Cleveland Indians: Following Frightening Injury, Tribe Rallies for Win

5 - 29 - 10     at New York     W, 13 - 11     18 - 29

     Before the Indians could begin their biggest comeback of the season, they first had to experience one of the scariest incidents that there can possibly be in the game of baseball.
     The Yankees were already leading 1 - 0 in the bottom of third, and they were threatening again with the powerful Alex Rodriguez at the plate.  A - Rod lined a shot back up the middle, and Tribe pitcher David Huff tried to get out of the way, but the ball hit him square in the head and caromed towards the line in right field.  The impact knocked Huff unconscious for several minutes and he finally had to be carted off the diamond.  He did, however, give a thumbs - up to the nervous crowd, and the news continued to get better as his CT scan came back negative.
     After the frame ended, Cleveland was down 3 - 0, but they came roaring back in the fourth.  Austin Kearns singled and Jhonny Peralta walked to set up the scoring plays.  With two outs, Mark Grudzielanek singled home Kearns, and Matt LaPorta followed that up by doubling up the alley in left - center, scoring both Peralta and Grudzielanek.
     The Yankees, though, exploded off the Indians' bullpen for six runs in their half of the fourth.  Aaron Laffey's control problems were the killer as he walked three and hit a batter.  Robinson Cano's two - run double put the exclamation point on the rally.
     The two teams traded scores in the fifth, and the Tribe was still trailing 10 - 5 heading into the seventh.  The Tribe began their rally quietly when Trevor Crowe was hit by a pitch and then stole second base.  That steal allowed Crowe to score on Kearns' single, and the fans began to get a little restless.  Things would get much worse for the home team thanks to a Peralta walk and another Grudzielanek RBI single.  That brought the tying run to the plate, and after LaPorta walked, Cleveland batters really began to tee off.  Lou Marson and Jason Donald hit back - to back two - run doubles, and before the inning had ended, Crowe had contributed a run - scoring single.  The Yankees used four pitchers in the frame, but couldn't prevent seven runs from scoring.
     A Russell Branyan moon - shot in the eighth provided insurance, and the Indians were able to withstand a Yanks' run in the ninth.
     What made the comeback even more impressive was that it was accomplished off the Yankees' ace, C.C. Sabathia, and one of their best relievers, Joba Chamberlain.