9 - 27 - 10 vs. Detroit W, 6 - 3 66 - 91
It took the Indians quite a while, but they have finally solved Armando Galarraga.
The Detroit pitcher came within a missed called of throwing a perfect game against the Indians on June 2nd, and then on August 20th, once again facing the Tribe, he flirted with history once again.
In his most recent start in Cleveland, Galarraga took a no - no into the 5th before the Indians unloaded on him.
The Indians scored five times in the inning en route to a comfortable series - opening victory.
The home run ball was key for the Tribe as they hit three of them in the 5th. Matt LaPorta and Luke Carlin each hit a solo shot to tie the score at two, and shortly thereafter, Travis Hafner belted out a three - run homer.
The offensive outburst enabled Carlos Carrasco to pick up the win. Carrasco tossed six innings of three - run baseball.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Rallies to Take Series
9 - 26 - 10 vs. Kansas City W, 5 - 3 65 - 91
A chance at a series victory appeared to be out of the Indians' reach as the game went to the bottom of the 8th inning. The Royals were in command, leading 3 - 0, and the Tribe's offense had yet to show any signs of life. However, Cleveland exploded off the K.C. bullpen for five runs, and the Indians roared back to win their third consecutive contest.
Behind the brilliant pitching of Bruce Chen - 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER - the Royals built up that three - run advantage, and despite the solid outing from Fausto Carmona - 5 IP, 2 ER - the Indians were still treading some very thin ice as the bottom of the 8th began.
Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin Soo - Choo led off the frame with back - to - back singles, and the stage had been set for the afternoon's biggest hit. Shelley Duncan jumped all over a hanging slider, and he belted out a three - run homer down the left field line. Just like that, the game was tied.
The Indians, though, still had some work to do.
After a couple of outs had been recorded, Andy Marte got on base courtesy of a single, and Luis Valbuena followed with a ground - rule double. Michael Brantley's grounder to first should have ended the threat, but Kila Ka'aihue misplayed the roller into a two - run double.
With their normal closer, Chris Perez, away from the team because of a personal situation, Vinnie Pestano was given his first shot at a major league save, and he cashed in on the opportunity. The young right - hander swiftly mowed down the Royals as the Indians finished off their third victory of the four - game set.
A chance at a series victory appeared to be out of the Indians' reach as the game went to the bottom of the 8th inning. The Royals were in command, leading 3 - 0, and the Tribe's offense had yet to show any signs of life. However, Cleveland exploded off the K.C. bullpen for five runs, and the Indians roared back to win their third consecutive contest.
Behind the brilliant pitching of Bruce Chen - 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER - the Royals built up that three - run advantage, and despite the solid outing from Fausto Carmona - 5 IP, 2 ER - the Indians were still treading some very thin ice as the bottom of the 8th began.
Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin Soo - Choo led off the frame with back - to - back singles, and the stage had been set for the afternoon's biggest hit. Shelley Duncan jumped all over a hanging slider, and he belted out a three - run homer down the left field line. Just like that, the game was tied.
The Indians, though, still had some work to do.
After a couple of outs had been recorded, Andy Marte got on base courtesy of a single, and Luis Valbuena followed with a ground - rule double. Michael Brantley's grounder to first should have ended the threat, but Kila Ka'aihue misplayed the roller into a two - run double.
With their normal closer, Chris Perez, away from the team because of a personal situation, Vinnie Pestano was given his first shot at a major league save, and he cashed in on the opportunity. The young right - hander swiftly mowed down the Royals as the Indians finished off their third victory of the four - game set.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Turns Tables on Greinke
9 - 25 - 10 vs. Kansas City W, 7 - 1 64 - 91
Twice this season, when facing Kansas City's Zack Greinke, the Indians have allowed an early lead to slip away.
This time, they returned the favor.
The Royals led by a 1 - 0 score as the game entered the bottom of the 3rd inning, but the Indians took care of that deficit in a hurry. Cleveland scored seven times on Greinke, who failed to even make it through the 4th.
Luis Valbuena led off the 3rd with a double, and the Tribe offense was ignited.
It was at this point that Luke Carlin introduced himself to Indians' fans.
Carlin, a catcher, was brought in from Pittsburgh, and he made an immediate impact in his first game as a starter by grounding a single back up the middle, scoring Valbuena.
An Asdrubal Cabrera single plated Carlin, and the very next batter, Shin - Soo Choo, doubled home Cabrera. Cleveland now led, 3 - 1.
In the 4th, the Tribe removed all doubt, and in so doing, they forced Greinke to make an early exit.
The rally started on back - to - back doubles from Jayson Nix and Matt LaPorta, and Valbuena's second single of the night followed on the heels of the consecutive two - baggers.
With one run in and two men on, Greinke began to self - destruct. First, he uncorked a wild pitch that chased home LaPorta, and then he surrendered three consecutive singles to Trevor Crowe, Cabrera, and Choo. Crowe and Choo picked up RBIs on their base - knocks.
Given an ample amount of offensive support, Jeanmar Gomez cruised to the victory. Gomez pitched five innings in what will be his final start of the campaign due to a fear of overworking him.
Twice this season, when facing Kansas City's Zack Greinke, the Indians have allowed an early lead to slip away.
This time, they returned the favor.
The Royals led by a 1 - 0 score as the game entered the bottom of the 3rd inning, but the Indians took care of that deficit in a hurry. Cleveland scored seven times on Greinke, who failed to even make it through the 4th.
Luis Valbuena led off the 3rd with a double, and the Tribe offense was ignited.
It was at this point that Luke Carlin introduced himself to Indians' fans.
Carlin, a catcher, was brought in from Pittsburgh, and he made an immediate impact in his first game as a starter by grounding a single back up the middle, scoring Valbuena.
An Asdrubal Cabrera single plated Carlin, and the very next batter, Shin - Soo Choo, doubled home Cabrera. Cleveland now led, 3 - 1.
In the 4th, the Tribe removed all doubt, and in so doing, they forced Greinke to make an early exit.
The rally started on back - to - back doubles from Jayson Nix and Matt LaPorta, and Valbuena's second single of the night followed on the heels of the consecutive two - baggers.
With one run in and two men on, Greinke began to self - destruct. First, he uncorked a wild pitch that chased home LaPorta, and then he surrendered three consecutive singles to Trevor Crowe, Cabrera, and Choo. Crowe and Choo picked up RBIs on their base - knocks.
Given an ample amount of offensive support, Jeanmar Gomez cruised to the victory. Gomez pitched five innings in what will be his final start of the campaign due to a fear of overworking him.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Throttle Eastern Michigan
9 - 25 - 10 vs. Eastern Michigan W, 73 - 20 4 - 0
The Eagles of Eastern Michigan were lured into Columbus by a hefty paycheck, and they left with the realization that no amount of money can compensate for an utter embarrassment on national television. The contest produced a complete mismatch as the Buckeyes scored at will en route to a blowout that was difficult to watch, even for Ohio State fans.
Terrelle Pryor was clearly the best player on the field, and his 348 yards of total offense bore that fact out quite well. Pryor accounted for 6 touchdowns - 4 passing, 1 rushing, and 1 receiving, in what was arguably his most prolific game as a Buckeye.
Dane Sanzenbacher was the recipient of all 4 of Pryor's TD tosses. The senior wide receiver tied a school record with his quartet of receiving touchdowns, and he also accumulated 108 yards on 9 catches.
OSU finally cleaned up their special teams' problems thanks in large part to Drew Basil's 2 touchbacks. Those 2 kicks to the end zone lightened the load on the Buckeyes' kick coverage unit, which had been the team's weakest link.
The Silver Bullets were nearly flawless through the first 3 games of the season, but they showed some chinks in the armor. It was probably nothing more than an attention lapse, but allowing 20 points to EMU is never a good thing.
It took Ohio State all of 3 offensive plays to find the end zone for the first of many times during the afternoon. Facing a blitz on 3rd - and - 7, Terrelle Pryor ran right by a host of Eagles' defenders and after covering 53 yards of real estate, he crossed the goal line.
The Buckeyes' next possession also lasted just 3 snaps as Pryor tossed a 31 - yard scoring strike to Sanzenbacher. T.P. absorbed a big hit when he released the football, but the throw was still perfect, and a day - long connection had begun.
OSU lone forced turnover of the day occurred on EMU's next series. Devontae Payne, briefly filling in for starting QB Alex Gillett, fumbled an attempted play - action fake, and John Simon recovered the loose pigskin.
Ohio State failed to fully capitalize on the golden opportunity, but Devin Barclay did convert a 42 - yard field goal as the Buckeyes' lead grew to 17 - 0.
Dan Herron's 7 - yard TD run off the left side of the offensive line gave the Buckeyes a 24 - 0 advantage at the end of the 1st quarter.
The beginning of the 2nd period coincided with Eastern Michigan's first sustained march of the game. Gillett engineered a quick drive that was capped off by a Dwayne Priest 2 - yard touchdown scamper.
Ohio State didn't take too kindly to the Eagles' score as was was evidenced by OSU's quick respnse. Without the use of a huddle, Pryor led a swift drive down the field. A 9 - yard pass from Pryor to Sanzenbacher restored the Buckeyes' 24 - point lead and removed any lingering doubt the sell - out crowd still had.
Another hook - up between Pryor and Sanzenbacher produced 6 more points, and it appeared as if the 1st half's scoring had been completed.
However, Gillett slung a 13 - yard pass to Kinsman Thomas for EMU's second touchdown of the contest's opening 30 minutes.
A short trip to the locker room did nothing to dampen Ohio State's firepower. On their first drive of the second half, the Buckeyes reached pay dirt when Pryor fired one more TD pass to Sanzenbacher.
Shockingly, OSU's defense surrendered yet another scoring drive a few minutes later. This time it was a 32 - yard strike from Gillett to Donald Scott that produced the score.
Following that EMU touchdown, the Buckeye defense reacted with a display of anger and pride. First, Brian Rolle blocked the extra point before throwing his helmet to the ground on the sideline. The entire defensive unit then had a passionate meeting with the coaching staff as both parties tried to figure out what was going wrong. They apparently solved the problem because the Silver Bullets lived up to their nickname for the remainder of the game.
Ohio State compiled one last highlight late in the 3rd quarter. Pryor took a snap from the Eagles' 20 - yard line and lateraled the ball to Jordan Hall on an apparent power sweep. However, Hall stopped on a dime and floated a touchdown pass to a wide open Pryor, who had slipped out of the backfield.
The Bucks' second team offense scored 3 TDs in the 4th quarter as things began to get utterly ridiculous. Those 3 touchdowns came byway of a Joe Bauserman 17 - yard pass to Hall, a 65 - yard run by Jaamal Berry, and a Ken Guiton 15 - yard rumble.
Ohio State's 53 - point margin of victory is indicative of the way in which the Buckeyes thoroughly dominated the Eagles. Eastern Michigan had no business being on the same field as Ohio State, and the EMU players probably agree with that assessment. OSU hopes they are now ready for Big Ten conference play.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 20 - 26 (completion - attempts), 224 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 7 carries, 104 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 reception, 20 yards, 1 touchdown
If you still think Pryor is unworthy of this meaningless award, please read those stats one more time. I believe I have made myself crystal clear.
Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 53 - yard TD run in the 1st quarter
Pryor's touchdown scamper in the game's opening moments established Ohio State's superiority over Eastern Michigan. They play was also one more example of Pryor's talent and the edge it creates for him on the gridiron.
The Eagles of Eastern Michigan were lured into Columbus by a hefty paycheck, and they left with the realization that no amount of money can compensate for an utter embarrassment on national television. The contest produced a complete mismatch as the Buckeyes scored at will en route to a blowout that was difficult to watch, even for Ohio State fans.
Terrelle Pryor was clearly the best player on the field, and his 348 yards of total offense bore that fact out quite well. Pryor accounted for 6 touchdowns - 4 passing, 1 rushing, and 1 receiving, in what was arguably his most prolific game as a Buckeye.
Dane Sanzenbacher was the recipient of all 4 of Pryor's TD tosses. The senior wide receiver tied a school record with his quartet of receiving touchdowns, and he also accumulated 108 yards on 9 catches.
OSU finally cleaned up their special teams' problems thanks in large part to Drew Basil's 2 touchbacks. Those 2 kicks to the end zone lightened the load on the Buckeyes' kick coverage unit, which had been the team's weakest link.
The Silver Bullets were nearly flawless through the first 3 games of the season, but they showed some chinks in the armor. It was probably nothing more than an attention lapse, but allowing 20 points to EMU is never a good thing.
It took Ohio State all of 3 offensive plays to find the end zone for the first of many times during the afternoon. Facing a blitz on 3rd - and - 7, Terrelle Pryor ran right by a host of Eagles' defenders and after covering 53 yards of real estate, he crossed the goal line.
The Buckeyes' next possession also lasted just 3 snaps as Pryor tossed a 31 - yard scoring strike to Sanzenbacher. T.P. absorbed a big hit when he released the football, but the throw was still perfect, and a day - long connection had begun.
OSU lone forced turnover of the day occurred on EMU's next series. Devontae Payne, briefly filling in for starting QB Alex Gillett, fumbled an attempted play - action fake, and John Simon recovered the loose pigskin.
Ohio State failed to fully capitalize on the golden opportunity, but Devin Barclay did convert a 42 - yard field goal as the Buckeyes' lead grew to 17 - 0.
Dan Herron's 7 - yard TD run off the left side of the offensive line gave the Buckeyes a 24 - 0 advantage at the end of the 1st quarter.
The beginning of the 2nd period coincided with Eastern Michigan's first sustained march of the game. Gillett engineered a quick drive that was capped off by a Dwayne Priest 2 - yard touchdown scamper.
Ohio State didn't take too kindly to the Eagles' score as was was evidenced by OSU's quick respnse. Without the use of a huddle, Pryor led a swift drive down the field. A 9 - yard pass from Pryor to Sanzenbacher restored the Buckeyes' 24 - point lead and removed any lingering doubt the sell - out crowd still had.
Another hook - up between Pryor and Sanzenbacher produced 6 more points, and it appeared as if the 1st half's scoring had been completed.
However, Gillett slung a 13 - yard pass to Kinsman Thomas for EMU's second touchdown of the contest's opening 30 minutes.
A short trip to the locker room did nothing to dampen Ohio State's firepower. On their first drive of the second half, the Buckeyes reached pay dirt when Pryor fired one more TD pass to Sanzenbacher.
Shockingly, OSU's defense surrendered yet another scoring drive a few minutes later. This time it was a 32 - yard strike from Gillett to Donald Scott that produced the score.
Following that EMU touchdown, the Buckeye defense reacted with a display of anger and pride. First, Brian Rolle blocked the extra point before throwing his helmet to the ground on the sideline. The entire defensive unit then had a passionate meeting with the coaching staff as both parties tried to figure out what was going wrong. They apparently solved the problem because the Silver Bullets lived up to their nickname for the remainder of the game.
Ohio State compiled one last highlight late in the 3rd quarter. Pryor took a snap from the Eagles' 20 - yard line and lateraled the ball to Jordan Hall on an apparent power sweep. However, Hall stopped on a dime and floated a touchdown pass to a wide open Pryor, who had slipped out of the backfield.
The Bucks' second team offense scored 3 TDs in the 4th quarter as things began to get utterly ridiculous. Those 3 touchdowns came byway of a Joe Bauserman 17 - yard pass to Hall, a 65 - yard run by Jaamal Berry, and a Ken Guiton 15 - yard rumble.
Ohio State's 53 - point margin of victory is indicative of the way in which the Buckeyes thoroughly dominated the Eagles. Eastern Michigan had no business being on the same field as Ohio State, and the EMU players probably agree with that assessment. OSU hopes they are now ready for Big Ten conference play.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 20 - 26 (completion - attempts), 224 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 7 carries, 104 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 reception, 20 yards, 1 touchdown
If you still think Pryor is unworthy of this meaningless award, please read those stats one more time. I believe I have made myself crystal clear.
Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 53 - yard TD run in the 1st quarter
Pryor's touchdown scamper in the game's opening moments established Ohio State's superiority over Eastern Michigan. They play was also one more example of Pryor's talent and the edge it creates for him on the gridiron.
Cleveland Indians: Led by Tomlin, Choo, and Nix, the Tribe Rolls
9 - 24 - 10 vs. Kansas City W, 7 - 3 63 - 91
Desperately needing a win as the season draws to a close, the Indians turned to Josh Tomlin in hopes that he could give them a solid outing.
He gave them much more than that.
The rookie hurler tossed a complete game, his first in the big leagues, and he also struck out six Royals' batters to help bring an end to Cleveland's five - game losing streak.
Tomlin, however, did not win this game by himself.
Both Shin - Soo Choo and Jayson Nix had huge performances in support of their pitcher.
Choo collected three base - hits to go along with a pair of runs batted in. Choo drove home the Indians' first run when he singled in the 1st, and his 5th inning RBI double proved to be the eventual game - winner.
Nix, meanwhile, was busy hitting home runs. Nix blasted out a pair of solo homers to left field in the 2nd and 8th innings, respectively.
Tomlin began to waver in the 9th, but after surrendering a Wilson Betemit two - run homer, he settled down and recorded the ballgame's final out on a liner to right.
Desperately needing a win as the season draws to a close, the Indians turned to Josh Tomlin in hopes that he could give them a solid outing.
He gave them much more than that.
The rookie hurler tossed a complete game, his first in the big leagues, and he also struck out six Royals' batters to help bring an end to Cleveland's five - game losing streak.
Tomlin, however, did not win this game by himself.
Both Shin - Soo Choo and Jayson Nix had huge performances in support of their pitcher.
Choo collected three base - hits to go along with a pair of runs batted in. Choo drove home the Indians' first run when he singled in the 1st, and his 5th inning RBI double proved to be the eventual game - winner.
Nix, meanwhile, was busy hitting home runs. Nix blasted out a pair of solo homers to left field in the 2nd and 8th innings, respectively.
Tomlin began to waver in the 9th, but after surrendering a Wilson Betemit two - run homer, he settled down and recorded the ballgame's final out on a liner to right.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe's Comeback Bid Comes up Short
9 - 23 - 10 vs. Kansas City L, 4 - 2 62 - 91
The Indians tried desperately to end their four - game losing streak, but they were not able to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to them. And so, the Tribe were bumped into last place by the Royals, the team that currently occupies the spot above Cleveland in the A.L. Central standings.
Mitch Talbot's recent struggles have been well chronicled, and the things got no better for Talbot in this one. Kansas City jumped on him for three runs in five innings, and the loss drops him to 9 - 13 for the season.
Mike Aviles's solo homer just moments into the game got the visitors off to a great start, and the Royals built up a 3 - 0 advantage before the Indians ever threatened.
In the 7th, the Indians began to find some offensive momentum. A couple of walks sandwiched around a Jayson Nix double, loaded the bases with nobody out. However, the Tribe only scored twice with neither tally coming as a result of a base - hit. Although Cleveland had shown some life, they were still trailing by a run.
Kila Ka'aihue added a solo bomb in the 8th as the Royals held on for the win.
The Indians tried desperately to end their four - game losing streak, but they were not able to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to them. And so, the Tribe were bumped into last place by the Royals, the team that currently occupies the spot above Cleveland in the A.L. Central standings.
Mitch Talbot's recent struggles have been well chronicled, and the things got no better for Talbot in this one. Kansas City jumped on him for three runs in five innings, and the loss drops him to 9 - 13 for the season.
Mike Aviles's solo homer just moments into the game got the visitors off to a great start, and the Royals built up a 3 - 0 advantage before the Indians ever threatened.
In the 7th, the Indians began to find some offensive momentum. A couple of walks sandwiched around a Jayson Nix double, loaded the bases with nobody out. However, the Tribe only scored twice with neither tally coming as a result of a base - hit. Although Cleveland had shown some life, they were still trailing by a run.
Kila Ka'aihue added a solo bomb in the 8th as the Royals held on for the win.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Twins Manage to Wrap up Sweep of Tribe
9 - 22 - 10 at Minnesota L, 5 - 1 62 - 90
Less than 24 hours removed from capturing the division title, the Minnesota Twins did not seem all that interested in defeating the Indians. The fact that Ron Gardenhire rested several of his regulars proves that point quite convincingly. However, the Twins still managed to beat up on the Tribe in the series finale.
Cleveland plated their only run of the afternoon in the game's 1st inning. Drew Sutton worked a walk and Travis Hafner's two - out single legitimized the threat. The next batter, Shelley Duncan, hit a single back up the middle, scoring Sutton.
Through five frames, that 1 - 0 lead appeared to be sufficient thanks to the brilliant pitching of Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco, though, began to tire in the 6th, and Minnesota jumped all over him. The Twins produced three consecutive two - out RBI hits, a Jose Morales double, a Matt Tolbert double, and a Ben Revere single, to grab a 3 - 1 advantage.
In the 7th, the Twinkies tacked on two more insurance runs for their starter, Nick Blackburn, and they coasted to the victory.
Less than 24 hours removed from capturing the division title, the Minnesota Twins did not seem all that interested in defeating the Indians. The fact that Ron Gardenhire rested several of his regulars proves that point quite convincingly. However, the Twins still managed to beat up on the Tribe in the series finale.
Cleveland plated their only run of the afternoon in the game's 1st inning. Drew Sutton worked a walk and Travis Hafner's two - out single legitimized the threat. The next batter, Shelley Duncan, hit a single back up the middle, scoring Sutton.
Through five frames, that 1 - 0 lead appeared to be sufficient thanks to the brilliant pitching of Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco, though, began to tire in the 6th, and Minnesota jumped all over him. The Twins produced three consecutive two - out RBI hits, a Jose Morales double, a Matt Tolbert double, and a Ben Revere single, to grab a 3 - 1 advantage.
In the 7th, the Twinkies tacked on two more insurance runs for their starter, Nick Blackburn, and they coasted to the victory.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Allows Twins to Clinch Division
9 - 21 - 10 at Minnesota L, 6 - 4 62 - 89
Needing a win over the Indians and a White Sox loss to clinch their second consecutive American League Central Division title, the Minnesota Twins erased a three - run deficit, and then watched Chicago lose in Oakland. It was a bitter night for the Tribe because it has now been three years since they last won the division.
Drew Butera's 1st inning throwing error enabled Shin - Soo Choo to scamper into scoring position with two outs. That miscue loomed large when Travis Hafner blooped a RBI double down the left field line, scoring Choo.
Jim Thome evened the score in the bottom of the 2nd on his laser shot of a solo home run into the right field bleachers.
The next several frames were dominated by Cleveland as they scored three unanswered runs to take what appeared to be a commanding lead. The Indians got one of those tallies in the 5th when Michael Brantley hit a one - out single, advanced to second base courtesy of a wild pitch, and scored on Drew Sutton's RBI base - hit. The Tribe then took their 4 - 1 advantage in the 6th on a double play and a Luis Valbuena double.
Fausto Carmona was cruising at this point, but he hit a bump in the road in the last of the 6th. After picking up two quick outs, a walk and two singles plated a Minnesota run. However, Carmona still exited the game in line for the victory.
The Indians' bullpen completely fell apart in the 8th. Three straight hits to start the inning spelled the end of the night for Justin Masterson, and his replacement, Tony Sipp, didn't fare much better. Sipp surrendered the game - tying sacrifice fly, and then the eventual winning hit off the bat of Denard Span. The Twins wound up scoring four times in the inning.
Michael Brantley's strikeout brought an end to the contest, and set off a wild celebration at Target Field.
Needing a win over the Indians and a White Sox loss to clinch their second consecutive American League Central Division title, the Minnesota Twins erased a three - run deficit, and then watched Chicago lose in Oakland. It was a bitter night for the Tribe because it has now been three years since they last won the division.
Drew Butera's 1st inning throwing error enabled Shin - Soo Choo to scamper into scoring position with two outs. That miscue loomed large when Travis Hafner blooped a RBI double down the left field line, scoring Choo.
Jim Thome evened the score in the bottom of the 2nd on his laser shot of a solo home run into the right field bleachers.
The next several frames were dominated by Cleveland as they scored three unanswered runs to take what appeared to be a commanding lead. The Indians got one of those tallies in the 5th when Michael Brantley hit a one - out single, advanced to second base courtesy of a wild pitch, and scored on Drew Sutton's RBI base - hit. The Tribe then took their 4 - 1 advantage in the 6th on a double play and a Luis Valbuena double.
Fausto Carmona was cruising at this point, but he hit a bump in the road in the last of the 6th. After picking up two quick outs, a walk and two singles plated a Minnesota run. However, Carmona still exited the game in line for the victory.
The Indians' bullpen completely fell apart in the 8th. Three straight hits to start the inning spelled the end of the night for Justin Masterson, and his replacement, Tony Sipp, didn't fare much better. Sipp surrendered the game - tying sacrifice fly, and then the eventual winning hit off the bat of Denard Span. The Twins wound up scoring four times in the inning.
Michael Brantley's strikeout brought an end to the contest, and set off a wild celebration at Target Field.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Overwhelmed by Twins
9 - 20 - 10 at Minnesota L, 9 - 3 62 - 88
The Minnesota Twins, a team destined for postseason play, welcomed in the Cleveland Indians to kick off a three - game series. The result was as one might expect. The Twins amushed the Tribe early and coasted to a routine victory in front of a sold - out Target Field.
Jeanmar Gomez and the rest of the Indians' pitching staff struggled to get the third out of an inning. The Twins scored all nine of their runs after two men had been retired, and that spelled disaster for the visitors.
Minnesota's biggest hits were home runs, a Danny Valencia solo blast in the 4th that traveled into the upper deck, and a two - run shot off the bat of Michael Cuddyer in the 6th.
The Tribe's lone bright spot was Andy Marte. The third baseman went 2 - 3 with 2 runs batted in.
Gomez wound up taking the loss while Brian Duensing tossed six frames to earn the win.
The Minnesota Twins, a team destined for postseason play, welcomed in the Cleveland Indians to kick off a three - game series. The result was as one might expect. The Twins amushed the Tribe early and coasted to a routine victory in front of a sold - out Target Field.
Jeanmar Gomez and the rest of the Indians' pitching staff struggled to get the third out of an inning. The Twins scored all nine of their runs after two men had been retired, and that spelled disaster for the visitors.
Minnesota's biggest hits were home runs, a Danny Valencia solo blast in the 4th that traveled into the upper deck, and a two - run shot off the bat of Michael Cuddyer in the 6th.
The Tribe's lone bright spot was Andy Marte. The third baseman went 2 - 3 with 2 runs batted in.
Gomez wound up taking the loss while Brian Duensing tossed six frames to earn the win.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Ohio State Football: Posey, Buckeyes Win in Battle of Brothers
9 - 18 - 10 vs. Ohio W, 43 - 7 3 - 0
Sibling rivalry was an integral part of Ohio State's victory over Ohio University. The Bobcats have always been the Buckeyes' inferior in - state brother, while the Posey brothers, OSU's Devier and OU's Julian, were matched up all over the field. The Bucks and Devier both got the better of their clashes as Ohio State easily rolled the Cats.
The aforementioned face off between Julian and Devier Posey was the most intriguing storyline heading into the game, and it lived up to the billing. Devier hauled in 5 passes for 62 yards as his older brother attempted to cover him. Meanwhile, Julian's biggest play, a 99 yard kickoff return, was negated due to a holding penalty. Overall, the two played like they had growing up in the backyard, and Devier left with bragging rights.
The man throwing to Devier, Terrelle Pryor, had another effective outing, although this one was a bit more inconsistent. Pryor was able to set a school record by completing 16 straight passes, but he also tossed a couple of interceptions. However, T.P. still accounted for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns in leading Ohio State to yet another victory.
A Buckeye defense that forced 7 turnovers in the season's first 2 contests, garnered 5 more against the Bobcats. With 3 games in the books, OSU now has a turnover margin of +10.
The special teams, though, continues to be Ohio State's Achilles' heel. The Buckeyes were a blocking infraction away from allowing another return TD, and they also had one of their punts blocked.
OSU wasted little time in making life miserable for the OU offense. Phil Bates's first pass was deflected high in the air by Devon Torrence, allowing Tyler Moeller to make a leaping interception.
Taking over deep in Ohio territory, the Buckeyes should have been able to put 6 points up on the scoreboard. But after stalling in the red zone, Ohio State was forced to call on Devin Barclay, and the senior kicker knocked home a short field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, Julian Posey raced to the end zone, only to have the touchdown wiped out because of a penalty.
The Bobcats never recovered.
A three - and- out came on the heels of that penalty, and the OSU attack began to click. Pryor capped off the drive when he avoided a blitz and found Brandon Saine all alone in the end zone.
Following another poor Ohio series, the Buckeyes reached pay dirt once more. A 35 yard strike from Pryor to Posey set up a T.P. 13 yard TD scamper that featured Pryor's blazing speed, and his field awareness.
With the game clearly in hand, Jim Tressel inserted the second team offense led by Joe Bauserman. The move paid off initially, but the march bogged down, and Devin Barclay bailed out Tressel by making a field goal.
The turnover bug bit Bates and the Bobcats on their next drive. Bates was separated from the football courtesy of Ross Homan's hit, and Nathan Williams pounced on it.
Pryor, who was now in an other - worldly rhythm, engineered a short touchdown drive to pad OSU's lead to 27 - 0. The scoring play came on a 5 yard toss from Pryor to Jake Stoneburner.
Cameron Heyward's fumble recovery of a botched option a few moments later set the Bucks up deep in OU territory. Ohio State cashed in with 6 points when Dan "Boom" Herron crossed the goal line on a 2 yard run.
Pryor almost got the Buckeyes another touchdown before the half, but he was intercepted in the end zone, ending his consecutive completions streak.
The contest began to get sloppy in the 2nd half, which was not surprising considering the 34 - 0 score. In the 3rd quarter, Ohio gave the ball up twice, while Pryor threw another pick. The 2 Bobcat turnovers were the result of a Torrence recovered fumble and a Homan interception.
Pryor's interception actually aided Ohio State because on the very next play, Heyward corralled Vince Davidson for a safety.
OSU surpassed the 40 point mark late in the 3rd stanza thanks to Herron and his 1 yard scoring plunge on a 4th - and - goal situation.
In the game's closing minutes, the Bucks lost their shutout bid. Boo Jackson, OU's second string QB, threw an 11 yard TD pass against the Buckeyes' reserves. However, that score was way too little and way too late.
Oftentimes, an in - state opponent presents a potential trap for Ohio State. That, though, was not the case this time as the Buckeyes beat the Bobcats into submission.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 22 - 29 (completions - attempts), 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 touchdown
Yeah, Pryor did fling his first 2 interceptions of the season, but he also went 16 straight pass attempts at one point without misfiring even once. If you still don't think Pryor had an impressive performance, check out this stat. When Terrelle wasn't on the field, OSU only scored 3 points on 4 offensive series.
Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 9 yard TD pass to Brandon Saine in the 1st quarter
Everyone in Ohio Stadium knew that as soon as the Buckeyes took a double digit lead, the Bobcats would be finished. And OU definitely appeared to be beaten after OSU went up by 10 on this quick toss to the end zone. On the play, Ohio tried to get to Pryor with a heavy rush, but T.P. scrambled to buy time for his running back turned receiver. Once Saine popped open, the play was over, and, for all intents and purposes, so was the game.
Sibling rivalry was an integral part of Ohio State's victory over Ohio University. The Bobcats have always been the Buckeyes' inferior in - state brother, while the Posey brothers, OSU's Devier and OU's Julian, were matched up all over the field. The Bucks and Devier both got the better of their clashes as Ohio State easily rolled the Cats.
The aforementioned face off between Julian and Devier Posey was the most intriguing storyline heading into the game, and it lived up to the billing. Devier hauled in 5 passes for 62 yards as his older brother attempted to cover him. Meanwhile, Julian's biggest play, a 99 yard kickoff return, was negated due to a holding penalty. Overall, the two played like they had growing up in the backyard, and Devier left with bragging rights.
The man throwing to Devier, Terrelle Pryor, had another effective outing, although this one was a bit more inconsistent. Pryor was able to set a school record by completing 16 straight passes, but he also tossed a couple of interceptions. However, T.P. still accounted for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns in leading Ohio State to yet another victory.
A Buckeye defense that forced 7 turnovers in the season's first 2 contests, garnered 5 more against the Bobcats. With 3 games in the books, OSU now has a turnover margin of +10.
The special teams, though, continues to be Ohio State's Achilles' heel. The Buckeyes were a blocking infraction away from allowing another return TD, and they also had one of their punts blocked.
OSU wasted little time in making life miserable for the OU offense. Phil Bates's first pass was deflected high in the air by Devon Torrence, allowing Tyler Moeller to make a leaping interception.
Taking over deep in Ohio territory, the Buckeyes should have been able to put 6 points up on the scoreboard. But after stalling in the red zone, Ohio State was forced to call on Devin Barclay, and the senior kicker knocked home a short field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, Julian Posey raced to the end zone, only to have the touchdown wiped out because of a penalty.
The Bobcats never recovered.
A three - and- out came on the heels of that penalty, and the OSU attack began to click. Pryor capped off the drive when he avoided a blitz and found Brandon Saine all alone in the end zone.
Following another poor Ohio series, the Buckeyes reached pay dirt once more. A 35 yard strike from Pryor to Posey set up a T.P. 13 yard TD scamper that featured Pryor's blazing speed, and his field awareness.
With the game clearly in hand, Jim Tressel inserted the second team offense led by Joe Bauserman. The move paid off initially, but the march bogged down, and Devin Barclay bailed out Tressel by making a field goal.
The turnover bug bit Bates and the Bobcats on their next drive. Bates was separated from the football courtesy of Ross Homan's hit, and Nathan Williams pounced on it.
Pryor, who was now in an other - worldly rhythm, engineered a short touchdown drive to pad OSU's lead to 27 - 0. The scoring play came on a 5 yard toss from Pryor to Jake Stoneburner.
Cameron Heyward's fumble recovery of a botched option a few moments later set the Bucks up deep in OU territory. Ohio State cashed in with 6 points when Dan "Boom" Herron crossed the goal line on a 2 yard run.
Pryor almost got the Buckeyes another touchdown before the half, but he was intercepted in the end zone, ending his consecutive completions streak.
The contest began to get sloppy in the 2nd half, which was not surprising considering the 34 - 0 score. In the 3rd quarter, Ohio gave the ball up twice, while Pryor threw another pick. The 2 Bobcat turnovers were the result of a Torrence recovered fumble and a Homan interception.
Pryor's interception actually aided Ohio State because on the very next play, Heyward corralled Vince Davidson for a safety.
OSU surpassed the 40 point mark late in the 3rd stanza thanks to Herron and his 1 yard scoring plunge on a 4th - and - goal situation.
In the game's closing minutes, the Bucks lost their shutout bid. Boo Jackson, OU's second string QB, threw an 11 yard TD pass against the Buckeyes' reserves. However, that score was way too little and way too late.
Oftentimes, an in - state opponent presents a potential trap for Ohio State. That, though, was not the case this time as the Buckeyes beat the Bobcats into submission.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 22 - 29 (completions - attempts), 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 touchdown
Yeah, Pryor did fling his first 2 interceptions of the season, but he also went 16 straight pass attempts at one point without misfiring even once. If you still don't think Pryor had an impressive performance, check out this stat. When Terrelle wasn't on the field, OSU only scored 3 points on 4 offensive series.
Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 9 yard TD pass to Brandon Saine in the 1st quarter
Everyone in Ohio Stadium knew that as soon as the Buckeyes took a double digit lead, the Bobcats would be finished. And OU definitely appeared to be beaten after OSU went up by 10 on this quick toss to the end zone. On the play, Ohio tried to get to Pryor with a heavy rush, but T.P. scrambled to buy time for his running back turned receiver. Once Saine popped open, the play was over, and, for all intents and purposes, so was the game.
Cleveland Indians: Choo and Brantley Shine in Loss to Royals
9 - 19 - 10 at Kansas City L, 6 - 4 62 - 87
Shin - Soo Choo hit his 20th homer and he also stole his 20th base. Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 19 games. Yet, despite those individual accomplishments, the Indians still came up short in their bid for a sweep in Kansas City.
Choo's home run, a two - run belt, was struck in the 1st inning, and it got the Tribe off to a great start.
However, Josh Tomlin, who would stuggle all day long, quickly gave the lead up. In the bottom of the 2nd, a couple of key walks came back to bite Tomlin, and the Royals eventually piled on four runs.
K.C. removed all doubt with a two - spot in the 6th. The highlight of the rally was a Yuniesky Betancourt steal of home that came on the back end of a successful double steal.
Speaking of steals, Choo's swipe of second base made him just the fourth player in franchise history to record multiple 20 - 20 seasons.
Shin - Soo Choo hit his 20th homer and he also stole his 20th base. Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 19 games. Yet, despite those individual accomplishments, the Indians still came up short in their bid for a sweep in Kansas City.
Choo's home run, a two - run belt, was struck in the 1st inning, and it got the Tribe off to a great start.
However, Josh Tomlin, who would stuggle all day long, quickly gave the lead up. In the bottom of the 2nd, a couple of key walks came back to bite Tomlin, and the Royals eventually piled on four runs.
K.C. removed all doubt with a two - spot in the 6th. The highlight of the rally was a Yuniesky Betancourt steal of home that came on the back end of a successful double steal.
Speaking of steals, Choo's swipe of second base made him just the fourth player in franchise history to record multiple 20 - 20 seasons.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Cleveland Indians: LaPorta Fuels Tribe to Win on Wet Night
9 - 18 - 10 at Kansas City W, 6 - 4 62 - 86
On a rainy night in Kansas City, the Indians outlasted both the weather and the Royals to earn their second consecutive series win.
The Tribe exploded for five runs in the 4th inning as the rain continued to pour down. Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a lead - off single, and he eventually came around to score on Shin - Soo Choo's base - hit. Following a Shelley Duncan single and a couple of outs, Matt LaPorta stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. And LaPorta capitalized on the opportunity by launching a grand slam to center field.
Given a five - run lead, the Cleveland bullpen almost coughed it up in the bottom of the 5th. Although Justin Germano did allow a couple of two - run homers, one to Jai Miller and the other to Mike Aviles, he was able to maintain a slim advantage.
Jayson Nix gave the visitors a key insurance tally in the 8th on a two - out single, and in the 9th, Chris Perez nailed down his 21st save of the season.
On a rainy night in Kansas City, the Indians outlasted both the weather and the Royals to earn their second consecutive series win.
The Tribe exploded for five runs in the 4th inning as the rain continued to pour down. Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a lead - off single, and he eventually came around to score on Shin - Soo Choo's base - hit. Following a Shelley Duncan single and a couple of outs, Matt LaPorta stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. And LaPorta capitalized on the opportunity by launching a grand slam to center field.
Given a five - run lead, the Cleveland bullpen almost coughed it up in the bottom of the 5th. Although Justin Germano did allow a couple of two - run homers, one to Jai Miller and the other to Mike Aviles, he was able to maintain a slim advantage.
Jayson Nix gave the visitors a key insurance tally in the 8th on a two - out single, and in the 9th, Chris Perez nailed down his 21st save of the season.
Cleveland Indians: Choo Steals Show in K.C.
9 - 17 - 10 at Kansas City W, 11 - 4 61 - 86
As the Indians opened up a three - game set in Kansas City, Shin - Soo Choo decided to have his very own home run derby. The 28 year - old from South Korea belted out three homers, and the Tribe fed off his power surge en route to a big win over the Royals.
Choo's first homer, a two - run shot in the 4th, broke up a scoreless game and sparked a rally. The Tribe went on to score four times in the inning courtesy of Choo's dinger and Lou Marson's two - run single.
Cleveland removed all doubt in the 6th with a five - spot. Once again it was Choo who delivered the biggest blow as he launched a grand slam.
Kansas City was able to make a minimal comeback, but a solo job by Choo in the 8th kept the home team at bay.
After failing eight times, Carlos Carrasco finally won his first major league game. Carrasco lasted six frames while allowing three tallies, and the quality start was his fourth in a row.
As the Indians opened up a three - game set in Kansas City, Shin - Soo Choo decided to have his very own home run derby. The 28 year - old from South Korea belted out three homers, and the Tribe fed off his power surge en route to a big win over the Royals.
Choo's first homer, a two - run shot in the 4th, broke up a scoreless game and sparked a rally. The Tribe went on to score four times in the inning courtesy of Choo's dinger and Lou Marson's two - run single.
Cleveland removed all doubt in the 6th with a five - spot. Once again it was Choo who delivered the biggest blow as he launched a grand slam.
Kansas City was able to make a minimal comeback, but a solo job by Choo in the 8th kept the home team at bay.
After failing eight times, Carlos Carrasco finally won his first major league game. Carrasco lasted six frames while allowing three tallies, and the quality start was his fourth in a row.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Callaspo's Error Allows Tribe to Walk - Off
9 - 16 - 10 vs. Los Angeles Angels W, 3 - 2 (11 innings) 60 - 86
When Shelley Duncan hit a weak, one - hopper to third base in the bottom of the 11th, another extra inning seemed inevitable. However, Alberto Callaspo bobbled the ball, and Trevor Crowe scored the winning run. All of the sudden, Duncan was the hero, and the Indians had won a series over the Angels.
Cleveland strung some hits together in the 3rd to take an early 2 - 0 lead. Drew Sutton, playing in his second game as an Indian, bounced a single through the right side of the infield, and Lou Marson lined a double up the right - center field gap, scoring Sutton. Michael Brantley sacrificed Marson to third with a perfect bunt, and after Asdrubal Cabrera was hit by a pitch, Shin - Soo Choo served a flair double down the left field line that scored Marson.
Fausto Carmona was cruising until he hit a bump in the road in the 7th. He served up two home runs, one to Hideki Matsui, and the other to Mike Napoli as the Angels rallied back to tie the game.
The Tribe had a chance to win it in the 10th after Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 16. Cleveland had the bases loaded, but Jordan Brown grounded into an uncoventional 3 - 2 - 3 double play.
In the 11th, the Indians finally captured the victory. Trevor Crowe delivered a one - out double before advancing to third on a grounder. Then came Callaspo's error, and the Tribe walked off a winner.
Courtesy of Joe Smith, Tony Sipp, Chris Perez, Jensen Lewis, and Rafael Perez, the Tribe's bullpen has now tossed 16 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
When Shelley Duncan hit a weak, one - hopper to third base in the bottom of the 11th, another extra inning seemed inevitable. However, Alberto Callaspo bobbled the ball, and Trevor Crowe scored the winning run. All of the sudden, Duncan was the hero, and the Indians had won a series over the Angels.
Cleveland strung some hits together in the 3rd to take an early 2 - 0 lead. Drew Sutton, playing in his second game as an Indian, bounced a single through the right side of the infield, and Lou Marson lined a double up the right - center field gap, scoring Sutton. Michael Brantley sacrificed Marson to third with a perfect bunt, and after Asdrubal Cabrera was hit by a pitch, Shin - Soo Choo served a flair double down the left field line that scored Marson.
Fausto Carmona was cruising until he hit a bump in the road in the 7th. He served up two home runs, one to Hideki Matsui, and the other to Mike Napoli as the Angels rallied back to tie the game.
The Tribe had a chance to win it in the 10th after Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 16. Cleveland had the bases loaded, but Jordan Brown grounded into an uncoventional 3 - 2 - 3 double play.
In the 11th, the Indians finally captured the victory. Trevor Crowe delivered a one - out double before advancing to third on a grounder. Then came Callaspo's error, and the Tribe walked off a winner.
Courtesy of Joe Smith, Tony Sipp, Chris Perez, Jensen Lewis, and Rafael Perez, the Tribe's bullpen has now tossed 16 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Gomez Falls Victim to the Halos
9 - 15 - 10 vs. Los Angeles Angels L, 7 - 0 59 - 86
Rookie pitchers will have nights like the one Jeanmar Gomez had against the Los Angeles Angels. He struggled to throw strikes, and when he did find the zone, the ball usually wound up on the warning track. The end result was a short outing for Gomez and an ugly loss for the Indians.
Gomez was one out away from escaping the 1st inning unharmed, but he failed to minimize the damage. A walk to Hideki Matsui extended the frame, and then the hits started coming. Juan Rivera deposited a soft liner into left - center field, scoring one, and two more free passes brought home another tally. Hank Conger put the icing on the cake with his two - run single to left. The hit was the first of the young catcher's career.
Gomez returned to the game in the 2nd, but the time spent in the dugout apparently did not do him any good. A Jayson Nix throwing error led to three runs, one of which was unearned. Torii Hunter, Hideki Matsui, and Rivera each had a RBI in the inning. Matsui's came on a triple, his first of the year.
After three frames, Manny Acta pulled the plug on Gomez, and from there the bullpen did a masterful job. Justin Germano, Frank Herrman, and Jensen Lewis combined to toss six perfect innings to close out the game.
Unfortunately, the Tribe never could make any headway off of Jered Weaver. The Halos' starter tossed seven shutout frames, and he only allowed two base hits.
Despite Cleveland's offensive woes, Michael Brantley was able to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.
Rookie pitchers will have nights like the one Jeanmar Gomez had against the Los Angeles Angels. He struggled to throw strikes, and when he did find the zone, the ball usually wound up on the warning track. The end result was a short outing for Gomez and an ugly loss for the Indians.
Gomez was one out away from escaping the 1st inning unharmed, but he failed to minimize the damage. A walk to Hideki Matsui extended the frame, and then the hits started coming. Juan Rivera deposited a soft liner into left - center field, scoring one, and two more free passes brought home another tally. Hank Conger put the icing on the cake with his two - run single to left. The hit was the first of the young catcher's career.
Gomez returned to the game in the 2nd, but the time spent in the dugout apparently did not do him any good. A Jayson Nix throwing error led to three runs, one of which was unearned. Torii Hunter, Hideki Matsui, and Rivera each had a RBI in the inning. Matsui's came on a triple, his first of the year.
After three frames, Manny Acta pulled the plug on Gomez, and from there the bullpen did a masterful job. Justin Germano, Frank Herrman, and Jensen Lewis combined to toss six perfect innings to close out the game.
Unfortunately, the Tribe never could make any headway off of Jered Weaver. The Halos' starter tossed seven shutout frames, and he only allowed two base hits.
Despite Cleveland's offensive woes, Michael Brantley was able to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Wins Behind Duncan's Great Night
9 - 14 - 10 vs. Los Angeles Angels W, 4 - 3 59 - 85
Shelley Duncan has more than lived up to the moderate expectaions that were placed upon him at the beginning of the year. Expected to do little more than provide a veteran presence for a young team, Duncan has shown a surprising amount of power. That power was on full display in the Indians' series opener with the Angels as he pounded out two home runs and drove in four.
Duncan tied the game with his RBI single in the 1st inning, and he went on to add a solo homer in the 4th and a two - run shot in the 6th to account for all of the Tribe's offensive output.
Josh Tomlin's outing, in which he allowed three runs over 6 2/3 frames, earned him his fourth career victory.
Chris Perez worked out of a first - and - third jam in the 9th, enabling him to pick up his 20th save.
Shelley Duncan has more than lived up to the moderate expectaions that were placed upon him at the beginning of the year. Expected to do little more than provide a veteran presence for a young team, Duncan has shown a surprising amount of power. That power was on full display in the Indians' series opener with the Angels as he pounded out two home runs and drove in four.
Duncan tied the game with his RBI single in the 1st inning, and he went on to add a solo homer in the 4th and a two - run shot in the 6th to account for all of the Tribe's offensive output.
Josh Tomlin's outing, in which he allowed three runs over 6 2/3 frames, earned him his fourth career victory.
Chris Perez worked out of a first - and - third jam in the 9th, enabling him to pick up his 20th save.
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Dominate Miami to Assume Elite Status
9 - 11 - 10 vs. Miami (Fla.) W, 36 - 24 2 - 0
While most of the country was waiting for Ohio State to flop on another big stage, the Buckeyes went out and disappointed those critics. OSU blitzed Miami with an attacking offense and an opportunistic defense, and when the clock hit triple zeros, all the Hurricanes could do was limp back to Coral Gables.
Terrelle Pryor's weekly performance is a hot topic all across the nation because of the quarterback's seemingly endless potential. However, T.P. did very little to bolster his Heisman hopes in this one, but he did give his team a much - needed win. Pryor's completion percentage was a pedestrian 44%, yet he still accumulated 233 yards through the air. Pryor also gobbled up 113 yards on the ground, and, most importantly, he did not committ a single turnover.
The Buckeyes' defense did an excellent job of supporting Pryor and the offense by piling up 4 interceptions. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris was plagued by the INT bug as the Silver Bullets seemed to have their hands on the football more than Harris's wide receivers.
Even though Ohio State played a great game, it was by no means perfect. The special teams unit continued to be a thorn in the Bucks' collective side. Miami's two kick return touchdowns were the only reason this was not a total blowout.
The Buckeyes caught the game's first break when Harris got his pick party rolling early in the opening quarter. The Miami QB tried to squeeze a pass into a tight window, and C.J. Barnett deflected the ball into the waiting arms of Nathan Williams. Williams, who was making his season debut, returned the interception, after a penalty was factored in, to the Canes' 25 yard line.
From there, Ohio State had to settle for a Devin Barclay field goal following a touchdown - negating holding infraction.
It took the Hurricanes all of one play to make that lead disappear. Lamar Miller gathered in the kickoff at his own 12, and he raced all the way to paydirt.
Just like that, Big Mo was wearing orange and green.
On the ensuing kick, Jaamal Berry almost made it back - to - back TDs, but he was tripped by his own blocker, Nate Oliver, at the midfield stripe. The Bucks wound up punting, and a big opportunity had been missed.
A field goal late in the 1st quarter allowed Miami to take a 10 - 3 lead into the 2nd stanza.
That lead lasted for all of 36 seconds because the Buckeyes finally found their offensive footing. Pryor threw a perfect 62 yard bomb to Devier Posey, and then, on the very next snap, Pryor tossed a touchdown to a leaping Brandon Saine. The drive lasted just 2 plays and it covered 80 yards.
Barclay nailed another three - pointer on Ohio State's next series, and it was time for OSU's defense to get the ball back.
Harris flung a quick pass to Travis Benjamin, but the speedy wideout did not even turn around, allowing Chimdi Chekwa to make the easy catch.
The Buckeyes converted the turnover into quick points courtesy of Daniel "Boom" Herron and his nifty 4 yard score off of an option pitch. Ohio State now led by 10, and a rout appeared to be in the offing.
However, the Hurricanes once again came up with the answer on special teams. Benjamin, atoning for his earlier miscue, took a Ben Buchanan punt back to the house. On the play, it looked as if the Bucks' coverage unit thought Benjamin signaled for a fair catch, which he clearly did not. Regardless, Miami was back in business.
Prior to the intermission, Devin Barclay tacked on two more field goals to give the home team a 9 point halftime edge. The second kick floated through the uprights as time expired, and it was set up by Chekwa's second interception. This one was also not Harris's fault due to the fact that the ball went right through Benjamin's hands.
The Hurricanes began the 2nd half with a long drive as Harris began to find a rhythm. Needing a stop, Ohio State dialed up a scheme that dropped defensive end Cameron Heyward into coverage. The deception fooled Harris, who threw the ball directly at Heyward. What happened next defies explanation. Big ol' Cameron began to chug up the sideline with blockers out in front, but he soon ran out of gas. Heyward was eventually corralled following an 80 yard return. According to Jim Tressel, it took 15 minutes for the big fella to recover from his rumble.
Ohio State now held the game's fate in the palm of their hand, and they capitalized. Pryor scored on an 11 yard romp when he rolled right before reversing his field and running into the end zone.
Assuming the Buckeyes' 33 - 17 advantage was secure, the Ohio Stadium crowd roared to life.
Suffering from severe cramps, Harris courageously engineered a drive deep into OSU territory. The Bucks, though, held tough, and Devon Torrence's field goal block rendered the entire march meaningless.
Barclay's fifth converted field goal gave Ohio State a lead of 36 - 17 as the contest entered its final act.
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Harris hit Chase Ford on a 9 yard scoring strike that made the game somewhat interesting, but the Silver Bullets made the key stops down the stretch to strand Miami 12 points shy of a tie.
Pryor was able to rip off some big runs on the game's final drive as the the Bucks salted away the remaining 7:30 off the clock.
Ohio State was given a chance to show the country they belong among college football's elite, and the Buckeyes accomplished their mission. In the end, it was the men in scarlet gray who showed the speed and swagger necessary to win a national championship.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 12 - 27 (completions - attempts), 233 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 touchdown
As was discussed earlier, Pryor was not brilliant, but he was gritty, and that eventually proved to be the difference in this game.
Play of the Game
Cameron Heyward 80 yard interception return in the 3rd quarter
Heyward's runback was obviously a sight to behold, but it also kept Miami at bay and paved the way for Ohio State's knockout punch.
While most of the country was waiting for Ohio State to flop on another big stage, the Buckeyes went out and disappointed those critics. OSU blitzed Miami with an attacking offense and an opportunistic defense, and when the clock hit triple zeros, all the Hurricanes could do was limp back to Coral Gables.
Terrelle Pryor's weekly performance is a hot topic all across the nation because of the quarterback's seemingly endless potential. However, T.P. did very little to bolster his Heisman hopes in this one, but he did give his team a much - needed win. Pryor's completion percentage was a pedestrian 44%, yet he still accumulated 233 yards through the air. Pryor also gobbled up 113 yards on the ground, and, most importantly, he did not committ a single turnover.
The Buckeyes' defense did an excellent job of supporting Pryor and the offense by piling up 4 interceptions. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris was plagued by the INT bug as the Silver Bullets seemed to have their hands on the football more than Harris's wide receivers.
Even though Ohio State played a great game, it was by no means perfect. The special teams unit continued to be a thorn in the Bucks' collective side. Miami's two kick return touchdowns were the only reason this was not a total blowout.
The Buckeyes caught the game's first break when Harris got his pick party rolling early in the opening quarter. The Miami QB tried to squeeze a pass into a tight window, and C.J. Barnett deflected the ball into the waiting arms of Nathan Williams. Williams, who was making his season debut, returned the interception, after a penalty was factored in, to the Canes' 25 yard line.
From there, Ohio State had to settle for a Devin Barclay field goal following a touchdown - negating holding infraction.
It took the Hurricanes all of one play to make that lead disappear. Lamar Miller gathered in the kickoff at his own 12, and he raced all the way to paydirt.
Just like that, Big Mo was wearing orange and green.
On the ensuing kick, Jaamal Berry almost made it back - to - back TDs, but he was tripped by his own blocker, Nate Oliver, at the midfield stripe. The Bucks wound up punting, and a big opportunity had been missed.
A field goal late in the 1st quarter allowed Miami to take a 10 - 3 lead into the 2nd stanza.
That lead lasted for all of 36 seconds because the Buckeyes finally found their offensive footing. Pryor threw a perfect 62 yard bomb to Devier Posey, and then, on the very next snap, Pryor tossed a touchdown to a leaping Brandon Saine. The drive lasted just 2 plays and it covered 80 yards.
Barclay nailed another three - pointer on Ohio State's next series, and it was time for OSU's defense to get the ball back.
Harris flung a quick pass to Travis Benjamin, but the speedy wideout did not even turn around, allowing Chimdi Chekwa to make the easy catch.
The Buckeyes converted the turnover into quick points courtesy of Daniel "Boom" Herron and his nifty 4 yard score off of an option pitch. Ohio State now led by 10, and a rout appeared to be in the offing.
However, the Hurricanes once again came up with the answer on special teams. Benjamin, atoning for his earlier miscue, took a Ben Buchanan punt back to the house. On the play, it looked as if the Bucks' coverage unit thought Benjamin signaled for a fair catch, which he clearly did not. Regardless, Miami was back in business.
Prior to the intermission, Devin Barclay tacked on two more field goals to give the home team a 9 point halftime edge. The second kick floated through the uprights as time expired, and it was set up by Chekwa's second interception. This one was also not Harris's fault due to the fact that the ball went right through Benjamin's hands.
The Hurricanes began the 2nd half with a long drive as Harris began to find a rhythm. Needing a stop, Ohio State dialed up a scheme that dropped defensive end Cameron Heyward into coverage. The deception fooled Harris, who threw the ball directly at Heyward. What happened next defies explanation. Big ol' Cameron began to chug up the sideline with blockers out in front, but he soon ran out of gas. Heyward was eventually corralled following an 80 yard return. According to Jim Tressel, it took 15 minutes for the big fella to recover from his rumble.
Ohio State now held the game's fate in the palm of their hand, and they capitalized. Pryor scored on an 11 yard romp when he rolled right before reversing his field and running into the end zone.
Assuming the Buckeyes' 33 - 17 advantage was secure, the Ohio Stadium crowd roared to life.
Suffering from severe cramps, Harris courageously engineered a drive deep into OSU territory. The Bucks, though, held tough, and Devon Torrence's field goal block rendered the entire march meaningless.
Barclay's fifth converted field goal gave Ohio State a lead of 36 - 17 as the contest entered its final act.
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Harris hit Chase Ford on a 9 yard scoring strike that made the game somewhat interesting, but the Silver Bullets made the key stops down the stretch to strand Miami 12 points shy of a tie.
Pryor was able to rip off some big runs on the game's final drive as the the Bucks salted away the remaining 7:30 off the clock.
Ohio State was given a chance to show the country they belong among college football's elite, and the Buckeyes accomplished their mission. In the end, it was the men in scarlet gray who showed the speed and swagger necessary to win a national championship.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 12 - 27 (completions - attempts), 233 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 touchdown
As was discussed earlier, Pryor was not brilliant, but he was gritty, and that eventually proved to be the difference in this game.
Play of the Game
Cameron Heyward 80 yard interception return in the 3rd quarter
Heyward's runback was obviously a sight to behold, but it also kept Miami at bay and paved the way for Ohio State's knockout punch.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Poor Start Sends Tribe to Series Loss
9 - 12 - 10 vs. Minnesota L, 6 - 2 58 - 85
Three batters into the Indians' series finale with Minnesota, the Tribe was already in a heap of trouble. A walk and two singles had plated one run, and Mitch Talbot had been forced to exit the game due to a shoulder injury.
And things only got worse from there.
Justin Masterson, recently relegated to the bullpen, was called in to stop the bleeding in a long relief role, and he was victimized by an error and his own wild pitch. When the third out was finally recorded, the Twins had a comfortable 5 - 0 lead.
Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, and Danny Valencia each had a RBI in the rally.
Luis Valbuena, who committed the costly error in the 1st inning, partially atoned for his miscue by lacing a two - run double in the 2nd. Unfortunately, those would be the only two runs the Indians got all day.
Masterson actually pitched a fairly good game as he allowed just one earned run over seven frames of work.
Three batters into the Indians' series finale with Minnesota, the Tribe was already in a heap of trouble. A walk and two singles had plated one run, and Mitch Talbot had been forced to exit the game due to a shoulder injury.
And things only got worse from there.
Justin Masterson, recently relegated to the bullpen, was called in to stop the bleeding in a long relief role, and he was victimized by an error and his own wild pitch. When the third out was finally recorded, the Twins had a comfortable 5 - 0 lead.
Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, and Danny Valencia each had a RBI in the rally.
Luis Valbuena, who committed the costly error in the 1st inning, partially atoned for his miscue by lacing a two - run double in the 2nd. Unfortunately, those would be the only two runs the Indians got all day.
Masterson actually pitched a fairly good game as he allowed just one earned run over seven frames of work.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Thome's Historic Blast Sends Tribe to Bitter Defeat
9 - 11 - 10 vs. Minnesota L, 1 - 0 (12 innings) 58 - 84
The Indians battled the Minnesota Twins for 11 scoreless innings, only to watch the game slip out of their hands when Jim Thome launched a ball into orbit. The homer was not just clutch, it was also historic as the blast moved Thome into eighth place on the all - time home run list with number 587.
The two starting pitchers, Carlos Carrasco and Nick Blackburn, were both brilliant, and Blackburn even took a no - hitter into the 6th. However, neither hurler factored into the decision thanks to the absence of offense.
The Tribe's bullpen was eventually given responsibility for the final outcome, and Justin Germano was the one who surrendered the bomb to Thome, making him the losing pitcher.
Even though they never pushed a runner across the dish, the Indians were not without opportunity. The Tribe had several threats, but they wound up stranding 10 men on base.
The Indians battled the Minnesota Twins for 11 scoreless innings, only to watch the game slip out of their hands when Jim Thome launched a ball into orbit. The homer was not just clutch, it was also historic as the blast moved Thome into eighth place on the all - time home run list with number 587.
The two starting pitchers, Carlos Carrasco and Nick Blackburn, were both brilliant, and Blackburn even took a no - hitter into the 6th. However, neither hurler factored into the decision thanks to the absence of offense.
The Tribe's bullpen was eventually given responsibility for the final outcome, and Justin Germano was the one who surrendered the bomb to Thome, making him the losing pitcher.
Even though they never pushed a runner across the dish, the Indians were not without opportunity. The Tribe had several threats, but they wound up stranding 10 men on base.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Carmona's Gem Snaps Skid
9 - 10 - 10 vs. Minnesota W, 2 - 0 58 - 83
The drought is finally over.
Fausto Carmona, who had not won a game since August 2, got back in the win column with a brilliant, complete - game in which he only allowed three hits. Carmona had his nasty sinker working for him, and the result was utter domination of the Minnesota Twins.
Carmona's mound opponent, Carl Pavano, was also superb as he went the distance, as well. However, Pavano surrendered a couple of runs, and, in the end, that was the difference.
The Indians' scoring came from a Matt LaPorta solo home run in the 2nd inning, and an Asdrubal Cabrera sacrifice fly in the 5th.
Due to the fact that only two runs were scored and only two pitchers were used, the game lasted a mere one hour and fifty - seven minutes.
The drought is finally over.
Fausto Carmona, who had not won a game since August 2, got back in the win column with a brilliant, complete - game in which he only allowed three hits. Carmona had his nasty sinker working for him, and the result was utter domination of the Minnesota Twins.
Carmona's mound opponent, Carl Pavano, was also superb as he went the distance, as well. However, Pavano surrendered a couple of runs, and, in the end, that was the difference.
The Indians' scoring came from a Matt LaPorta solo home run in the 2nd inning, and an Asdrubal Cabrera sacrifice fly in the 5th.
Due to the fact that only two runs were scored and only two pitchers were used, the game lasted a mere one hour and fifty - seven minutes.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Falls in 16 Innings
9 - 8 - 10 at Los Angeles Angels L, 4 - 3 (16 innings) 57 - 83
Prior to this marathon in L.A., the last time the Indians played a game as long as 16 innings was on July 30, 1998. The Tribe won that one, but they could not repeat the trick against the Angels, who escaped the series with a win.
Thanks to a Trevor Crowe RBI single, Josh Tomlin took a lead and a no - hitter into the bottom of the 5th.
Neither one lasted very long.
Mike Napoli's two - run homer broke up Tomlin's no - no, and it also gave the Halos a lead of 2 - 1.
That lead grew in the 6th when Peter Bourjos cranked a solo bomb, and Cleveland was in trouble.
The Indians began their comeback in the 7th on an Andy Marte solo home run, but the Tribe was still down a run heading to the 9th.
Given a chance to close things out for the Angels, Jose Valverde allowed the Indians to tie the game, although they did not even have one hard - hit ball in the inning. Matt Laporta flaired a single to right - center field, Jason Donald chopped an infield hit off of home plate, and Jayson Nix blooped a RBI single into left.
Lou Marson's defense was the reason this contest went overtime. In the bottom of the 9th, Joe Smith uncorked a wild pitch with the winning run standing on third base. However, Marson retrieved the ball and threw a perfect strike to Smith, who slapped the tag on Alberto Callaspo.
Michael Brantley extended the game even further with his leaping catch at the wall in center in the 10th that took a walk - off homer away from Juan Rivera.
The Indians, though, eventually ran out of defensive gems, and they lost the game in the 16th on Jeff Mathis's sacrifice fly.
Prior to this marathon in L.A., the last time the Indians played a game as long as 16 innings was on July 30, 1998. The Tribe won that one, but they could not repeat the trick against the Angels, who escaped the series with a win.
Thanks to a Trevor Crowe RBI single, Josh Tomlin took a lead and a no - hitter into the bottom of the 5th.
Neither one lasted very long.
Mike Napoli's two - run homer broke up Tomlin's no - no, and it also gave the Halos a lead of 2 - 1.
That lead grew in the 6th when Peter Bourjos cranked a solo bomb, and Cleveland was in trouble.
The Indians began their comeback in the 7th on an Andy Marte solo home run, but the Tribe was still down a run heading to the 9th.
Given a chance to close things out for the Angels, Jose Valverde allowed the Indians to tie the game, although they did not even have one hard - hit ball in the inning. Matt Laporta flaired a single to right - center field, Jason Donald chopped an infield hit off of home plate, and Jayson Nix blooped a RBI single into left.
Lou Marson's defense was the reason this contest went overtime. In the bottom of the 9th, Joe Smith uncorked a wild pitch with the winning run standing on third base. However, Marson retrieved the ball and threw a perfect strike to Smith, who slapped the tag on Alberto Callaspo.
Michael Brantley extended the game even further with his leaping catch at the wall in center in the 10th that took a walk - off homer away from Juan Rivera.
The Indians, though, eventually ran out of defensive gems, and they lost the game in the 16th on Jeff Mathis's sacrifice fly.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes and Hurricanes Set to Clash in C-Bus
9 - 11 - 10 vs. Miami (Fla.) Game Preview 1 - 0
The eyes of the college football world will be on Columbus, Ohio this Saturday when the Buckeyes host the Hurricanes of Miami in a game that is bound to have national title implications.
Randy Shannon's Hurricanes have experienced a resurgence as of late, and they hope to make a statement to the country by winning a big game on the road. However, this game appears to have an OSU win written all over it.
Miami's quarterback, Jacory Harris, is prone to making mistakes when under pressure, and the Buckeyes, led by Cameron Heyward, should be able to apply the heat all afternoon long. Expect Harris to make several mistakes that, in the end, cost the visitors a chance at the upset.
On the other side of the ball, the Canes have a fast defense, but it is probably not disciplined enough to stop Terrelle Pryor and the Bucks' attack force. It would come as a surprise if Miami could slow down Pryor, the running game, and Ohio State's deep stable of wide receivers.
Some have made this into a chance at revenge for the Hurricanes because of the heart - breaking loss they experienced at the hands of the Buckeyes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. The chances of the revenge factor actually coming into play are quite slim, though, due to the fact that, for example, Jacory Harris was only 12 years old when that historical game took place.
And so, Ohio State looks to have the upper hand in this match - up, and with the added support of the home crowd, the Buckeyes should take one more step on the road to Glendale.
Prediction
Ohio State 31, Miami (Fla.) 21
The eyes of the college football world will be on Columbus, Ohio this Saturday when the Buckeyes host the Hurricanes of Miami in a game that is bound to have national title implications.
Randy Shannon's Hurricanes have experienced a resurgence as of late, and they hope to make a statement to the country by winning a big game on the road. However, this game appears to have an OSU win written all over it.
Miami's quarterback, Jacory Harris, is prone to making mistakes when under pressure, and the Buckeyes, led by Cameron Heyward, should be able to apply the heat all afternoon long. Expect Harris to make several mistakes that, in the end, cost the visitors a chance at the upset.
On the other side of the ball, the Canes have a fast defense, but it is probably not disciplined enough to stop Terrelle Pryor and the Bucks' attack force. It would come as a surprise if Miami could slow down Pryor, the running game, and Ohio State's deep stable of wide receivers.
Some have made this into a chance at revenge for the Hurricanes because of the heart - breaking loss they experienced at the hands of the Buckeyes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. The chances of the revenge factor actually coming into play are quite slim, though, due to the fact that, for example, Jacory Harris was only 12 years old when that historical game took place.
And so, Ohio State looks to have the upper hand in this match - up, and with the added support of the home crowd, the Buckeyes should take one more step on the road to Glendale.
Prediction
Ohio State 31, Miami (Fla.) 21
Cleveland Indians: Marson Keys Rout
9 - 7 - 10 at Los Angeles Angels W, 6 - 1 57 - 82
For an Indians' team struggling to score runs, Lou Marson's grand slam was the perfect remedy. The slam was Marson' first in the big leagues, and it was just his fourth career homer.
Michael Brantley's speed paid dividends for Cleveland as they opened the scoring in the 3rd inning. The Indians' center fielder singled before turning his motor on. He stole second base and then scampered down to third when Eric Aybar failed to handle Mike Napoli's throw. Brantley's escapade enabled him to score when Shin - Soo Choo flied out to center field.
Torrii Hunter's long homer to center in the 5th evened the score and put the pressure back on the Tribe's offense.
The bats wasted no time in responding as Travis Hafner's fly ball barely cleared the wall in left - center in the top of the 6th, and after being taken to instant replay, the play stood.
Next, it was Cleveland's young guns that stole the show. Jordan Brown singled, and Jason Donald and Luis Valbuena both drew walks. That set the stage for the heroics of Marson, and at that point, the game was in the bag.
Justin Masterson cruised to the victory on the strength of his seven inning effort during which time he only allowed one run.
For an Indians' team struggling to score runs, Lou Marson's grand slam was the perfect remedy. The slam was Marson' first in the big leagues, and it was just his fourth career homer.
Michael Brantley's speed paid dividends for Cleveland as they opened the scoring in the 3rd inning. The Indians' center fielder singled before turning his motor on. He stole second base and then scampered down to third when Eric Aybar failed to handle Mike Napoli's throw. Brantley's escapade enabled him to score when Shin - Soo Choo flied out to center field.
Torrii Hunter's long homer to center in the 5th evened the score and put the pressure back on the Tribe's offense.
The bats wasted no time in responding as Travis Hafner's fly ball barely cleared the wall in left - center in the top of the 6th, and after being taken to instant replay, the play stood.
Next, it was Cleveland's young guns that stole the show. Jordan Brown singled, and Jason Donald and Luis Valbuena both drew walks. That set the stage for the heroics of Marson, and at that point, the game was in the bag.
Justin Masterson cruised to the victory on the strength of his seven inning effort during which time he only allowed one run.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Choo Points Way in Victory Over Angels
9 - 6 - 10 at Los Angeles Angels W, 3 - 2 56 - 82
The Indians' best player in the clutch, Shin - Soo Choo, once again came through in dramatic fashion, and the Tribe rode his big hit to a series - opening win in L.A.
Cleveland struck first, in the 4th, and while they were taking the lead, they were also breaking up Dan Harens' no - hitter. Travis Hafner started the rally with his double, and following a Jayson Nix single, Hafner crossed home plate courtesy of a Shelley Duncan sacrifice fly.
Carlos Carrasco, the Indians' rookie hurler, was once again denied his first big league victory, in part because of his inability to protect slim leads. In the bottom of the 5th, Alberto Callaspo got to him for a RBI single that came on the heels of a Peter Bourjos' triple.
A small flash of two - out lightning restored the Tribe's advantage in the 6th. After Nix doubled, Dan Haren proceeded to walk three consecutive batters, and the last one, which was issued to Luis Valbuena, brought home the go - ahead run.
Torrii Hunter's solo bomb a few moments later deadlocked the game once more, and it also set the stage for the heroics of Choo.
Fernando Rodney quickly picked up two outs in the 9th before unraveling. First, he surrendered a double to Michael Brantley, and then, he drilled Asdrubal Cabrera with an errant pitch, bringing up Choo. Rodney left a changup over the heart of the plate, and Choo shot it into right, scoring Brantley with what proved to be the game - winning score.
Chris Perez took care of the rest by recording his 19th save.
The Indians' best player in the clutch, Shin - Soo Choo, once again came through in dramatic fashion, and the Tribe rode his big hit to a series - opening win in L.A.
Cleveland struck first, in the 4th, and while they were taking the lead, they were also breaking up Dan Harens' no - hitter. Travis Hafner started the rally with his double, and following a Jayson Nix single, Hafner crossed home plate courtesy of a Shelley Duncan sacrifice fly.
Carlos Carrasco, the Indians' rookie hurler, was once again denied his first big league victory, in part because of his inability to protect slim leads. In the bottom of the 5th, Alberto Callaspo got to him for a RBI single that came on the heels of a Peter Bourjos' triple.
A small flash of two - out lightning restored the Tribe's advantage in the 6th. After Nix doubled, Dan Haren proceeded to walk three consecutive batters, and the last one, which was issued to Luis Valbuena, brought home the go - ahead run.
Torrii Hunter's solo bomb a few moments later deadlocked the game once more, and it also set the stage for the heroics of Choo.
Fernando Rodney quickly picked up two outs in the 9th before unraveling. First, he surrendered a double to Michael Brantley, and then, he drilled Asdrubal Cabrera with an errant pitch, bringing up Choo. Rodney left a changup over the heart of the plate, and Choo shot it into right, scoring Brantley with what proved to be the game - winning score.
Chris Perez took care of the rest by recording his 19th save.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Hernandez Too Much for Indians
9 - 5 - 10 at Seattle L, 3 - 0 55 - 82
On most days, one run is enough for Seattle's Felix Hernandez. On this day, the Indians gave him three. Needless to say, they didn't stand a chance.
King Felix shut the Tribe out through the eight innings that he pitched while striking out nine. Cleveland had some opportunities off of him, but every time they threatened, Hernandez responded by dealing a nearly unhittable pitch.
The Mariners took the early lead in the 2nd when Asdrubal Cabrera turned a tailor - made, double - play ball into a fielder's choice and a RBI for Michael Saunders.
Russell Branyan then single - handedly put the game out of reach. He launched a solo home run to right field in the 6th, and he smashed a RBI double off the wall in left - center in the 8th.
Jeanmar Gomez produced another quality start, but this time his six frames of two - run ball were not nearly good enough to earn him the victory. Instead, he became the loser, and the loss was his third.
The only fire the Indians showed all afternoon came from their mananger, Manny Acta. Acta was ejected from the game for arguing a poor, but in the end, meaningless, call by Hunter Wendelstedt in the bottom of the 5th.
On most days, one run is enough for Seattle's Felix Hernandez. On this day, the Indians gave him three. Needless to say, they didn't stand a chance.
King Felix shut the Tribe out through the eight innings that he pitched while striking out nine. Cleveland had some opportunities off of him, but every time they threatened, Hernandez responded by dealing a nearly unhittable pitch.
The Mariners took the early lead in the 2nd when Asdrubal Cabrera turned a tailor - made, double - play ball into a fielder's choice and a RBI for Michael Saunders.
Russell Branyan then single - handedly put the game out of reach. He launched a solo home run to right field in the 6th, and he smashed a RBI double off the wall in left - center in the 8th.
Jeanmar Gomez produced another quality start, but this time his six frames of two - run ball were not nearly good enough to earn him the victory. Instead, he became the loser, and the loss was his third.
The only fire the Indians showed all afternoon came from their mananger, Manny Acta. Acta was ejected from the game for arguing a poor, but in the end, meaningless, call by Hunter Wendelstedt in the bottom of the 5th.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Talbot Back in Win Column Behind Quartet of RBI Singles
9 - 4 - 10 at Seattle W, 4 - 2 55 - 81
Mitch Talbot was having a miserable second half of the season before he finally broke out of his funk in Seattle. The Tribe's rookie hurler won his first game since June 27th as he held the Mariners without an earned run over 6 2/3 innings.
While Talbot was baffling Seattle's hitters, the Indians' offense was roaring to life against David Pauley. In the 1st, Shin - Soo Choo gave the Indians a threat by drawing a two - out walk and stealing second base. That was good enough for Travis Hafner, who lined a base - hit to right field, scoring Choo.
Cleveland executed brilliantly in the 3rd, and in so doing, they gave their pitcher two more runs to work with. Lou Marson's double started the rally, and Michael Brantley's sacrifice bunt was so good that it went for a single. The next two batters, Asdrubal Cabrera and Choo, both hit RBI singles through the right side of the infield.
The Indians scored for the final time in the game when Michael Brantley found that hole between the first and second basemen for a RBI single in the 4th.
Talbot eventually ran out of gas, and he had to be relieved by the bullpen in the bottom of the 7th. The Mariners did plate one in that frame, on an Ichiro blooper to left, but the Tribe still had a commanding lead.
Following a Russell Branyan homer in the 8th, Chris Perez slammed the door shut in the 9th, ensuring Talbot of a long - awaited victory.
Mitch Talbot was having a miserable second half of the season before he finally broke out of his funk in Seattle. The Tribe's rookie hurler won his first game since June 27th as he held the Mariners without an earned run over 6 2/3 innings.
While Talbot was baffling Seattle's hitters, the Indians' offense was roaring to life against David Pauley. In the 1st, Shin - Soo Choo gave the Indians a threat by drawing a two - out walk and stealing second base. That was good enough for Travis Hafner, who lined a base - hit to right field, scoring Choo.
Cleveland executed brilliantly in the 3rd, and in so doing, they gave their pitcher two more runs to work with. Lou Marson's double started the rally, and Michael Brantley's sacrifice bunt was so good that it went for a single. The next two batters, Asdrubal Cabrera and Choo, both hit RBI singles through the right side of the infield.
The Indians scored for the final time in the game when Michael Brantley found that hole between the first and second basemen for a RBI single in the 4th.
Talbot eventually ran out of gas, and he had to be relieved by the bullpen in the bottom of the 7th. The Mariners did plate one in that frame, on an Ichiro blooper to left, but the Tribe still had a commanding lead.
Following a Russell Branyan homer in the 8th, Chris Perez slammed the door shut in the 9th, ensuring Talbot of a long - awaited victory.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Launch Title Run With Win Over Marshall
9 - 2 - 10 vs. Marshall W, 45 - 7 1 - 0
On opening night at the Shoe, the Ohio State Buckeyes took a small step toward a national championship. The Bucks were clicking on all cylinders, and they thoroughly overwhelmed the Thundering Herd.
Terrelle Pryor built on his Rose Bowl performance with a brilliant 17 of 25 effort that accounted for 247 yards and a trio of touchdown tosses. This game was also billed as the beginning of Pryor's Heisman Trophy candidacy.
Pryor, however, was not alone in the offensive backfield, not by a long shot.
Brandon Saine ran for two scores and he compiled over 100 yards on the ground as the o - line gave him some great running lanes through which he continually exploded.
The feel - good story of the night came from Tyler Moeller, who was making his return to football after sustaining a serious head injury in an off - the - field incident. Moeller turned in six tackles, two of those for loss, and a forced fumble. In just this one contest, Moeller established himself as the hardest hitter on the Silver Bullets' defense.
If the game wasn't over before it started, it was soon afterward.
Andre Booker fumbled the opening kickoff, and Nate Oliver made a brilliant, diving recovery deep in Herd territory. Four plays later, the Buckeyes were in the end zone courtesy of a six yard scoring toss from Pryor to his favorite target, Devier Posey.
Upon regaining possession, OSU went right back to work behind the legs of Brandon Saine. The junior from Piqua, Ohio, ripped off gains of 40 and 4 yards, with the latter putting Ohio State up by two touchdowns.
Following B - Saine's run to paydirt, the Buckeyes began having problems on special teams. First, they allowed Booker to break a 62 yard return that fortunately led to a missed field goal. Then, the interior line gave up an inordinate amount of pressure that resulted in a blocked field goal. To make matters worse, Ahmed Shakoor caught the ball on the fly and raced 60 yards for a score.
All of the sudden, the Bucks had a fight on their hands.
That fight did not last very long, however, because of what Pryor did next. He spotted Dane Sanzenbacher running free over the middle, and the OSU QB hit him in stride for a 65 yard scoring play.
After Saine rumbled in from 45 yards out a few minutes later, Marshall began to panic. Brian Anderson rushed a throw over the middle of the field, and it was picked off by Brian Rolle. Rolle shedded one tackle and then racked to the end zone, completing a 30 yard pick six that sealed the deal in Columbus.
Pryor offered the fans one last highlight early in the 3rd quarter. T.P. delivered a perfect pass to Posey, who was being blanketed in the front corner of the end zone. The throw was so good, though, that Posey was still able to make the grab, and the Buckeyes had crossed the 40 point plateau.
Prior to final whistle, the Bucks did get a fumble recovery from Garret Goebel and a 34 yard field goal off the foot of Devin Barclay.
Aside from the special teams struggles, the Buckeyes had about as good a season opener as Jim Tressel could ask for. Now, Ohio State can prepare for Miami in what will be OSU's first premier game of the campaign.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 17 - 25 (completions - attempts), 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 8 carries, 17 yards, 0 touchdowns
The stats speak for themselves. Pryor had an absolutely spectacular first game, and it was the perfect encore for a young man coming off the Rose Bowl effort that he put together a season ago.
Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 65 yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher in the 2nd quarter.
After Marshall's special teams TD reduced the Buckeyes' lead to seven, Pryor and Sanzenbacher connected on a beautifully drawn up play. The Bucks never looked back as instead they looked ahead to the big showdown with the Hurricanes.
On opening night at the Shoe, the Ohio State Buckeyes took a small step toward a national championship. The Bucks were clicking on all cylinders, and they thoroughly overwhelmed the Thundering Herd.
Terrelle Pryor built on his Rose Bowl performance with a brilliant 17 of 25 effort that accounted for 247 yards and a trio of touchdown tosses. This game was also billed as the beginning of Pryor's Heisman Trophy candidacy.
Pryor, however, was not alone in the offensive backfield, not by a long shot.
Brandon Saine ran for two scores and he compiled over 100 yards on the ground as the o - line gave him some great running lanes through which he continually exploded.
The feel - good story of the night came from Tyler Moeller, who was making his return to football after sustaining a serious head injury in an off - the - field incident. Moeller turned in six tackles, two of those for loss, and a forced fumble. In just this one contest, Moeller established himself as the hardest hitter on the Silver Bullets' defense.
If the game wasn't over before it started, it was soon afterward.
Andre Booker fumbled the opening kickoff, and Nate Oliver made a brilliant, diving recovery deep in Herd territory. Four plays later, the Buckeyes were in the end zone courtesy of a six yard scoring toss from Pryor to his favorite target, Devier Posey.
Upon regaining possession, OSU went right back to work behind the legs of Brandon Saine. The junior from Piqua, Ohio, ripped off gains of 40 and 4 yards, with the latter putting Ohio State up by two touchdowns.
Following B - Saine's run to paydirt, the Buckeyes began having problems on special teams. First, they allowed Booker to break a 62 yard return that fortunately led to a missed field goal. Then, the interior line gave up an inordinate amount of pressure that resulted in a blocked field goal. To make matters worse, Ahmed Shakoor caught the ball on the fly and raced 60 yards for a score.
All of the sudden, the Bucks had a fight on their hands.
That fight did not last very long, however, because of what Pryor did next. He spotted Dane Sanzenbacher running free over the middle, and the OSU QB hit him in stride for a 65 yard scoring play.
After Saine rumbled in from 45 yards out a few minutes later, Marshall began to panic. Brian Anderson rushed a throw over the middle of the field, and it was picked off by Brian Rolle. Rolle shedded one tackle and then racked to the end zone, completing a 30 yard pick six that sealed the deal in Columbus.
Pryor offered the fans one last highlight early in the 3rd quarter. T.P. delivered a perfect pass to Posey, who was being blanketed in the front corner of the end zone. The throw was so good, though, that Posey was still able to make the grab, and the Buckeyes had crossed the 40 point plateau.
Prior to final whistle, the Bucks did get a fumble recovery from Garret Goebel and a 34 yard field goal off the foot of Devin Barclay.
Aside from the special teams struggles, the Buckeyes had about as good a season opener as Jim Tressel could ask for. Now, Ohio State can prepare for Miami in what will be OSU's first premier game of the campaign.
Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 17 - 25 (completions - attempts), 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 8 carries, 17 yards, 0 touchdowns
The stats speak for themselves. Pryor had an absolutely spectacular first game, and it was the perfect encore for a young man coming off the Rose Bowl effort that he put together a season ago.
Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 65 yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher in the 2nd quarter.
After Marshall's special teams TD reduced the Buckeyes' lead to seven, Pryor and Sanzenbacher connected on a beautifully drawn up play. The Bucks never looked back as instead they looked ahead to the big showdown with the Hurricanes.
Cleveland Indians: Tribe on Wrong End of Final Score, But Not History
9 - 3 - 10 at Seattle L, 1 - 0 54 - 81
Well, at least the Indians didn't get no - hit. Other than that, the Tribe's second day in Seattle was nothing short of miserable thanks to the masterful work turned in by Luke French. The Mariners' left - hander took a no - no into the 7th, and after completing that inning, he watched his bullpen seal the deal.
Shelley Duncan broke up French's bid by hitting a one - hop liner by the diving shortstop, Jack Wilson. A double play liner off the bat of Jayson Nix took care of the rally, however, and it also left Cleveland searching for their first tally, which they never got.
In the 9th, the Indians drew a walk and banged out two base - hits, yet they failed to drive a runner across home plate. The main reason for that was Trevor Crowe being thrown out on an attempted steal of second base. Duncan eventually struck out with two outs and runners on second and third.
Fausto Carmona continues to have absolutely no luck, whatsoever. The sinkerballer was brilliant as he allowed just a single 1st inning run, but in this game, that was one run too many.
Well, at least the Indians didn't get no - hit. Other than that, the Tribe's second day in Seattle was nothing short of miserable thanks to the masterful work turned in by Luke French. The Mariners' left - hander took a no - no into the 7th, and after completing that inning, he watched his bullpen seal the deal.
Shelley Duncan broke up French's bid by hitting a one - hop liner by the diving shortstop, Jack Wilson. A double play liner off the bat of Jayson Nix took care of the rally, however, and it also left Cleveland searching for their first tally, which they never got.
In the 9th, the Indians drew a walk and banged out two base - hits, yet they failed to drive a runner across home plate. The main reason for that was Trevor Crowe being thrown out on an attempted steal of second base. Duncan eventually struck out with two outs and runners on second and third.
Fausto Carmona continues to have absolutely no luck, whatsoever. The sinkerballer was brilliant as he allowed just a single 1st inning run, but in this game, that was one run too many.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Choo Leads the Tribe Past the Mariners
9 - 2 - 10 at Seattle W, 6 - 3 54 - 80
While the entire state of Ohio was watching the Buckeyes' season opener, Shin - Soo Choo and the Indians were having their own little party in Seattle. Choo drove in five runs as the Tribe took the series opener in the Emerald City.
The Mariners took an early 3 - 0 lead, and it was the man the Indians traded away earlier in the season, who did most of the damage. Russell Branyan absolutely crushed a two - run homer off the facing of the upper deck in the bottom of the 3rd.
Three singles by Luis Valbuena, Michael Brantley, and Asdrubal Cabrera, set the table for Choo's first big hit of the night. Choo drilled a fastball off the wall in right - cneter field, and the trio of base runners got a great jump, and the game was tied. The next hitter, Travis Hafner, hit a bullet to right that scored Choo and gave Cleveland the advantage.
Choo tacked on some insurance in the 9th when he lofted a two - run shot over the wall in left.
All of that offense made Josh Tomlin the winning pitcher for the third time in his big league career.
While the entire state of Ohio was watching the Buckeyes' season opener, Shin - Soo Choo and the Indians were having their own little party in Seattle. Choo drove in five runs as the Tribe took the series opener in the Emerald City.
The Mariners took an early 3 - 0 lead, and it was the man the Indians traded away earlier in the season, who did most of the damage. Russell Branyan absolutely crushed a two - run homer off the facing of the upper deck in the bottom of the 3rd.
Three singles by Luis Valbuena, Michael Brantley, and Asdrubal Cabrera, set the table for Choo's first big hit of the night. Choo drilled a fastball off the wall in right - cneter field, and the trio of base runners got a great jump, and the game was tied. The next hitter, Travis Hafner, hit a bullet to right that scored Choo and gave Cleveland the advantage.
Choo tacked on some insurance in the 9th when he lofted a two - run shot over the wall in left.
All of that offense made Josh Tomlin the winning pitcher for the third time in his big league career.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Cleveland Indians: Tribe Once Again Comes Up a Little Bit Short
9 - 1 - 10 vs. Chicago White Sox L, 6 - 4 53 - 80
Reduced to the role of spoiler, the Indians tried to derail Chicago's playoff hopes, yet they were again lacking a big hit in the 9th inning. In all three games of this series, the Tribe had the winning run on base in the game's final frame, but all three times, they came away with nothing but another loss.
Making his first start of the season, Carlos Carrasco was brilliant. However, he did get touched up for a couple of long balls, and after he headed for the showers, his relief blew his chance at a win.
The first of those aforementioned home runs came off the bat of Alex Rios in the 1st, and it staked the visitors to a 1 - 0 lead.
With a runner on third base in the bottom of the 3rd, Asdrubal Cabrera reached out and hooked a Freddy Garcia offering into right field, tying the game at one.
Cleveland grabbed the advantage and sent Garcia to the trainer's room with a stiff back, all in the 4th inning. Jayson Nix squibbed an infield single to shortstop, advanced to second courtesy of an error, and crossed home plate when Jordan Brown scooted a grounder into shallow right field.
At the end of seven, the Indians maintained a 4 - 1 lead, even though they had done nothing more than tap the ball around the infield and capitalize on a trio of White Sox defensive miscues.
The Tribe's run of good fortune finally came to a halt in the 8th, and it all started thanks to an Alexi Ramirez solo bomb. Following a walk to Juan Pierre, Carrasco was yanked.
The bullpen did nothing to reverse the inning's downward trend as Justin Germano walked Rios before surrendering a Paul Konerko two - out, three - run homer.
Ozzie Guillen went to a rookie in the last of the 9th, and Chris Sale did the job, but not before the Tribe staged another fruitless rally. Sale walked a pair, meaning Cleveland twice brought the winning run the plate. However, Cabrera bounced into a fielder's choice, and Shin - Soo Choo struck out swinging to end the game.
Reduced to the role of spoiler, the Indians tried to derail Chicago's playoff hopes, yet they were again lacking a big hit in the 9th inning. In all three games of this series, the Tribe had the winning run on base in the game's final frame, but all three times, they came away with nothing but another loss.
Making his first start of the season, Carlos Carrasco was brilliant. However, he did get touched up for a couple of long balls, and after he headed for the showers, his relief blew his chance at a win.
The first of those aforementioned home runs came off the bat of Alex Rios in the 1st, and it staked the visitors to a 1 - 0 lead.
With a runner on third base in the bottom of the 3rd, Asdrubal Cabrera reached out and hooked a Freddy Garcia offering into right field, tying the game at one.
Cleveland grabbed the advantage and sent Garcia to the trainer's room with a stiff back, all in the 4th inning. Jayson Nix squibbed an infield single to shortstop, advanced to second courtesy of an error, and crossed home plate when Jordan Brown scooted a grounder into shallow right field.
At the end of seven, the Indians maintained a 4 - 1 lead, even though they had done nothing more than tap the ball around the infield and capitalize on a trio of White Sox defensive miscues.
The Tribe's run of good fortune finally came to a halt in the 8th, and it all started thanks to an Alexi Ramirez solo bomb. Following a walk to Juan Pierre, Carrasco was yanked.
The bullpen did nothing to reverse the inning's downward trend as Justin Germano walked Rios before surrendering a Paul Konerko two - out, three - run homer.
Ozzie Guillen went to a rookie in the last of the 9th, and Chris Sale did the job, but not before the Tribe staged another fruitless rally. Sale walked a pair, meaning Cleveland twice brought the winning run the plate. However, Cabrera bounced into a fielder's choice, and Shin - Soo Choo struck out swinging to end the game.
Cleveland Indians: Sox Win Another Wild One
8 - 31 - 10 vs. Chicago White Sox L, 4 - 3 53 - 79
The Indians are finding out what it means to be a playoff contender.
The White Sox arrived in Cleveland with a very real possibility of making the postseason, and they have twice produced dramatic victories.
This was a classic pitcher's duel as Justin Masterson and Edwin Jackson both hurled beauties. Masterson received a no - decision even though he only allowed one run through 7 2/3 innings. Jackson got within an out of a complete game, and that was good enough to earn him the win.
Shelley Duncan broke up a scoreless contest in the bottom of the 7th with his solo homer that landed on the home run porch in left field.
The lead did not last very long, however, becuase Masterson surrendered a Mark Teahen RBI single in the 8th.
The Tribe's best chance for victory had come and gone.
Manny Acta went to his bullpen in the 9th, and that turned into a complete disaster. First, Joe Smith walked two Chicago batters, and then, A.J. Pierzynksi took Frank Herrman deep for a three - run bomb.
Jackson did finally run out of steam in the last of the 9th, which allowed Cleveland to score twice on Jason Donald's two - out single to center. Bobby Jenks was then summoned, and after he gave up a base - hit to Matt LaPorta that put the tying and winning runs on base, Jenks induced Michael Brantley into a game - ending ground out.
The Indians are finding out what it means to be a playoff contender.
The White Sox arrived in Cleveland with a very real possibility of making the postseason, and they have twice produced dramatic victories.
This was a classic pitcher's duel as Justin Masterson and Edwin Jackson both hurled beauties. Masterson received a no - decision even though he only allowed one run through 7 2/3 innings. Jackson got within an out of a complete game, and that was good enough to earn him the win.
Shelley Duncan broke up a scoreless contest in the bottom of the 7th with his solo homer that landed on the home run porch in left field.
The lead did not last very long, however, becuase Masterson surrendered a Mark Teahen RBI single in the 8th.
The Tribe's best chance for victory had come and gone.
Manny Acta went to his bullpen in the 9th, and that turned into a complete disaster. First, Joe Smith walked two Chicago batters, and then, A.J. Pierzynksi took Frank Herrman deep for a three - run bomb.
Jackson did finally run out of steam in the last of the 9th, which allowed Cleveland to score twice on Jason Donald's two - out single to center. Bobby Jenks was then summoned, and after he gave up a base - hit to Matt LaPorta that put the tying and winning runs on base, Jenks induced Michael Brantley into a game - ending ground out.
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