CLEVELAND _ If you're an Indians fan, Sunday night's game wasn't any less gruesome than an unfortunate death for that downtrodden but plucky Game of Thrones character you loved.
There was so much hope in the beginning for a positive outcome, but like many other characters (or, in this case, games), it was a brutal way to go, nor was it easy for fans to watch.
And, this metaphorical death took place early in the episode, as the Indians trailed early and went on to be trounced by the Atlanta Braves 11-5 on Sunday night at Progressive Field.
The Braves jumped all over Shane Bieber, quickly building a 2-0 lead after the first and a 5-0 advantage after the second inning before ending Bieber's night with one out in the third. But, the Indians' bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding.
By the fourth, the Braves (11-10) had opened up a 9-0 lead and cruised for the rest of the night. Three innings later, it was 11-0.
During the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, the Indians in the second inning led 7-0. Between the third inning Saturday and the ninth on Sunday, the Braves out-scored the Indians 19-3 while tearing through the bullpen and Bieber.
Bieber has had a strong April but on Sunday night allowed seven runs (five earned) with five hits, a walk and three strikeouts.
Former Indians third baseman Josh Donaldson was the source of much of the early damage. Facing Bieber (2-1), Donaldson drilled two home runs in the first two innings and drove in four of the Braves' five runs to that point in the game. In 16 games with the Indians last year, Donaldson hit three home runs and nearly equaled that number in the first few innings Sunday night.
The Indians (12-9) had but a few bright spots within a sea of negativity. Francisco Lindor in the seventh inning hit his first home run of the season in what was his second game, a solo shot to the Home Run Porch in left field. Roberto Perez, an inning later, added a solo home run to left-center field off former Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin to make it 11-3. The Indians added two runs in the ninth via a Jason Kipnis single that also featured an error on center fielder Ender Inciarte.
The top of the ninth featured catcher Kevin Plawecki pitching for the Indians to save the bullpen a bit. He worked a 1-2-3 inning in what was his third appearance of his career.
