ALDS 2016: Indians Lonnie Chisenhall blasts 3-run HR off David Price (Video)
Lonnie Chisenhall hit a three-run home run off David Price to give the Indians a 4-0 lead over the Red Sox in Game 2.
The Cleveland Indians, fresh off a huge Game 1 win over the Boston Red Sox, entered Game 2 with a bit of confidence. Even with Corey Kluber on the mound, they knew they had to score runs because Kluber isn’t 100 percent healthy. The Indians gave Kluber a bit of breathing room with a four run second inning, capped off with a three run home run by Lonnie Chisenhall off David Price.
Chisenhall is known more for his defense than his hitting. He had just eight home runs in the regular season in 2016. None of those home runs came against a left-handed pitcher. But Chisenhall picked a great time to hit his first homer against a southpaw in 2016. The ball hit off the plexiglass, which at Progressive Field, makes it a home run.
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Despite his reputation, Chisenhall is a decent hitter. He had a .286 batting average, .328 on-base percentage, and .429 slugging percentage during the regular season. Chisenhall primarily played against right-handers, with only 52 plate appearances against lefties during the regular season.
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The Indians’ season has been defined by their contributions from all across the lineup. Chisenhall’s home run proves it. They have no true power hitter except for Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana. While both Napoli and Santana hit 34 home runs, Jason Kipnis was the only other Indian with 20 or more home runs.
Price must account for his postseason struggles at some point. It’s still a relatively small sample size, but it’s undeniable he struggles in the postseason. The Red Sox signed him to an eight-year deal last offseason, so they can’t be too pleased with Price’s postseason struggles so far. Cleveland is up 1-0 in the series and can take a 2-0 series lead with a win.