Game 64

June 9, 2014 – Lonnie Chisenhall 15 Total Bases

Rocky Colavito…Luke Easter…Victor Martinez…Joe Carter…Lonnie Chisenhall??

Despite the pantheon of great all-around hitters that came before him, a solid case can be made that Lonnie Chisenhall had the best night of hitting in Tribe history on June 9, 2014.

The Indians were visiting the Rangers and facing Nick Martinez. With one out and runners on second and third in the bottom of the first inning, Chisenhall knocked a line drive single into center field. This pushed Cabrera across the plate and contributed to a three run, two hit inning.

The Rangers got one run back in the bottom of the first, but the Indians offense kept rolling. After a solo home run by George Kottaras and a two RBI single to right by Jason Kipnis, Lonnie launched a powerful line drive that cleared the right field wall for a two run home run.

In the top of the fourth, he sent a towering solo home run into center field, once again scoring Kipnis.

The Rangers scored two in the bottom of the fourth off TJ House to make the score 12-6.

In the top of the 6th Lonnie once again drove a ball to center. This one stayed in the yard, but Michael Brantley was able to score from first.

Finally, in the top of the eighth with runners on first and third Lonnie uncorked a line drive down the right field line. It cleared the wall for his third home run–and ninth RBI of the night.

The final stat line had the Indians on top 17 to 7 with eighteen hits.

He became the fourth player in MLB history with 5 or more hits, 3 HR, and 9 or more RBI in a game. The last to do it was Fred Lynn for the Red Sox in 1975.

Baseball Reference Box Score

Game 58

June 2, 2014 – Masterson’s Immaculate Inning and 25 Consecutive Strikes

The Red Sox were visiting Progressive Field to start a weekday series and had John Lackey matched up against Justin Masterson. The Red Sox came out strong, loading the bases on Masterson before Jonny Gomes struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 1st with Michael Bourn on 3rd and Michael Brantley on 2nd Lonnie Chisenhall slapped a single down the left field line for two RBI. Asdrubal Cabrera pushed Bourn across in the bottom of the 3rd on an RBI single making the score 3-0.

In the top of the 4th, Justin Masterson struck out Jonny Gomes swinging on three pitches. Next up was Masterson’s former teammate Grady Sizemore. Grady took the first strike, fouled the second pitch off his ankle, and struck out swinging. Stephen Drew took the first two strikes, and then was called out on a check swing on a ball in the dirt. 9 pitches, 9 strikes, 3 outs–Immaculate Inning.

Not only did he strike out the side on nine pitches, but these nine were part of a run of 25 consecutive strikes from the top of the 3rd to the top of the 6th.

Overall, Masterson struck out ten. 67 of his 105 pitches were strikes.

Despite a 2-run homer off Bryan Shaw by Xander Bogarts, the Indians bullpen was able to hold on and secure the win.

Masterson was the first Indian ever to complete this rare feat. There have been 95 immaculate innings thrown in MLB history to date. Three years later, Carlos Carrasco threw the Tribe’s second immaculate inning in Game 85 of 2017.

In Game 20 of 2018, Yonder Alonso, Yan Gomes, and Bradley Zimmer fell victim to an Immaculate inning thrown by the Orioles Kevin Gausman. However, the Indians would still go on to win that game 2-1.

Baseball Reference Box Score

Game 40

May 14, 2014 – Lonnie Chisenhall and David Murphy Combine for 10 Hits, 6 RBI

May 14, 2014 was a banner hitting day for the Indians, but particularly for two players in the bottom of the lineup. Everyone in the batting order, except for first baseman Nick Swisher, had at least one hit, and even Swisher walked twice.

In the top of the 2nd, David Murphy had an RBI single, sending Carlos Santana in to score. Lonnie Chisenhall singled to left field with two outs, but both Murphy and Chis were stranded on base by a Mike Aviles pop-out.

Murphy led off the 4th with a double to right field. Chisenhall drove him in with an RBI single to right.

In the top of the 5th, Murphy flied out to center, while Chisenhall beat out the throw on a dribbler in front of home plate.

Murphy drove home Asdrubal Cabrera  in the top of the 7th, who had reached on a leadoff double. After a Yan Gomes ground out, Chisenhall reached on a single to left field.

At the end of the 7th, the score sat at 6-2 Indians. Corey Kluber had quietly pitched a very solid start, giving up two runs on four hits using only 108 pitches. Kluber retired the first 13 batters before giving up a hit, which was a double by Adam Lind.

With runners on first and second in the top of the eighth, Murphy smacked a line drive double into right field, scoring Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera. Lonnie Chisenhall ended the inning with a line-drive out to deep center field. Manager Terry Francona later said, “Lonnie probably could’ve had another one. His out was hard hit.”

The Tribe sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the ninth. Again with two outs, Murphy got his fifth hit of the day with an RBI double. Then Yan Gomes battled through a 12-pitch at bat, finally rocking a line drive three-run home run into right field. After Gomes had cleared the bases, Jays backup infielder Steve Tolleson was brought in to pitch.

Chisenhall doubled down the right field line off one of Tolleson’s knuckleballs for his fifth hit of the day. Tolleson got Mike Aviles to pop out to end the inning.

Carlos Carrasco pitched the ninth inning, giving up two runs, but securing the Indians 15-4 victory.

Two Indians had not had five hits in a nine-inning game since Johnny Hodapp and Luke Sewell had five each in Game 101 of 1928 against the Yankees.

Baseball Reference Box Score