.
INDIANS VS. McCARTHY: David Murphy 3-14; Nick Swisher 4-11, 2 HR; Mike Aviles 1-10; Asdrubal Cabrera 1-7, HR; Brantley 0-7; Carlos Santana 2-6, HR; Kipnis 3-4; Lonnie Chisenhall 0-3; Ryan Raburn 0-3.
