Cleveland Indians: Tribe a Winner in Strange Game

5-28-11     at Tampa Bay     W, 7-3     31-18

     The Indians will probably not play another game this season quite as goofy as the one Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field.  Despite committing numerous baserunning blunders, the Tribe managed to emerge victorious, mainly because the Rays were even worse.

     The contest featured 2 errors, 4 outs recorded on the basepaths, and numerous funny bounces.  However, when the dust finally settled, the Indians snapped a frustrating 3-game losing streak.

     It was immediately obvious that this would not be a typical day at the ballpark.  In the top of the 1st, Michael Brantley singled, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a RBI triple to the left-center gap, Shin-Soo Choo singled, Travis Buck singled, and Carlos Santana added a sacrifice fly.  That should have been the beginning of a huge offensive outburst, but Cabrera was picked off at 3rd base and Travis Buck was doubled off of 1st.  Therefore, even though the 1st 5 batters contributed productive at-bats, Cleveland only tallied twice.

     The Tribe extended its lead in the 2nd courtesy of Matt LaPorta and his solo home run into the right field bleachers.

     Given a 3-0 cushion, Carlos Carrasco made it stand up.  Carrasco allowed only a pair of runs, and he pitched six solid innings to earn the win.  The key for Carrasco was that he whiffed 4 and did not walk a batter.

     James Shields, 1 of the best pitchers in the American League, hurled 7 strong frames, but the 3 runs he surrendered made him the losing pitcher.

     Following Shields's departure, the Indians rocked the Tampa Bay bullpen in the 8th.  A single, an error, and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs.  Shelley Duncan then capitalized on the golden opportunity by driving a 3-2 pitch high off the left field wall, plating 2 key insurance runs.  Due to a gaffe by Choo, the runner at 1st, Duncan only received credit for a long, 2-run single.  Orlando Cabrera's 2-run single through the middle of the infield moments later removed all doubt.

     LaPorta's error in the bottom of the 9th allowed Tampa Bay to pull to within 4, but 2 Rays found themselves standing on 3rd at the back end of the play, enabling the Indians to convert the ensuing rundown into the game's final out.

A Fitting Conclusion: Sean Rodriguez runs his team out of the game