Rare fielding lapse costs Indians in loss

BALTIMORE — Francisco Lindor said the Indians lost Saturday’s game against the Orioles in the first inning. Cleveland’s shortstop was not, however, referring to the ball that Mark Trumbo deposited deep into the left-field seats at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to give Baltimore a swift lead.

After the Tribe’s 5-2 loss to the O’s, both Lindor and second baseman Jason Kipnis were kicking themselves over a double play that they did not complete. Had Kipnis fired the ball a half-second faster, or Lindor made the turn a hair quicker, Trumbo never would have even stepped into the batter’s box against Josh Tomlin.

“We both just didn’t have enough urgency on the play,” Kipnis said.

Chalk it up as a rare lapse for one of the game’s top middle-infield duos.

Lindor is in the midst of a season worthy of Gold Glove consideration. Kipnis, who has not been admired by advanced metrics in previous years, has ranked among the Majors’ best at his position this season. Whether a highlight-reel effort is required, or a routine play is at hand, Lindor and Kipnis have been consistently reliable for the Indians this year.

Neither Lindor nor Kipnis made an excuse for mishandling the grounder off the bat of Chris Davis in the first inning, but Cleveland manager Terry Francona was not about to put the onus on them, either. Francona credited Davis for hauling it up the first-base line, and Tomlin lamented not making pitches to escape damage. It is also fair to point out that the Tribe’s offense …

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