Bradley Zimmer's arm is gaining a reputation to rival that of Cleveland Indians teammate Yan Gomes
Updated 7:13 PM; Posted 7:05 PM
By Joe Noga, cleveland.com
jnoga@cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the last several seasons, Cleveland's opposing baserunners have heard the adage "don't run on Yan," but they're also going to figure out sooner or later that "if you run on Bradley, it will end badly."
Bradley Zimmer and Yan Gomes both helped further their sterling defensive reputations Sunday when they cut down a trio of Kansas City baserunners in a 3-1 Indians victory.
Zimmer threw out Jon Jay at home plate in the third inning with a rocket that beat the Royals left fielder by three feet.
Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger realized Zimmer's throw had a chance as he watched it approach the plate.
"I could hear it coming in," Clevinger said. "You knew from the flight path, before it got to second base, he was going to be on money. I was pumped."
Gomes cut down K.C. base stealer Jorge Soler in the fourth inning on a strike-out, throw-out double play with Ryan Goins batting.
Later, in the sixth, Gomes threw behind Royals baserunner Mike Moustakas for a pickoff as first baseman Yonder Alonso applied the tag.
"Almost every game, he's like a ninja back there," Clevinger said of Gomes' pickoff. "Yeah, I always appreciate those outs from him."
Controlling the opposition's running game is nothing new for Gomes. He is among baseball's best in caught stealing percentage in the last two seasons (42 percent in 2017). In five previous starts this year, no other opposing baserunner had even attempted to steal against Gomes.
Manager Terry Francona took it a step further in praising Gomes' work behind the plate, saying it is comforting to know an arm of that caliber is back there when you need it.
"When we prepare for a series, you look at guys that are runners and you just know both he and Roberto (Perez), if you give them a legitimate chance, they're going to throw you out," Francona said.
Meanwhile, Zimmer's arm is beginning to gain a big reputation on its own merits. In Anaheim last week the 25-year-old unleashed a laser-accurate throw to second base that cut down Angels catcher Martin Maldonado. Maldanado figured he'd cruise in with a double after hitting a ball off the wall in center.
The result was Zimmer's first outfield assist of the season. Combined with Sunday's throw and his team-high eight assists last year, he is one of three American League outfielders with at least 10 over the last two seasons.
Sunday's highlight throw from Zimmer impressed the man who was on the receiving end -- a guy who knows a little about making good throws himself.
"He gave me so much time," Gomes said of Zimmer's throw. "Usually, he keeps the ball low and it's like a one-hopper to me. That ball had no intentions of going downwards."
Gomes said he's sure if he had let Zimmer's throw go by him in the air that it would have hit the backstop.
"The kid's got tools, man," Gomes said. "He's pretty unbelievable out there."