Cleveland Indians: White Sox Outlast the Indians

8 - 30 - 10     vs. Chicago White Sox     L, 10 - 6 (11 innings)     53 - 78

     The Indians made a ferocious 9th inning rally that tied the game, only to watch it slip away in extras.  In the end, the White Sox, a team still fighting for a playoff birth, simply wanted the game more than the Tribe.
     Mitch Talbot threw glorified batting practice in the five innings he worked, and the Sox took advantage as they quickly grabbed a 5 - 0 lead.  Paul Konerko's two - run double keyed the outburst.
     Cleveland, however, battled right back on the stength of a great night turned in by Travis Hafner.  The man known as Pronk went 4 - 5 with three doubles and a run batted in.  Hafner's performance coupled with Jayson Nix's two - run homer, kept the Indians in the game, and they entered the 9th only trailing by a 6 - 3 score.
     The game - tying rally was accomplished off of Bobby Jenks, and the Tribe did it by putting the first four men on base.  Shin - Soo Choo's walk got things rolling, and the Indians had a legitimate threat after another Hafner two - bagger.  Shelley Duncan's soft single to left field plated one and also put the tying runs on base.  And both of those runs scored when Luis Valbuena chopped an infield single to scond that was combined with a Brent Lillibridge throwing error.  Cleveland had knotted the contest at six, but they could do no better than that.
     In the 11th, Rafael Perez was one strike away from a 1 - 2 - 3 inning when everything fell apart.  Lillibredge atoned for his earlier miscue by stroking a solo bomb and three more Chicago batters came around to touch home plate.
     A valiant effort had been wasted.

Cleveland Indians: Royals Hang Tough, Avoid Sweep Behind Chen

8 - 29 - 10     vs. Kansas City     L, 6 - 2     53 - 77

     Not much has changed as far as the matchup between Fausto Carmona and Bruce Chen.  Eleven days ago, when the two hurlers met in Kansas City, Chen got the better of Fausto and the Indians, and history repeated itself this time around, allowing the Royals to avoid a sweep.
     A couple of sacrifice flies by the K.C. hitters in the 4th, staked the visitors to an early 2 - 0 lead before an unlikely hero tied the game.
     In the 6th, Jason Donald stepped to plate with one on and two out, and promptly pounded a two - run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark, center field.  However, that would be all the offense the Tribe could muster on this afternoon.
     Carmona gave up the deciding run in the 7th when Kila Ka'aihue drilled a RBI double to the gap in left - center field. 
      The score gave Chen the win, and after the Royals tacked on some insurance against the Tribe bullpen, the Kansas City pen closed out the contest emphatically by striking out  the final seven Indian batters they faced.

Cleveland Indians: Cabrera's Home Run Sends Fans Home Happy

8 - 28 - 10     vs. Kansas City     W, 4 - 3 (10 innings)     53 - 76

     A game that saw the Indians blow a three - run lead, ended abruptly in the bottom of the 10th when Asdrubal Cabrera launched a walk - off, solo homer down the right field line.  The win was the third in a row for the red - hot Tribe, and it is their second such home run of the past month.
     The pitching matchup was the exact same as the one that took place eleven days prior, as Zach Greinke was pitted against Jeanmar Gomez.  This time, however, it was Cleveland's rookie who actually pitched better than the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.  Neither hurler wound up recording a decision.
     The Indians played small ball through the first two innings to build up that 3 - 0 advantage.  A double, a sacrifice bunt, and a Shin - Soo Choo RBI grounder plated a run in the 1st, and two more scored in the 2nd thanks to a Brantley RBI single and a Choo bases loaded walk.
     Wilson Betemit, who owns Tribe pitching, pulled the Royals within one on his two - run belt in the 6th off of Gomez. 
     Gomez, though, did leave with a chance to get the win, but the bullpen surrendered a tally in the 8th that ultimately sent the game to extras.
     Then came Cabrera's heroics and a dramatic Indians' victory to clinch a series over Kansas City.
    

    

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Unleashes Hit Barrage vs. Royals

8 - 27 - 10     vs. Kansas City     W, 15 - 4     52 - 76

     The anger and frustration had been building up for weeks until it was finally released in the faces of the hapless Kansas City Royals.  An Indians' offense struggling to score, all of the sudden could not stop scoring, and the Tribe eventually piled on 15 runs in a blowout victory.
     Cleveland wasted little time in jumping on the Royals as they exploded for six tallies in the bottom of the 2nd inning.  Matt LaPorta's three - run homer off a hanging curve opened the floodgates, and the Indians were not about to stop.  Chris Giminez, Michael Brantley, and Shin - Soo Choo each delivered a RBI base - hit, and the Tribe was well on their way.
     The visitors showed some life in the 4th and they were able to cut Cleveland's lead in half.  A Wilson Betemit solo homer got the rally started, and a couple of run - scoring singles soon followed.
     After a Jayson Nix RBI double in the bottom of the 4th, the Indians began blasting the long ball again.
     In the 5th, it was Giminez who lofted another three run bomb, this one to dead center field, and the Tribe had officially put the game on ice.
     Nix's three - run shot in the 8th made it a trifecta, and the Indians went on to win, 15 - 4.
     Josh Tomlin had a bend but don't break mentality, and it paid off in the form of a win as he was able to work through the 5th inning.

Ohio State Football: 2010 Season Preview

     Fresh off a Rose Bowl victory that restored the program's national reputation, the Ohio State Buckeyes storm into the 2010 season looking for the school's eighth national title.  On offense, the Bucks are loaded thanks to the return of several key players, including Heisman trophy candidate Terrelle Pryor.  Defensively, Ohio State, as usual, will be stout, and with Jim Tressel patrolling the sideline, the Buckeyes will have a strategical advantage in every game they play.  And so, the chase for a championship begins September 2nd, and the Bucks hope it concludes January 10th in Glendale, Arizona.
     If the Buckeyes want to achieve their ultimate goal, they are going to have to be able endure a schedule that features some high - profile matchups.  In week two, the Scarlet and Gray will run into a Miami (FL.) team that figures to be one of the best in the country.  Then, in the late stages of the season, Ohio State is forced to play on the road in Madison and Iowa City in games that figure to play a deciding role in the Big Ten race.
     However, as long as Terrelle Pryor and the offense continue to gel, there is no team in the Buckeyes' conference, or perhaps the country for that matter, that can beat this year's version of Ohio's favorite team.

Cleveland Indians: Masterson, LaPorta, and Tribe Break Out of Funk

8 - 26 - 10     vs. Oakland     W, 3 - 2     51 - 76

     Entering a series finale once again looking to avoid a sweep, the Indians were in desperate need of key performances from some slumping players.  Justin Masterson and Matt LaPorta both fit that description perfectly, and they both had huge games as the Tribe put an end to a miserable five - game skid.
     For quite a while it looked as if the run the Athletics picked up in the 2nd inning might be enough to send Cleveland to another loss.  After Gabe Gross blooped a RBI single into shallow left field, Oakland's starter, Vin Mazzaro, shut his opponents down through the next two frames.
     However, in the bottom of the 5th, the Indians discovered some two - out magic in the form of Lou Marson.  The Tribe catcher walked, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, and finally concluded his escapade around the bases when Michael Brantley lined a single to right.
     In the top of the 6th, Masterson reverted to his old ways as he allowed the A's to get the momentum right back after they had lost it.  A lead - off walk was the key moment and Kevin Kouzmanoff made Masterson pay by ripping a RBI double off the left - center wall.
     The game took one last turn in the bottom of the 6th, and it went the way of the Indians.  With two outs, Trevor Crowe singled, bringing up LaPorta, who seemed destined to be a hero.  The young power hitter was in a horrific slump, but he seems to have a knack for the big hit, and in this situation, he did just that.  LaPorta jumped all over a Mazzaro chanegup and he blasted it over the 19 - foot wall in left for a two - run homer.  Cleveland would not trail again.
     Masterson was able to get through six innings, and Chris Perez was called on in the 8th to preserve the win for Justin and the Indians.  And Perez was up to the daunting challenge of a five - out save and he accomplished the feat in large part due to his four strikeous, three of them looking. 
     And with that, the Tribe was back in the win column. 

Cleveland Indians: Talbot, Indians Fail to Erase Awful 1st

8 - 25 - 10     vs. Oakland     L, 6 - 1     50 - 76

     The Indians and Athletics did play the required nine innings, but after one, everyone in the ballpark knew that the Tribe was not going to end, what would become, a five - game losing streak.
     Cleveland's Mitch Talbot allowed five runs in that 1st frame, and even though he was nearly perfect after that, the damage had been done.  Talbot, who early in the season was a Rookie of the Year candidate, has now gone two months between victories while his E.R.A. has skyrocketed.
     In the bottom of the 1st, Trevor Cahill, an American League All - Star, walked to the mound with a 5 - 0 lead, and like most good pitchers, he made sure the Indians never had a chance to win.  Cahill wound up holding the home team to a measly tally over seven innings of work.
     Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single in the 5th was the reason the Tribe did not get held scoreless for the second straight night.  However, Cabrera was thrown out at second on the play, killing any potential comeback.
     A three - run, bases - clearing double off the bat of Kevin Kouzmanoff was the big blow in Oakland's early rally.

Cleveland Indians: Gonzalez Once Again Too Much For Tribe

8 - 24 - 10     vs. Oakland     L, 5 - 0     50 - 75

     Usually the third time is the charm.  Well, that is definitely not the case for the Indians when it comes to solving Gio Gonzalez.  The Athletics' ace has now beaten the Tribe three times without allowing a single run over nearly 21 innings.  In his most recent mastery of Cleveland, he threw seven scoreless frames and was supported by three home runs.
     The Indians' starter was Fausto Carmona, and his tough stretch continued as he surrendered four tallies and a couple of long balls.  The loss dropped Carmona below .500 for the first time all season.
     Oakland got their homers from Jeff Larish (two - run shot in the 2nd), Coco Crisp (solo blast in the 5th), and Jack Cust (two - run belt in the 7th).  Once the A's were done dropping souvenirs into the outfield bleachers at Progressive Field, the game was over.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Gets Blasted, Nix Sparkles Defensively

8 - 22 - 10     at Detroit     L, 8 - 1     50 - 74
    
     Rarely does a lopsided loss have any positives in it, but the Tribe's 8 - 1 defeat at the hands of the Tigers actually had a few bright spots.  First of all, eight of the Indians' nine defensive players played errorless baseball, although Trevor Crowe did make two miscues in center field.  Secondly, Jayson Nix twice made incredible catches in foul territory on the third base side.  The game's final result, however, was still ugly.
     Cleveland held a slim 1 - 0 lead at one point thanks to Shin - Soo Choo's solo dinger to right field in the 1st inning.  That would be the only chink in Justin Verlander's armor on this day.
     Detroit scored all eight of their tallies in the first three frames as they were able to remove all doubt in a hurry.  A former Indian, Jhonny Peralta, aided the onslaught by lacing a two - run single to center that gave the home team the advantage for good.  Peralta later added a sacrifice fly.
     Jeanmar Gomez could not duplicate the magic he orchestrated in his first major league start, which also came against the Tigers, and this time he got hammered to the tune of eight tallies, seven earned, and he was only able to record 21 outs.
     While Gomez was getting battered, Jayson Nix was having his best game at third base.  Twice he made catches by reaching over the railing that guards the photo bay area, and the second time he had to reach so far over that he actually flipped, head over heels, over the railing.  Yet, he somehow held on, and in so doing, earned himself as much SportsCenter airtime as LeBron James.  Well, that is for one day at least.

Cleveland Indians: Offense and Defense Once Again Lacking

8 - 21 - 10     at Detroit     L, 5 - 2     50 - 73

     As another day goes by, the Indians' woes get worse and worse. Their defense is absolutely awful and their bats never do seem to come alive. That means all of their hopes rest on the starting pitchers, and in this game, that was the rookie, Josh Tomlin. And when your best chance for victory rides on the right arm of a pitcher who has made just a handful of big league starts, you don't really have much chance at all.
     In the top of the 1st inning, it was actually the Tigers who were making the fielding mistakes and it led to an unearned run for the Tribe. With two outs, Will Rhymes booted a routine grounder off the bat of Shin - Soo Choo, and after Choo advanced to second on a wild pitch, Brennan Boesch dropped a fly ball in shallow right field when he tried to go to a slide.
     Cleveland, however, returned the favor in the bottom of the 1st. Tomlin allowed a pair of doubles before uncorking a wild pitch that gave Detroit a tally they never should have gotten.
     The Indians were able to tie the score in the 3rd on a Travis Hafner RBI single, but Jayson Nix's bases - loaded, double play roller took most of the sting out of the comeback.
     The Tigers took complete control of the contest in the 5th when they scored twice. Don Kelly sparked the home team with his solo homer down the right field line, and Austin Jackson followed that up with a two - bagger and he eventually came around to touch home plate.
     Tomlin took his third loss of the season while Max Scherzer was the victor.

Cleveland Indians: Galarraga Shuts Downs Indians, Again

8 - 20 - 10     at Detroit     L, 6 - 0     50 - 72

     After coming within a missed call of a perfect game on June 2nd, Armando Galarraga decided to give the Indians an encore.  This time he took a perfecto into the 5th before settling for seven shutout innings and his fifth career win versus the Tribe.
     Cleveland's Justin Masterson was nowhere close to perfect on this night as he got beaten around to the tune of five runs over five frames.  And with the way Galarraga was dealing, Masterson never had a chance to earn the victory.
     Detroit took complete control of the game with four combined tallies over the first two innings.  The Tigers wound up producing 16 hits, four from Don Kelly, and American League triple crown threat, Miguel Cabrera, added a couple of base knocks and a RBI.
     The Indians broke up Galarraga's bid for perfection in the 5th when Jayson Nix blasted a two - out double off the left field wall.  The Tribe would only get two more hits.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Comes From Behind To Win Despite Poor Play

8 - 19 - 10     at Kansas City     W, 7 - 3     50 - 71

     Due to the Indians' awful play as of late, Manny Acta felt inclined to call a team meeting prior to the Tribe's series finale in Kansas City.  And it looks like the players received the message.  Well, sort of.  While the Indians were able to win the game on the stength of a tremendous late innings rally, they also committed five errors.  So, yes, the Tribe was able to avoid a sweep, but their defense sure has not gotten any better.
     Mitch Talbot, who has failed to win a game since June 27th, was only able to last 4 2/3 frames on this night, and he left trailing 3 - 0.  He did not pitch poorly, however he was victimized by poor play behind him and a bit of bad luck.  In the 5th, he almost worked out of a bases - loaded jam, but he surrendered a weak, two - run single off the bat of Wilson Betemit that barely even made to the outfield grass.
     Cleveland waited until the 8th to finally break out or their offensive slumber.  Trevor Crowe hit a one - out single and advanced to second base courtesy of a wild pitch.  He then scored when Matt LaPorta laced a RBI single to center following a 13 pitch at - bat.  That feisty plate appearance turned the whole game around and it was the primary reason Kyle Davies, the Royals' starter, headed to the showers a few batters later.
     Following Davies' exit, the Indians continued to pile on against the K.C. bullpen.  Shelley Duncan blooped a RBI single down the right field line, and Michael Brantley followed that up with a walk to load the bases.  Gregor Blanco's sensational diving catch in deep center on a ball that was crushed by Asdrubal Cabrera, kept the game tied for the moment as the play went for a sacrifice fly.  The next batter, Shin - Soo Choo, chopped a run - scoring single into right, and the Tribe had the lead for good.  Prior to the inning's conclusion, Travis Hafner picked up a RBI on an infield single, and the Indians headed to the 9th up by two.
     Cleveland scored a couple more times in the 9th, but the big news was the injury to Michael Brantley.  The Tribe's center fielder turned his ankle on a RBI grounder to shortstop.  Brantley never even made it out of the batter's box and he had to be helped off the field.
     Chris Perez was forced to record four outs to get his 15th save.
    
    

Cleveland Indians: Indians Start Poorly and Lose to the Royals

8 - 18 - 10     at Kansas City     L, 9 - 7     49 - 71

     The Indians' 120th game of the season was by far their worst.  The Tribe did not pitch well and they played awful defense, and, to make the loss even more frustrating, the offense made a late rally that fell just short becuase of the early hole Cleveland had dug for themselves.
     The Indians' defensive ineptitude began early as the Tribe practically handed the Royals a 1st inning run.  Gregor Blanco hit a lead - off double and advanced to third base on a grounder to third.  The reason for that was Andy Marte's inability to properly hold Blanco before making his throw across the diamond to first base.  Blanco eventually came home on Billy Butler's sacrifice fly.
     Thanks to Shelley Duncan and his solo home run to left field in the 2nd, Cleveland was able to tie the score temporarily.
     Kansas City began to put the game on ice over the next few frames.  The home squad put a pair on the board in the 2nd courtesy of a walk, a double, and a two - run triple off the bat of Mitch Maier.  In the 4th, the Royals tallied twice more in large part due to Marte (again) and his failure to snare a grounder that turned into a two - run single.
      The Indians tried desperately to get back in the thick of things starting with Asdrubal Cabrera and his RBI double down the left field line in the 5th and continuing with Chris Giminez's two - out, two - run double in the 6th.  However, every time the Tribe inched closer, Kansas City pulled farther away, and after Yuniesky Betancourt blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the 6th, the visitors were behind by a 9 - 4 count.
     In the 8th, Cleveland tried one final time to salvage a victory from the firm grasps of defeat.  Marte partially redeemed himself for all of those bad plays by lacing a double, and Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin - Soo Choo hit back - to - back, two - out, RBI hits, accounting for three runs.  That, though, still left the Indians down by two runs, and when the final out was recorded, the situation had not changed.
     Fausto Carmona took the loss, and what was once a promising season is quickly deteriorating.  Carmona's record is now 11 - 11 and his E.R.A. has ballooned over 4.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe, Gomez on Wrong End of Pitcher's Duel

8 - 17 - 10     at Kansas City     L, 2 - 1     49 - 70

     A season ago, Kansas City's Zack Greinke was the most dominant pitcher in either league.  However, this year, he has not been nearly as good.  Yet, on any given night, he can completely shut an offense down, especially one as inept as the Indians'.  And, of course, the Tribe caught Greinke on a good night, and the result was a narrow loss, although Jeanmar Gomez pitched extremely well.
     Gomez, who was off to the best start of any hurler in franchise history, only made two mistakes over six innings of work.  Unfortunately, both of those mistakes turned into home runs; one by Yuniesky Betancourt in the 5th, and the other by Wilson Betemit in the 6th.
     Cleveland could only muster one measly score against Greinke, and that came in the 2nd.  Travis Hafner doubled and Jayson Nix singled to start the rally, and Matt LaPorta brought home Pronk with a fielder's choice chopper to second.
     The rest of the Indians' night was spent wasting scoring chances and arguing the bad calls of home plate umpire Kerwin Danley.  The Tribe had opportunities in the 6th and 7th that went for naught because of their own bad performance, but the one that got away in the 9th was not their fault. 
     Michael Brantley led off by lacing a single to center field off of one of the best closers in baseball, Joakim Soria.  Brantley then advanced to second base on a groud out before watching Shin - Soo Choo and Hafner both take called third strikes that were well off the outside corner.  Neither hitter was happy about it, but the victory still went to Greinke and the Royals.

Cleveland Indians: Mariners' Error Sparks Tribe

8 - 15 - 10     vs. Seattle     W, 9 - 1     49 - 69

     The Indians have spent most of the season watching their pitchers unravel after a defensive misplay was made behind them.  This time, though, it was Seattle's Felix Hernandez who fell apart following a seemingly meaningless error made by his second baseman, Chone Figgins.  The E - 4 came with two outs in the 7th inning of a scoreless pitcher's duel, and it led to a seven - spot for the Tribe and an eventual lopsided victory.
     Jusin Masterson and Hernandez both took no - hitters into the 5th before the offenses began to solve the two starting hurlers.  In the top of the 5th, the Mariners loaded the bases with only one out, but Matt LaPorta quickly came to the rescue.  The first baseman's diving catch of an Ichiro Suzuki line drive saved a couple of runs and his diving tag of Figgins saved another.
     So, both clubs still had goose eggs up on the scoreboard when the Tribe came to bat in that fateful bottom of the 7th.  It began routinely enough as King Felix promptly retired the first two hitters that he faced.  Then, Luis Valbuena hit a grounder to second that Figgins bobbled and then he threw high to first base.  Casey Kotchman claimed that he had been able to keep his foot on the bag, but the call did not go his way, and the window of opportunity had opened ever so slightly for the Indians. 
     Visibly frustrated, Hernandez left a pitch up in the zone and Lou Marson drilled it through the right side of the infield, putting runners on the corners.  The next batter, Michael Brantley, got a nearly identical pitch, and  he shot it into center field, scoring Valbuena.  After Asdrubal Cabrera gapped a RBI double to right - center, the M's made the mistake of intentionally walking Shin - Soo Choo to get to Travis Hafner, who was making his first appearance since coming off of the disabled list.  And Pronk made the visitors pay by launching a grand slam into the Indians' bullpen in right - center.
     Seattle's ace had allowed six unearned runs, and the result, a loss.
     A call to the bullpen did not do the Mariners any good because Jayson Nix's solo homer made it back - to back jacks, and it also made it a laugher.
     Brantley's lined shot of a two - run homer in the 9th, gave the Tribe the afternoon's last highlight.

Cleveland Indians: Ex - Indians Burn Their Former Team

8 - 14 - 10     vs. Seattle     L, 9 - 3     48 - 69

     With all the former Indians that the Mariners brought with them to Progressive Field this weekend, the two clubs could have staged a team reunion instead of playing a baseball game.  And that would have been better for the Tribe because once the first pitch was thrown, things started to get ugly.  Russell Branyan, Josh Bard, and Jamey Wright, three players who used to call Cleveland their home during the summer, all made positive contributions for their new team as Seattle rolled over the Indians.
     Mitch Talbot, making his first start since coming off of the disabled list, worked in and nearly out of some big jams in the early going.  The Mariners did score twice, but without the use of a RBI hit, and it could have been a lot worse.
     In the bottom of the 4th, the Tribe came back to tie the contest on the strength of a couple of huge two - out hits.  Jayson Nix stroked a RBI double and Andy Marte added a run - scoring single.
     Seattle then proceeded to blow the game wide open with the long ball.  In the 5th, Russell Branyan launched a solo homer and Josh Bard blasted a grand slam to right field.  Two frames later, Casey Kotchman crunched a two - run dinger.
     Talbot, after avoiding some of that big trouble in the early portions of the game, fell apart in the 5th.  His final numbers read like this: 4IP, 6R, 4ER, and most importantly, the stat line ended with the ugly letter "L."

Cleveland Indians: Another Defensive Mistake Prevents Tribe From Winning

8 - 13 - 10     vs. Seattle     L, 3 - 2     48 - 68

     There is a reason why the Indians have one of the worst defenses in the league.  It is becuase of plays like the one Jason Donald made, or attempted to make, in the 6th inning of a series opener with Seattle.  The score was tied at 2, and the Tribe was one out away from getting out of a jam.  The Mariners had the go - ahead run on at third base in the form of Franklin Gutierrez, and they had Adam Moore at the plate.  Moore hit a one - hop grounder back toward the middle, and Donald, who plays second base, could not field the ball cleanly, allowing the visitors to take the lead.  The error was the difference between a no - decision and a loss for Fausto Carmona, and it separated a win from a defeat for the Indians.
     Russell Branyan pushed Seattle's first run across in the 1st on a grounder to second.  Branyan was traded from the Indians to his current club earlier this season, and he wasted no time in exacting a bit of revenge.
     Jason Donald and Chris Giminez hit back - to - back, two - out doubles in the 2nd to tie the game, and they had to rally again after Casey Kotchman bounced an infield RBI single over the mound in the 4th.  Shin - Soo Choo was the man who evened the score the second time around as he delivered a RBI base - hit that plated Michael Brantley in the 5th.
    Then came Donald's defensive miscue and Dave Pauley's first major league win.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Avoids Sweep

8 - 12 - 10     vs. Baltimore     W, 4 - 1     48 - 67

     All struggling teams have at least one thing in common.  When they pitch well, they can't hit, and vice versa.  That sure has been the case for the Cleveland Indians, and it resulted in a four - game losing streak.  However, the Tribe finally got both phases of their attack on the same page, and in so doing, they avoided an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Orioles.
     In the bottom of the 1st inning, Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera led off with back - to back singles, and following a couple of outs, they were both in scoring position.  Brantley then crossed home plate courtesy of a Trevor Crowe infield hit.  Hustling all the way, Crowe beat out a grounder to the left side of the infield, and his effort was rewarded with a RBI.
     Cleveland increased their lead in the 2nd thanks to Lou Marson and his RBI ground out.  Jason Donald's single and Andy Marte's double had set the stage for the scoring play.
     A scary incident turned into another tally for the Indians three frames later.  Choo was drilled on the hand to start the inning, and after he was cleared to continue playing, Crowe doubled him in.
     Jeanmar Gomez only allowed one run, and that came in the 6th on Ty Wigginton's two - out, RBI single.  Other than that, the Tribe's rookie was brilliant as he improved to 3 - 0 and his ERA dropped to a miniscule 1.54.
     The eventual losing pitcher, Kevin Millwood, exited after he had recorded 21 outs, and then the Indians buoyed their lead off of the O's bullpen.  Cleveland scored an unearned run in the 8th that was driven in by a Cabrera single.
     Chris Perez pitched a 1 - 2 - 3 9th to earn his 14th save of the season.

Cleveland Indians: O's Win Pitcher's Duel Decided by Rookies

8 - 11 - 10     vs. Baltimore     L, 3 - 1     47 - 67

     With the Indians and the Orioles hooking up in Cleveland, it came as no surprise that a pair of rebuilding teams would send rookies to the hill in the middle game of a mid - week series.  However, it was surprising that both young pitchers were excellent, especially Brad Bergesen, who twirled a complete game two - hitter.  His counterpart, Josh Tomlin, wound up being the tough - luck loser as he surrendered just two earned runs in five innings.
     Considering the way Bergesen was dealing, this contest was virtually over after Baltimore staked their hurler to a 3 - 0 lead half - way through the ballgame.   The O's took advantage of a passed ball to score an unearned run in  the 1st, and Cezar Izturis delivered with a two - out RBI single in the 4th.  One frame later, Brian Roberts deposited a Tomlin heater into the bleachers down the right field line, and the visitors were cruising.
     Luis Valbuena's RBI single in the bottom of the 5th stemmed the tide for the moment, but the Tribe could not build on the momentum, and so they fell for the second night in a row to the lowly Baltimore Orioles.

Cleveland Indians: Orioles Rout Indians in Shootout

8 - 10 - 10     vs. Baltimore     L, 14 - 8     47 - 66

     A game that started out as a pitcher's duel quickly turned into a slugfest, and the Orioles had a lot more pop in their lumber.
     The two starting hurlers, Justin Masterson and Jake Arrieta, both looked unhittable in the early going before Arietta began to show some chinks in the armor in the 3rd inning.  With two outs, Arietta walked Michael Brantley, and his throwing error moved Brantley into scoring position.  And that loomed large when Asdrubal Cabrera grounded a RBI single back up the middle to give the Indians the lead.
     That lead did not last long, though, because Masterson began to fall apart in the 4th.  An error on the third baseman, Luis Valbuena, opened the window of opportunity for Baltimore, and they took full advantage.  Once the dust had settled, the O's had scored four times, although only one of those runs was earned.
     The Tribe rallied right back in the bottom of the 4th as Jordan Brown and Trevor Crowe hit back - to - back doubles, and following a Valbuena RBI bounce out, Shin - Soo Choo rifled a two - run double down the right field line.  The frame would have lasted longer had Cabrera not been thrown out at the dish attempting to score on the Choo two - bagger.  All that gave Cleveland a 6 - 4 edge, but that would be their high - water mark for the evening.
     Masterson wound up being the losing pitcher, and it was Felix Pie's two - out, three - run homer in the 5th that sealed his fate.  The Indians never recovered from that big blow, and, in fact, things only got worse from there.
     The Orioles piled on six more tallies in the 8th and most of the scoring came by - way of the gopher ball.  Matt Wieters (two - run) and Luke Scott (three - run) both homered as Baltimore turned this game into a laugher.
     The Tribe was able to give their fans one last highlight as they headed for the exits when Brantley launched a two - run shot to right in the 9th.

Cleveland Indians: Huff's 5th Inning Woes Keep Tribe From Series Victory

8 - 8 - 10     vs. Minnesota     L, 5 - 4     47 - 65

     This may have been the biggest start in the young career of David Huff, and he completely flunked the test.  Given an early 4 - 0 lead, Huff not only could not hold it, but he also could not even make it through five innings.  And now, with Mitch Talbot set to return from the disabled list, Huff will probably be the odd man out in the Indians' rotation, and he will soon find himself back in AAA Columbus.
     After just two frames, it appeared as if the Tribe offense had done enough to merit a win, and along with that, a series triumph over the Twins.  In the 1st, Michael Brantley legged out a triple, Shin - Soo Choo singled him in, and Matt LaPorta cranked a two - run shot to the bleachers in left field.  Then, in the 2nd, Cleveland got another tally thanks to a Minnesota error.
     At this point, Huff was in cruise control.  He took a shutout into the 5th before the wheels came off.
     Huff walked the lead - off man and he paid for it dearly when Jim Thome cushed a two - run shot to right center.  Orlando Hudson's two - run double a few moments later, tied the game, and after another a walk, Manny Acta had seen enough.  Justin Germano was summoned from the Indians' bullpen, and he got the double play ball he was looking for, but Andy Marte bobbled it, limiting him to just the out at second base, while allowing the go - ahead run to score.
     In the end, Huff had allowed five runs, all of them earned, in just 4 1/3 frames, and the loss was his eleventh.
     The Tribe never threatened again as they never recovered from that 5th inning.

Cleveland Indians: Scoring Chances Get Away as Pitching Fades

8 - 7 - 10     vs. Minnesota     L, 7 - 2     47 - 64

     Due to the Indians' experience, or lack thereof, this team has had and will continue to have, problems driving in runners who are in scoring position.  And, against the Twins, the Tribe had countless opportunites to score runs, yet, they could only manage two in a losing effort.
     Minnesota jumped on top 2 - 0 after three innings of play before Cleveland showed their only signs of offensive life for the night.
     In the 4th, Jordan Brown and Matt LaPorta both picked up two - out RBIs on a double and single, respectively.  The rally tied the game, but unfortunately, the Indians would not have another runner touch home plate.
     Fausto Carmona kept the game deadlocked until he surrendered a RBI single to J.J. Hardy in the 7th, and after that, everything caved in on the Tribe.
    Carmona wound up lasting 7 1/3 frames, but he was roughed up for five runs, and after he was taken out the contest, the bullpen completely imploded and the Twins wound up winning in a blow - out.

Cleveland Indians: LaPorta Caps Wild Night With Walk - Off Blast

8 - 6 - 10     vs. Minnesota     W, 7 - 6     47 - 63

     It took Matt LaPorta all of two pitches to atone for a mistake he had made just moments earlier.  In the top of the 9th, the Indians' first baseman made a poor decision by cutting a throw off at the mound, robbing the Tribe of a chance to cut down the tying run at the plate.  Now, with the game tied at six, LaPorta picked out a fastball that was up and out over the plate, and he drove it over the left - center field wall to give Cleveland their fifth walk - off win of the season, and the first by - way of a long ball.
     The Indians appeared to be in complete control after two innings because they had built up a 4 - 0 lead.  The key blows were a two - run double off the bat of Shelley Duncan and a RBI single that was contributed by Asdrubal Cabrera.
     Even though the Twins began to rally in the middle frames, the Tribe still took a 6 - 4 lead into the 9th thanks to a couple of big RBI doubles from Shin - Soo Choo that gave the home team the insurance they so desperately needed.
     Uncharacteristically, Chris Perez blew the save in the 9th as Alexi Casilla drilled a two - run single right back up the middle.  But, as has already been mentioned, if LaPorta would have allowed Michael Brantley's throw to travel all the way to the dish, the second base runner, Trevor Plouffe, would probably have been out, and the Indians would have won the game right there.  However, I don't think anyone is complaining about LaPorta's game - winning home run, and, as the saying goes, all is well that ends well.

Cleveland Indians: Beltre's Slam too Much for Tribe to Overcome

8 - 5 - 10     at Boston     L, 6 - 2     46 - 63

     Fenway Park is not the ideal spot to pitch a rookie, especially when the home team boasts one of the best offenses in baseball.  Yet, that is exactly the situation Josh Tomlin found himself in as he made his third career start.  He pitched extremely well, except for one inning, the 4th.  With two outs, Tomlin issued a pair of walks, and Adrian Beltre made him pay by lofting a grand slam over the Green Monster.  Unfortunately for Tomlin and the Indians, that home run was the difference in the game.
     Shin - Soo Choo's solo homer to dead center in the 1st, combined with the fact that Tomlin was perfect through three frames, allowed the Tribe to think about a series win over the Red Sox.  However, along came that 4th inning, and all off those hopes were dashed.
     The Cleveland bullpen allowed a couple of big insurance runs to be scored in the 8th when J.D. Drew lined a two - run single to right - center.
     The Indians tried to claw their way back in the 9th, but Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door shut after Hideki Okajima had opened it just a crack.  A Luis Valbuena RBI single and a couple of walks had brought the tying run to the plate before Papelbon decided enough was enough.

Cleveland Indians: Lester Can't Solve Tribe, Sox Can't Solve Masterson

8 - 4 - 10     at Boston     W, 9 - 1     46 - 62

     Every good pitcher has that one team that he just can not beat, and for Red Sox hurler Jon Lester, that team is the Cleveland Indians.  In two starts against the Tribe this season, Lester has allowed ten runs, eight of them earned, in eleven innings, and his record is 0 - 1.  That loss came in his most recent outing as he was knocked around by Cleveland's young line - up to the tune of four tallies in five frames.  Two of those runs were unearned, but only because of a throwing error that Lester committed himself.
     On the flip side of that proverbial coin, every struggling pitcher has that one team that he seems to always beat, and for Justin Masterson, that team is the Boston Red Sox.  Earlier this season, he twirled a two - hit shutout when he was facing the BoSox, and in this game, he was able to go five innings while allowing just one base runner to cross home plate.  The win was Masterson's fourth of the year, and half of those have come against the Sox.
     The Tribe scored a gift run in the 3rd when Lester tried the cut down the lead runner at third base on an attempted sacrifice bunt.  However, Lester threw the ball wildly into foul territory, allowing Andy Marte to score.
     Asdrubal Cabrera's sac fly and Shelley Duncan's two - out, RBI double in the 5th, enabled Cleveland to expand their advantage, an advantage that eventually grew to 4 - 1 before the visitors removed all doubt in the 7th.
     The Indians scored five times in that 7th frame as they took advantage of a pair of Boston fielding miscues to start the rally, and then Marte finished the scoring splurge with his three - run homer that just did clear the Green Monster in left field.
     The win gives the Tribe four victories in thier last five games.

Cleveland Indians: Indians Lose as Tempers Flare

8 - 3 - 10     at Boston     L, 3 - 1     45 - 62

     It began very early in the game when Josh Beckett plunked Shelley Duncan in the back and Shin - Soo Choo on the knee.  It escalated after Justin Germano threw behind David Ortiz.  And then if finally exploded as soon as Jensen Lewis threw behind Adrian Beltre in the 7th.  Both benches cleared and there was a lot of pushing, shoving, and yelling as both teams surged toward each other.  The sight of Beckett yelling at Tribe players really made the Indians mad because if it would not have been for Beckett, there would have been no retaliation.  Regardless, the field was eventually cleared and the action continued, but not without bad blood still boiling in both dugouts.
     Aside from the large confrontation at the mound, this game lacked excitement.  The Red Sox fans did get to see their beloved Mike Lowell hit a two - run homer over the Green Monster on the first pitch he saw since returning from the disabled list.  Bill Hall also added a solo bomb to pad the Sox advantage.
     Cleveland's battery in this contest consisted of David Huff and Lou Marson, and both of them had just been called up from AAA Columbus.  Huff took the loss after allowing three runs in 5 1/3 frames, but Marson belted a solo home run to left field in the 3rd that accounted for the Indians' only offense on this night.
     Josh Beckett completely dominated the Tribe through eight innings before he was ejected along with Jensen Lewis in the wake of the 7th inning skirmish.
    

Cleveland Indians: Tribe's Win at Fenway a Costly One

8 - 2 - 10     at Boston     W, 6 - 5     45 - 61

     The Indians have always had a tough time winning at Fenway Park, but they never thought a victory at that historic ballpark would cost them their starting catcher.  Yet, that is exactly what happened as Carlos Santana sustained a serious leg injury in a collision at home plate.  Cleveland, however, did bounce back and win the game, their first win at Fenway in well over a year.
     The frightening incident that will most likely rob Santana of the rest of his rookie season, took place in the 7th inning.  Ryan Kalish tried to score on a base hit to right field, and Shin - Soo Choo, as he so often does, delivered a perfect strike to home plate.  Santana tagged out Kalish while blocking the plate, but in so doing, his left knee was seriously sprained by a good, aggressive slide on the part of Kalish.  Play was stopped for several minutes before the Tribe's young backstop was carted off the field.
     The Indians were able to hold on to a 6 - 1 lead, even though Adran Beltre hit a pair of home runs, one a solo shot and the other a three - run belt, that were sandwiched around the scary moment at the dish.
     Chris Perez came on in the 9th and protected that slim advantage, making him the first pitcher in Tribe history to save three consecutive one - run games.
     Cleveland had built up that aforementioned lead on the strength of a two - out, two - run double off the bat of Shelly Duncan in the 4th, and a big three spot in the 5th.  Choo's two - run single in that 5th frame was the biggest blow of the night for the Indians on their way to a bitter - sweet win.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe's Win Caps Wild Weekend

8 - 1 - 10     at Toronto     W, 5 - 4     44 - 61

     The Indians' stay in Toronto ony lasted three days, but during that short period of time the front office traded away three veterans, leaving behind a team that consists of young, inexpericed players that are the future of Tribe baseball.  And that future appeared to be bright as Cleveland beat Toronto in the series finale.
     The Indians were off to a great start when Asdrubal Cabrera launched a two - run homer to right - center field in the 1st inning.  The ball barely cleared the ten foot wall, yet it still counted and the Jays were in an early hole.
     The lead did not last long, though, because Aaron Hill single - handedly got the Blue Jays back in the game.  Toronto's second baseman swatted a solo homer off the left field foul pole in the 2nd, and one frame later, he flaired a RBI single to center.
     The Tribe roared right back in the 5th as they loaded the bases with nobody out.  However, the only runs they could muster came by - way of a walk and a double play ball.
     The rest of the game became a home run derby.  Jason Donald lined a solo homer to the seats in left in the 6th that gave Cleveland a three - run advantage that was good enough to withstand back - to - back jacks from the Jays in the 7th.  Yunel Escobar and Jose Bautista were the two batters who combined for the consecutive long balls.
     Just like Josh Tomlin had done the day before, Jeanmar Gomez made his second big league start while working on three days' rest, and just like Tomlin, Gomez pitched well.  He went five innings of two - run ball, and he picked up his second career win.
     For the second day in a row, Chris Perez pitched a scoreless 9th to earn the save.

Cleveland Indians: Indians Block Out Distractions and Beat the Jays

7 - 31 - 10     at Toronto     W, 2 - 1     43 - 61

     The chances that the Indians would actually win their Saturday matinee with the Blue Jays were slim.  Less than an hour prior to the first pitch, Jake Westbrook was traded away as part of a three team deal that involved Cleveland, San Diego, and St. Louis.  Westbrook, who was scheduled to make the start on this eventful day, had to be replaced by an emergency starter.  That wound up being Josh Tomlin, making just his second big league start and his first on three days' rest.  However, Tomlin was solid, and the Tribe managed to eke out a victory over Toronto.
     The Indians' first run of the afternoon came without the use of a RBI hit.  Jason Donald drew a bases loaded walk in the 4th to force in Shin - Soo Choo.  Choo would play a bigger role later in the game, but that would come after the Jays tied the contest.
     Bengie Molina created that deadlock with his 5th inning home run that soared over the wall in left - center field. 
     In the 6th, Jose Bautista was thrown out at second base by Asdrubal Cabrera as Bautista took too wide of a turn around the bag following a Vernon Wells single.  That ended the Blue Jays' threat, and it also marked the end of Tomlin's day.  The youngster was able to last 5 1/3 frames during which time he was only touched up for the one tally.
     Cabrera reached base via a one - out walk in the 7th, and he then scored on Choo's bloop double down the line in left.  Fred Lewis bobbled the ball near the seats in foul territory, allowing Cabrera to cross home plate.
     The Tribe took their lead to the bottom of the 9th, and that's when Chris Perez nearly choked it away.  The Jays loaded the bases thanks to a single, a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt, and a intentional walk, but Perez rose the occasion by striking out both Edwin Encarnacion and Travis Snider to the end the ballgame.
     Immediately following that final strikeout, it was reported that Kerry Wood had been dealt to the Yankees for a player to be named later or future cash considerations.

Cleveland Indians: Distracted Tribe Gets Humiliated North of the Border

7 - 30 - 10     at Toronto     L, 8 - 1     42 - 61

     While trade rumors swirled around some of the Indians' key players, the Tribe attempted to go out and play a baseball game in Toronto.  And, needless to say, it was not very pretty.  Cleveland's young players were visibly distracted, and the Blue Jays took advantage of that fact.
     After just four innings of play, this game was virtually decided.  Fred Lewis had hit a solo homer in the 3rd and Jose Bautista had capped off a six - run 4th with a grand slam.
     Toronto's starting pitcher, Shaun Marcum, was also pitching a perfect game, and even though that eventually evaporated, Marcum still pitched a gem.  The only run the Tribe could muster came on a Matt LaPorta sacrifice fly in the 5th.
     Justin Masterson, who had beaten the Jays back on July 1st, was a mess this time out.  He allowed eight runs in just 5 1/3 frames, and he wound up taking the loss.
     Following the contest, it was announced that Austin Kearns had been traded to the Yankees for a player to be named later.