Cleveland Indians: Tribe Makes History Thanks to Hit Barrage

7 - 19 - 10     at Minnesota     W, 10 - 4     39 - 54

     No team in the history of the Indians' franchise had ever won five consecutive games following the All - Star Break, until now.  The Tribe stormed into Minneapolis and destroyed the Twins behind a 20 - hit onslaught.
     Cleveland broke through on the scoreboard in the 2nd inning as they began to pepper Twins' pitching with a steady diet of base hits.  Leading off, Travis Hafner singled and Jhonny Peralta walked, setting the stage for the beginning of a great night.  Trevor Crowe would finish the game with four hits, including this RBI double that he flaired to the gap in left - center field.  Jason Donald, much like he has done all season, put the ball in play in a key situation, and he was credited with a RBI on his groundout to shortstop.
     Minnesota could only score once in the 4th despite having a great chance to score much more.  The main culprit was a Delmon Young drive off the wall in left that Trevor Crowe disguised into being an out, which forced the runners to hold up. Young, though, was credited with a single following a review by the umpires.
     The Indians made the Twins' pay for their missed opportunity by pounding out a five - spot in the 5th.  Delmon Young misplayed a Carlos Santana fly ball down the line in left, and the Tribe catcher wound up at second base with a gift double to start the rally.  Shelley Duncan followed with a single, but after Hafner popped out and Peralta hit a sac fly, it appeared as if Cleveland might only get one run.  That, however, is when the Indians' offense exploded for five straight singles.  Matt LaPorta, Trevor Crowe, Jason Donald, Michael Brantley, and Jayson Nix were the ones who made the streak happen, and the final four base knocks all drove in exactly one base runner.
     The Tribe went on to add some insurance while Minnesota was able to threaten, but never have the big inning they so desperately needed.
     Aaron Laffey was once again hampered by low velocity on his fastball and a rising pitch count, yet he lasted five frames without allowing an earned run, and the win that he picked up was just his second of the year.