CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians did not have much to cheer about in their 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field Wednesday, but they got something in the form of two hits from rookie outfielder Bradley Zimmer in just his second game at the Major League level.
Batting in the No. 8 spot in the order, Zimmer went two for four with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Both of Zimmer’s hits, a double and home run, went for extra bases.
With the Indians at a 6-0 deficit after the Rays scored four times in the top of the second inning and twice in the third, Zimmer stepped into the box and got things rolling in the bottom half of the third.
After right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall doubled to deep left-center field, Zimmer took a 2-1 pitch from Rays starter Alex Cobb midway up the 19-foot wall in left field for a double, a hit that brought around Chisenhall for the Indians’ first run of the game.
Then, Zimmer came around to score when second baseman Jason Kipnis smacked a 1-2 pitch to left field for an RBI single.
After flying out to left field and striking out swinging in his next two at-bats, Zimmer came through again in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With one out in the frame, Zimmer fouled off the first offering from Alex Colome, and then, lined a home run over the wall in center field for his first Major League home run.
In seven at-bats over his first two games with the Indians, Zimmer had two hits with two runs scored, two RBI, one double and one home run.
Zimmer was promoted to the Major League roster on Tuesday after outfielder Abraham Almonte was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained right biceps that could keep him out for the next month.
Through 33 games this season for the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, Zimmer hit .294 with .371 on-base and .532 slugging percentages. Of his 37 hits in 126 at-bats, 18 went for extra bases, including 11 doubles, two triples and five home runs.
Zimmer drove in 14 runs, scored another 22 and drew 14 walks against 43 strikeouts. On the base paths, Zimmer successfully stole on nine of his 12 attempts.
A first-round pick of the Indians (No. 21 overall) in the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of the University of San Francisco, Zimmer spent parts of four seasons in the minor leagues with the Indians organization.
In 2014, Zimmer played Single-A ball at both Mahoning Valley (Short Season) and Lake County (Full), and then, spent 2015 between Single-A Lynchburg (High Level) and Double-A Akron.
Last season, Zimmer split time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.
Over 338 minor-league games, Zimmer hit .270 with .372 on-base and .453 slugging percentages. He smacked 337 hits in 1,246 at-bats with 74 doubles, 14 triples and 42 home runs with 171 runs batted in, 218 runs scored and 167 walks drawn.
