Bieber Flirts with no-hitter, fires a 1-hit complete game shutout in a 4-0 victory over Toronto

Indians twenty-four-year-old right hander, Shane Bieber, delivers one of his 102 pitches during a dominate 1-hit complete game shutout at the Rogers Center on July 24, 2019 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Photo by MLB/Cleveland Indians.

Jack Butler jbutle58@lakers.mercyhurst.edu

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Canada – Shane Bieber (10-3, 3.44 ERA) has had a crazy last year and a half in the Cleveland Indians organization. Bieber began the 2018 season on the AA affiliate of the Tribe, the Akron Rubber Ducks, lasting until the end of April. 22 at the time, he was moved up to AAA Columbus on May 3 of the same year. On his 23rd birthday, May 31, Bieber made his Major League debut against the Minnesota Twins. He went 52/3 giving up 8 hits, 4 runs, all earned, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and 2 homers. Not Justin was 11-5 in 20 outings with a 4.55 ERA, tossing 1142/3 innings, allowing 60 runs, 58 earned, and striking out 118.

Bieber, now 24, currently is pitching the best baseball of life in 2019. He was named to represent the Indians in the 90th Mid-Summer Classic at Progressive Field four days before the game on July 9. Little did Bieber know he would be hoisting the Ted Williams ASG MVP trophy that night after striking out the side in the fifth during the AL’s narrow defeat of the NL 4-3. Last night provided another performance to add to Bieber’s 2019 World Tour.

The Indians arrived at the Rogers Center following the heart breaking 2-1 defeat in the tenth, attempting to leave for Kansas City on a good note.

Both All-Star pitchers, Bieber and Marcus Stroman (6-11, 2.96 ERA) threw four scoreless frames each. Terry Francona’s squad put a run on the scoreboard in the fifth. After retiring Jake Bauers and Jordan Luplow, Stroman faced Gregory Allen, who reached on a two-out single between the shortstop and second baseman. Backup catcher, Kevin Plawecki lined a double down the left-field line, plating Allen. Stroman escaped the inning and the pitchers duel continued.

Bieber stepped onto the hill to begin the seventh, throwing 6 no-hit innings, the only baserunner was a walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr in the second. Leadoff hitter, Eric Sogard ended the no-no with a ground rule double right, but he pulled a Houdini to advance to the eighth where Cleveland would add one of its three big insurance runs.

Reliving Marcus Stroman, who pitched 7 frames, yielding 5 hits, 1 run, striking out 6 and walking, was Daniel Hudson (5-2, 2.80 ERA). Hudson faced Plawecki to start the inning, striking him out swinging, then Francisco Lindor smashed a two-bagger, aggressively swiping third base. Rookie center fielder, Oscar Mercado drove Lindor from third with a sacrifice deep center, making it 2-0 Tribe. The right-handed bullpen arm produced a fly ball off Carlos “Slamtana” Santana’s left-handed bat. Bieber would receive two more runs of support during the last frame of the game.

In the ninth, Wilmer Font (5-3, 4.33 ERA) replaced Hudson, to battle the middle of the Tribe’s lineup card. Font sent down Jason Kipnis, then José Ramírez singled and Bauers doubled down the right field line, but a fan interfered, resulting in the runners staying at second and third. Coming to the rescue was Luplow who placed a swinging bunt down the first base line, plating speedy Ramírez. Allen provided the second run in the frame with a base knock as Bauers crossed home plate from third.

Bieber sent down Brandon Drury, Sogard, and Freddy Galvis in order, needing only eight pitches, earning his second complete game shutout this year and in his career. He struck out 10 Blue Jays and allowed a messily double and walk, facing 29, two over the minimum. The twenty-four-year-old right hander, become the youngest Indians starter to throw a complete game shutout with 10 or more strikeout and giving up 1 hit or fewer since Hall of Famer, Dennis Eckersley, was twenty-two in 1977, according to Sarah Langs.

Sarah Langs reported that Bieber was the youngest Indians hurler to throw a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts or more and allowing 1 hit or less since Dennis Eckersley in 1977 at the age of twenty-two. Photo by MLB/Cleveland Indians.

The Indians will be traveling to Kansas City to play a four game weekend series with the Royals, starting tomorrow night. Adam Plutko (3-2, 4.81 ERA) will be the tabbed starter for Cleveland and opposing him is Mike Montgomery (1-3, 6.83 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 pm at Kauffman Stadium, SportsTime Ohio, WTAM, and WMMS will carry the game.