Miami Marlins defeat Cleveland Indians 5-3 to win series - MLB Update
Relief pitcher Heath Bell manages his fifth save of the season as the Miami Marlins defeat Cleveland Indians 5-3 at Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio on May 20, 2012 in third game of the three match series.
Start of inter-league matches have come as a relief for the Marlins. Their pitchers and hitters are putting up improved performances.
Starter Josh Johnson kept the Indians in check and did not allow too many hits. Seven innings he threw went for just five hits and one run.
Far from taking any pride after recording 50th victory, Johnson called upon the need to contribute to the team’s victory. For him, as long as a player can fight his way out in helping the club win, he is doing great job.
"Nice I guess, but it's a team win and that's what counts," he said. "We've got a lot of characteristics on this team we haven't had. Guys who will get down, get dirty, and try to win. I love that."
For most part of the game, both sides were equally poised for victory. It was completion in the top of the eighth when the Marlins surged to an overwhelming lead.
It made victory almost certain before an occurrence of bottom of ninth and two runs Indians drew from reliever Randy Choate.
Drawing ten hits from the offence by the Marlins reflects improvement from their previous outings.
Short-stop Jose Reyes stepped up and made two hits in five at-bats, while completing one run.
Despite the fact, Omar Infante was not in the line-up, hitters managed enough that base-runners could reach home plate and post reasonable number of runs.
The fact the Marlins did not win as easily as they will have liked brings into question significance of remaining part of the ninth that Bell threw.
He came on the mound as a result of Choate’s losing control and allowing the Indians bridge deficit to just two runs.
Sent by manager Ozzie Guillen with a task to protect the lead, Bell lived up to the requirement and went scoreless.
Winning the series is a great development for the Marlins as a club. Keeping momentum intact, if they can replicate such performances, they can turn their fate around in the season.
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