Cleveland Indians: Bullpen Meltdown Results in Frustrating Loss

4 - 11 - 10     at Detroit     L, 9 - 8     2 - 4

     There really is no nice way to put this: the Indians' bullpen choked, not once, not twice, but three times as they allowed the Tigers to put together three straight big innings at the tail end of the game to win it.
     The Tribe offense finally came to life by scoring six runs off their nemesis, Detroit ace Justin Verlander, and eight total.  The big blow was delivered by Luis Valbuena, who smacked a grand slam with two down in the first inning.  Jhonny Peralta added a two - run shot and Shin - Soo Choo bombed a solo home run.
     In the seventh, the Cleveland pen began to fall apart and they let the Tigers slowly get back in the game.  They scored one in that seventh frame, two in the eighth, and three more in the ninth to pull off the stunner.
     Chris Perez became the scapegoat with the blown save in the final inning, but Rafael Perez was also to blame due to his terrible eighth inning.
    Chris Perez walked Johnny Damon to force in the tying run and he then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Carlos Guillen to cross the plate with the winning tally.  Even though it was scored a wild pitch, catcher Lou Marson should have been able to keep the ball in front of him, but it rolled through his legs.
    The blown six - run lead cost Jake Westbrook his first win in over two years.