Cleveland Indians: Tribe Continues Late-July Slump

7-31-11     vs. Kansas City     L, 5-3     53-52

     The blockbuster trade for Ubaldo Jimenez clearly showed that the Indians' front office believes its team can reach the postseason.

     Unfortunately, since a blistering 30-15 start to the season, the Tribe has not looked like a playoff contender.

     On Sunday afternoon, the Indians lost for the 8th time in their last 10 games, and they fell 2.5 games behind the front-running Detroit Tigers.

     Fausto Carmona spotted the Royals a 3-0 lead from which the Tribe never recovered.  Carmona eventually pitched into the 8th inning, but the 4 runs he allowed saddled him with his 11th loss.

     In the bottom of the 5th, Cleveland's offense showed a flash of competence.  Jason Kipnis hit his 1st major league homer, a solo shot that sailed into the right field bleachers, and, following Asdrubal Cabrera's double, Carlos Santana blasted a RBI triple off the same wall that Kipnis cleared.  However, the Tribe, which has been struggling mightily to score runs during this recent slide, tallied only once more after the 5th.

     When Santana stepped to the plate in the last of the 9th, he represented the tying run, but the Indians' catcher bounced into a double play to end a miserable, 2-6 home stand.

A grueling, 7-day road trip awaits Asdrubal and the Indians

Cleveland Indians: LaPorta's Homer Concludes Wild Night

7-30-11     vs. Kansas City     W, 5-2     53-51

     While the Ubaldo Jimenez trade rumors swirled through Progressive Field on Friday night, the Indians staged yet another remarkable comeback victory.

     Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Tribe mounted a furious rally against Joakim Soria, the Royals' electric closer. 

     Soria quickly worked himself into some trouble when he drilled the foot of the lead-off man, Asdrubal Cabrera.  Travis Hafner's fielder's choice, though, erased Cabrera, and Soria appeared to have righted the proverbial ship.  However, Carlos Santana laced a double down the right field line, advancing Orlando Cabrera, who had pinch-run for Hafner, to 3rd base.  Then, the newest Indian, Kosuke Fukudome, lofted a sacrifice fly to left that tied the game.  Lonnie Chisenhall's walk brought Matt LaPorta to the plate, and LaPorta lined a walk-off home run over the left field wall.  As the crowd roared, LaPorta jogged around the bases, pointed his fingers toward the sky, fired his batting helmet to the ground, and disappeared into a sea of white jerseys at home plate.

     Moments later, the Tribe finalized a deal with the Rockies that sent 4 prospects, including pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, to Colorado in exchange for Jimenez.  Last season, Jimenez won 19 games, but he has only 6 victories in 2011. 

     Following LaPorta's heroic blast, the Indians also dealt Orlando Cabrera to the Giants.  San Francisco gave the Tribe a minor league prospect for the veteran 2nd baseman.

     Despite allowing only 2 tallies in 8 superb innings, Justin Masterson merited a no-decision, but he would have been the loser if the Indians had not produced that 4-run 9th.

A raucous celebration capped this remarkable evening

Cleveland Indians: Royals Trounce Tribe, Fukudome

7-29-11     vs. Kansas City     L, 12-0     52-51

     Following Wednesday's debacle in which the Indians were no-hit by Ervin Santana, the team's front office decided the time was right to bolster the punchless offense.  So, the Tribe dealt a pair of prospects to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.

     Fukudome made his Cleveland debut on Friday night, but the Japanese import was held hitless in 4 at-bats as the last-place Royals routed the Indians.

     Kansas City blasted 4 home runs, including a Melky Cabrera grand slam, to key the annihilation.  2 of those big flies belonged to Billy Butler, who has now homered in 4 consecutive games.

     Carlos Carrasco allowed 7 runs in 3 1/3 frames, and the Tribe right-hander experienced a meltdown after Cabrera's 4th inning slam.  Carrasco rifled a fastball over the head of Butler, prompting both benches to clear.  Angry words were exchanged, but no punches were thrown.  Carrasco, though, was ejected, abruptly concluding his miserable outing.

     Jeff Francis's 8 shutout innings earned the Royals' lefty a victory.

Kosuke's arrival did not spark the Tribe bats

Cleveland Indians: Santana No-Hits the Tribe

7-27-11     vs. Los Angeles Angels     L, 3-1     52-50

     On Wednesday afternoon, at the expense of the slumping Cleveland Indians, Ervin Santana etched his name into the baseball record books.

     Santana, who was 0-4 against the Tribe prior to this historic outing, tossed the 272nd no-hitter in big league history.  Because of his impeccable control, Santana struck out 10 while walking only 1.

     Despite failing to collect even a single base-hit, the Indians did avoid a shutout by scratching for a run in the bottom of the 1st inning.  A fielding error, a stolen base, a groundout, and a wild pitch allowed Ezequiel Carrera to cross home plate.

     Following that rocky opening frame, Santana was unhittable.

     The Angels' right-hander pitched without any offensive support until the 5th when Mike Trout's sacrifice fly tied the game.

     Courtesy of Carlos Santana's passed ball, the Halos finally gave Ervin Santana the lead in the 6th.  That passed ball was not the Tribe's only defensive miscue as the Wahoos committed 5 errors. 

     A pair of fielding gems in the home half of the 6th saved the no-no.  First, Jason Kipnis was robbed by Howard Kendrick, who dove to stop a hot smash that was headed toward center field.  Then, Santana deflcted Austin Kearns' low liner with his glove, retrieved the the baseball after it rolled behind him, and threw to 1st.

     The tension began to build as Santana continued to stifle the Indians' bats. 

     In the bottom of the 9th, Michael Brantley represented Santana's final obstacle.  Brantley lofted the 2nd pitch of the at-bat to medium-deep left-center, where it nestled into the glove of Peter Bourjos.  Santana raised his arms in celebration and was instantly swarmed by his fellow Angels.

Santana reacts after completing his no-hitter

Cleveland Indians: 9th Inning Failure Prevents Victory

7-26-11     vs. Los Angeles Angels     L, 2-1     52-49

     A 2nd consecutive dramatic Tribe victory appeared to be inevitable.

     Trailing 2-1, the Indians had loaded the bases against Jordan Walden in the bottom of the 9th before the flame-throwing closer could record a single out.

     As Matt LaPorta stepped into the batter's box, the Angels shifted their infield toward home plate.  LaPorta worked the count full, but he chopped the 3-2 pitch to the 2nd baseman, Howard Kendrick.  The Halos' defensive alignment gave Kendrick time to retire the lead runner, Orlando Cabrera, at the plate.  Jeff Mathis then doubled up Laporta, who was jogging to 1st base instead of sprinting.  Suddenly, Cleveland was down to its final out, and Jason Kipnis, the hero of Monday night, whiffed to end the ballgame.

     The contest was scoreless until Mark Trumbo cranked a 2-run double in the top of the 7th.

     The Tribe pulled to within a run in the home half of the frame courtesy of LaPorta's solo tater that sailed into the left field bleachers.

     Jered Weaver - 7 IP, 1 ER - earned the win, while Josh Tomlin - 8 IP, 2 ER - suffered a tough-luck defeat.

The Indians watched their late rally fall short

Cleveland Indians: Kipnis the Hero as Tribe Stuns Halos

7-25-11     vs. Los Angeles Angels     W, 3-2     52-48

     Jason Kipnis chose the perfect time to collect his 1st major league hit.

     The Indians' young 2nd baseman rifled a 2-out, RBI single into right field to cap an exhilarating bottom of the 9th inning.

     When the last of the 9th began, the Angels enjoyed a 2-1 lead, but the Tribe revealed its penchant for dramatics yet again.

     Facing the hard-throwing Jordan Walden, Michael Brantley laced a lead-off single.  Brantley then swiped 2nd base before Asdrubal Cabrera stuck out.  However, Cabrera's whiff did not faze the Indians because the next batter, Travis Hafner, crushed a game-tying RBI double off the left field wall.  Hafner was replaced by Orlando Cabrera, who became nothing more than a spectator as Walden walked Carlos Santana and drilled Jack Hannahan. 

     Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia, realizing that Walden could no longer throw strikes, yanked his rookie closer and summoned Hisanori Takahashi.  Scioscia also employed a 5-man infield that turned Travis Buck's grounder into an out at home plate.  The Angels did not use the shift against Kipnis, and he lined his walk-off single where the extra infielder had previously been stationed.  Kipnis jogged to 1st, turned around, and was mobbed by his elated teammates.

     Dan Haren overwhelmed the Tribe for 7 2/3 frames, allowing only an Asdrubal Cabrera 1st inning RBI single while recording 10 Ks.  Fortunately, Haren's pitch count of 123 forced the Halos' bullpen to work the 9th.

     Fausto Carmona tossed 6 scoreless innings, but Bobby Abreu's 2-run homer in the 8th prevented Fausto from earning his 6th victory.

Kipnis (middle) ended Cleveland's 4-game skid

Cleveland Indians: Sox Sweep Lifeless Tribe

7-24-11     vs. Chicago White Sox     L, 4-2     51-48

     A quick glance at the American League Central Division standings reveals that the Indians have a legitimate chance to reach the postseason.

     However, the team that virtually handed Chicago a win on Sunday afternoon did not resemble a playoff contender.

     The Tribe and White Sox were tied at 1 in the top half of the 6th inning, and the Sox had runners at 1st and 2nd.  Adam Dunn lifted a high fly ball toward the center field wall, but Ezequiel Carrera cruised back to make what appeared to be a fairly routine catch.  Carrera, though, as he drifted onto the warning track, stumbled, momentarily lost the baseball in the sun, and then dropped it.  The 2-run, 2-base error eventually cost Cleveland the game.

     Chicago added an insurance tally in the 7th courtesy of Asdrubal Cabrera's fielding error and Carlos Santana's throwing error.

     That trio of miscues led to 3 unearned runs and made Justin Masterson a tough-luck loser.  Masterson pitched 7 dominant frames, yielding 1 earned run, but the big right-hander could only watch as his defense gift-wrapped a victory for the White Sox.

     RBI singles from Carrera and Travis Hafner represented the Indians' offense.

Orlando Cabrera and the Indians lost their 4th consecutive game

Cleveland Indians: Offense Sputters vs. ChiSox

7-22-11     vs. Chicago White Sox     L, 3-0     51-47

     The trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Tribe desperately needs to add another bat.

     Never was that fact more evident than on Friday night, when the White Sox blanked the Indians to begin a crucial 3-game series.

     Using an array of quality pitches, including a devastating curveball, Gavin Floyd tossed 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball.  Floyd whiffed 5, scattered 4 hits, and did not walk a batter.

     Floyd was very good, but the Indians offered the Chicago hurler plenty of help.  The Tribe hitters consistently swung at balls outside the strike zone, and they wasted the few good scoring opportunities that they had.

     Although Carlos Carrasco made only 1 mistake, it made him the losing pitcher. 

     In the top half of the 5th, after allowing a pair of singles, Carrasco grooved a fastball to Carlos Quentin.  And Quentin deposited it into the left field bleachers.

     Carrasco gave the Indians 6 1/3 solid frames, but his offense never bailed him out for that 1 erratic delivery to Quentin.

     Jason Kipnis, arguably the Tribe's top prospect, made his major league debut.  Despite being held hitless, the young 2nd baseman played great defense as he showed flashes of future brilliance.

Kipnis has the potential to be a superstar

Cleveland Indians: Disappointing Loss Concludes Road Trip

7-20-11     at Minnesota     L, 7-5     51-46

     Before the Indians' 8-game trek to Baltimore and Minneapolis began, the idea of Luis Valbuena playing left field was utterly absurd.

     However, Grady Sizemore's bruised knee, Travis Buck's head contusion, and Michael Brantley's upset stomach forced Manny Acta to insert Valbuena into the lineup as an outfielder.

     And the results of playing a shortstop that far from home plate were disastrous on Wednesday afternoon.

     In the bottom of the 8th inning, the 1st 2 Minnesota batters tested Valbuena's inexperience.  Alexi Casilla lofted a fly ball toward the left-center gap, and it looked like Valbuena would be able to snag it.  But Valbuena, as he neared the baseball, stopped to see where the center fielder, Ezequiel Carrera, was.  When  Valbuena hesitated, Carrera wisely decided to take charge, but Valbuena was thoroughly confused.  Instead of yielding to Carrera, Valbuena continued to chase the ball, and the 2 players collided. 

     Valbuena's failure to communicate had resulted in a lead-off double.

     The next hitter, Joe Mauer, dropped a single in front of Valbuena, who could have easily caught the liner had he displayed even the slightest desire to do so.

     Locked in a 4-4 tie, the Twins now had runners at 1st and 3rd, but Tony Sipp managed to strike out Michael Cuddyer.  After Sipp walked Jim Thome, Acta summoned Vinnie Pestano from the bullpen.  Pestano promptly allowed Danny Valencia's RBI single and Tsuyoshi Nishioka's 2-run single.

     Minnesota's 3-run rally, which Valbuena was largely responsible for, proved to be the difference. 

     Lonnie Chisenhall's solo homer in the 9th inning was impressive, but it mattered very little.

     Both starting pitchers, the Indians' Josh Tomlin and the Twins' Nick Blackburn, surrendered 4 runs in 6 innings.

     The Tribe's inability to produce even a single hit with a man in scoring position was yet another critical aspect of this frustrating defeat.

If Brantley or Buck had been patrolling left field, Sipp would not have suffered the loss

Cleveland Indians: Perez's Blown Save Sinks the Tribe

7-19-11     at Minnesota     L, 2-1    51-45

     While the Twins celebrated their stunning, come-from-behind victory on Tuesday night at Target Field, the Indians' All-Star closer, Chris Perez, stormed into the dugout.

     The burly right-hander threw his glove and slammed a bucket full of bubble gum against the wall as he vented his obvious frustration.

     And Perez had ample reason to be angry.

     The Tribe's stopper has been brilliant this season, but his inablility to finish this particular 9th inning robbed the Indians of a chance to build on Monday's doubleheader sweep.

     Alexi Casilla was retired to begin the bottom of the 9th, but Minnesota refused to wave the proverbial white flag.  Aided by a couple of questionable calls, Joe Mauer worked a 1-out walk.  Michael Cuddyer then flaired a double down the left field line, advancing the tying run to 3rd base and the winning run to 2nd.  Jim Thome was intentionally walked before Danny Valencia hit a 2-run, walk-off single to left.  Luis Valbuena, an inexperienced outfielder replacing the injured Travis Buck and the ill Michael Brantley, tenatively played Valencia's soft line drive.  However, even an aggressive approach probably would not have saved Perez and the Indians.

     Valencia's heroics ruined Justin Masterson's dominant outing.  Masterson tossed 7 2/3 scoreless frames, and he whiffed 5 batters.  A pitch count of 104 and a temperature of 94 degrees convinced Manny Acta to make a pitching change in the last of the 8th.  Masterson may have been able to pitch his 1st complete game shutout of the year, but a fresh Chris Perez is usually a safer bet than a weary Justin Masterson.

     Cleveland scored its lone tally in the 5th.  Lou Marson singled, Travis Buck was hit in the head by a pitch, leading to the insertion of Valbuena, and Ezequiel Carrera singled to load the bases.  Asdrubal Cabrera's sacrifice fly plated Marson.  Unfortunately, the Indians' offense was quiet after that.

Masterson deserved a W

Cleveland Indians: Marson, Tribe Complete Doubleheader Sweep

7-18-11     at Minnesota     W, 6-3     51-44

     As Lou Marson's 7th inning solo homer disappeared into the steamy, Minneapolis night, the most surprised person in the ballpark appeared to be Ben Revere.

     The Twins' center fielder sprinted after the baseball, preparing to make an over-the-shoulder catch.  However, Revere never had any chance of snaring Marson's deep fly.  Revere eventually realized that, and he stopped to watch the ball sail over the fence.

     Revere had several good reasons to believe that Marson would not leave the yard.  First of all, before Monday night, Marson did not have a single home run.  Secondly, Target Field's spacious confines rarely surrender bombs.

     But these Indians have been defying the odds all season; so it was only fitting that Marson's 1st tater of the season gave the Indians a lead they would not relinquish.

     Marson, though, was not the only key contributor for the Tribe.

     Fausto Carmona yielded only 2 tallies in his 6 frames of work, and the big right-hander notched his 5th victory.  This was Carmona's 1st start since injuring his quad muscle on July 2nd.

     In the 5th, Marson's 2-out double kick-started a rally that concluded with back-to-back RBI singles courtesy of Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera.

     Following Marson's big blow, Travis Hafner added a pair of RBI base-hits, and Carlos Santana, a run-scoring triple.

     Making his major league debut, Scott Diamond suffered the loss because of the 4 runs, 3 earned, that he surrendered in 6 1/3 innings.

Marson capped a near-perfect day for the Indians

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Triumphant in Twinbill Opener

7-18-11     at Minnesota     W, 5-2     50-44

     Behind David Huff's brilliant outing, the Indians coasted to a victory to begin a day-night doubleheader at Target Field.

     Because the Tribe is playing 6 games in 5 days, Huff was forced to make his 1st start of the season.

     Judging by Monday's performance, it might not be his last.

     Huff overwhelmed the Twins for 7 innings as he held them off the scoreboard while striking out 5.  Huff earned the victory, his 1st at the major league level since May 23, 2010.

     The Indians gave Huff ample run support in the top of the 3rd.  Ezequiel Carrera bounced a RBI single through the middle of the infield, and Asdrubal Cabrera slugged a 3-run homer well over the right field wall.

     Austin Kearns added a solo bomb in the 9th that sailed into the upper deck in left.

     Chad Durbin allowed a Michael Cuddyer 2-run shot in the last of the 9th, but Vinnie Pestano stifled a possible Minnesota rally.  The effort merited Pestano his 2nd save.

     Prior to the contest, Grady Sizemore was placed on the disabled list due to the knee contusion he suffered on Sunday.

No Sizemore, No Problem: The Indians rolled

Cleveland Indians: Orioles Rout the Tribe

7-17-11     at Baltimore     L, 8-3     49-44

     The Indians' Sunday afternoon can best be described as disastrous.

     Grady Sizemore suffered yet another knee injury, and the Tribe watched an early lead morph into an ugly defeat.

     The top of the 1st inning was a mixed bag for the Indians.  After 2 quick outs, Travis Hafner and Carlos Santana hit back-to-back solo jacks.  Santana's homer actually carried over the right field foul pole and out of Camden Yards.  Sizemore then poked a double down the left field line, but he awkwardly rounded 1st base and barely reached 2nd.  Sizemore was forced to exit the game due to a right knee contusion.  This is Grady's 3rd knee injury of the past 2 seasons.  Sizemore, who is listed a day-to-day, was replaced by Ezequiel Carrera, and Carrera scored moments later on Travis Buck's RBI single.

     Jeanmar Gomez, starting for the injured Mitch Talbot, failed to hold that 3-0 cushion.  Gomez allowed 5 runs in 5 1/3 frames as he struggled to command his sinking fastball.  Gomez frequently left his sinker up in the strike zone, and the Orioles capitalized.  Adam Jones, Robert Andino, and Nick Markakis all hit home runs off of Gomez.

     Against the Cleveland bullpen, Baltimore added 3 insurance runs, including a pair at the expense of Joe Smith.  Those 2 tallies were the 1st earned runs that Smith had allowed since May 8th, a span of 26 innings.

The Indians stranded 11 base runners as they dropped the series finale

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Narrowly Defeated by the Birds

7-16-11     at Baltimore     L, 6-5     49-43

     On Saturday night, the Indians and Orioles were following a script that appeared headed toward an eventual Tribe victory.

     Trailing 6-2 in the top of the 9th, the Indians, as they have done so often this season, valiantly battled back.  3 walks loaded the bases, and then Orlando Cabrera lofted a 2-out, 3-run double over the head of the center fielder, Adam Jones. 

     Another dramatic Tribe win looked to be inevitable. 

     However, Grady Sizemore grounded out to end the rally and the game.

     That frenetic conclusion did nothing to alter Carlos Carrasco's fate. Carrasco pitched fairly well - 7 IP, 3 ER - but he suffered his 3rd consecutive loss.

     In hindsight, the most critical point of the contest actually occurred in the bottom of the 8th.  Rafael Perez and Frank Herrmann, the 2 weakest links of Cleveland's dominant bullpen, allowed a total of 3 tallies as Baltimore padded its lead.

     Michael Brantley delivered a 2-run double in the 6th that knotted the score at 2 before Nick Markakis produced the eventual game-winning hit, a solo bomb in the home half of the 6th.

     Alfredo Simon, who currently faces involuntary manslaughter charges in his native Dominican Republic, earned the W.  A verdict could be reached next week, and, if he is found guilty, Simon may never pitch in the big leagues again.

Carrasco's offense almost bailed him out in the 9th

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Edges the Orioles

7-15-11     at Baltimore     W, 6-5     49-42

     Through 5 innings of play on Friday night, the Indians simply could not shake the Orioles.

     Every time the Tribe would surge into the lead, the Birds would come right back to tie the game.

     Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin was given advantages of 1-0, 3-2, and 5-3, but he failed to hold any of them.

     Finally, in the top half of the 6th, Lonnie Chisenhall laced a RBI single to right field, and the visitors had a lead they would not relinquish.

     The Tribe bullpen, featuring Chad Durbin, Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Vinnie Pestano, and Chris Perez, sealed the victory by tossing a combined 4 frames of shutout baseball.  Chris Perez hurled a scoreless 9th to earn his 22nd save.

     Despite allowing 5 runs in 5 innings, Tomlin notched his 11th win of the season.

     Prior to Chisenhall's clutch hit, the 2 teams traded home runs.  Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore each hit a 2-run bomb for the Indians, while Matt Wieters (solo), Nolan Reimold (solo), and Adam Jones (2-run) homered for Baltimore.

Tomlin pitched poorly but was supported by his offense

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Victorious to Begin Season's 2nd Half

7-14-11     at Baltimore     W, 8-4     48-42

     Fresh off the All-Star break, the Indians trounced the Orioles, the American League's worst team, to tie the Detroit Tigers atop the AL Central Division.

     A pair of big flies gave the Tribe an early cushion.  In the top of the 1st inning, Asdrubal Cabrera belted a solo home run, and, 2 batters later, Carlos Santana cranked a 2-run homer.

     Santana's RBI double in the 3rd extended the Indians' advantage to 4-0.

     A 4-run lead should have been enough for Justin Masterson, but the Tribe's ace was not quite as sharp as he had been in recent starts.  Masterson allowed 2 tallies in the bottom of the 3rd before wriggling out of a 2 on, 1 out jam in the 5th.

     Baltimore's failure to score in that 5th frame would prove to be the game's turning point.  The Indians scored 4 times in the 6th to bury the Birds.  Following Travis Buck's sacrifice fly, Michael Brantley, Asdrubal, and Travis Hafner hit 3 consecutive 2 out, RBI singles.

     Masterson yielded 2 more runs in the last of the 6th, but the overabundance of offensive support enabled the big right-hander to win his 8th game of the campaign.

     The Tribe bullpen hurled 3 hitless innings to complete the triumph.

On Thursday night, the Indians stopped a 3-game skid

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Limps Into the Break

7-10-11     vs. Toronto     L, 7-1     47-42

     For the Indians, the All-Star break could not come at a better time.

     The Tribe was rolling following Travis Hafner's walk-off grand slam on Thursday, but the team has since lost 3 consecutive games.

     Sunday afternoon saw the Indians drop out of 1st place as Carlos Carrasco allowed 5 runs in his 3 innings of work.

     The Blue Jays scored all 5 of their tallies off Carrasco in the top of the 3rd.  Eric Thames crushed a 2-run homer, J.P. Arencibia hit a RBI single, and Corey Patterson contributed a 2-run double.

     Jose Bautista's 2-run double in the 6th effectively ended the Tribe's hopes of a series split.

     The Cleveland offense continued its week-long trend of leaving small villages on the base paths.  The Indians stranded 13 runners, helping Brett Cecil, who pitched 6 frames of 1-run baseball, earn the victory.

     Jack Hannahan's 6th inning RBI single enabled the Tribe to avoid the shutout.

The Tribe will use the 3-day break to prepare for the stretch run

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Drops Extra Innings Thriller

7-9-11     vs. Toronto     L, 5-4 (10 innings)     47-41

     Manny Acta may win the American League's manager of the year award this season, but some of the decisions he made on Saturday night were questionable, to say the least.

     After the Indians tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, Acta summoned his closer, Chris Perez, to pitch the top of the 10th.  Even though Perez is an All-Star, he has been very shaky in non-save situations.  The 1st batter Perez faced was Jose Bautista, the most feared slugger in all of baseball.  Bautista had already hit 1 home run, his 30th of the year, but Acta did not call for the intentional walk, and Bautista smoked the 2nd pitch he saw over the left field wall.

     The Tribe failed to rally in the last of the 10th, giving the Jays a dramatic victory.

     Travis Buck's 2-out, RBI double in the 9th forced extra innings.  Buck had an 11-pitch at-bat before he produced his timely knock.

     If Buck had not been the hero of the 9th frame, he would have been the goat.  The Cleveland right fielder uncorked a throwing error in the 5th that allowed Toronto to score its 4th run of the contest.

     Grady Sizemore's 2-run homer in the 4th was 1 of Brandon Morrow's few blemishes.  Morrow allowed 3 tallies over his 8 innings of work as the Blue Jays' righty baffled the Indians.

     Josh Tomlin tossed 6 decent frames, surrendering 4 runs, 3 earned.  Tomlin did not merit a decision.

The Indians should have walked Bautista in the 10th

Cleveland Indians: Tribe's Comeback Bid Falls Short

7-8-11     vs. Toronto     L, 11-7     47-40

     Even when they lose, the 1st place Cleveland Indians are an exciting ballclub to watch.

     One night after Travis Hafner socked a walk-off grand slam, the Indians staged another late-innings rally, but this one fell short.

     Mitch Talbot spotted the Blue Jays an early 8-2 advantage as the Tribe right-hander saw his winless streak stretch to 7 starts.  Talbot's inability to minimize damage may result in his eventual demotion to AAA Columbus.

     Entering the last of the 8th, the Indians were trailing, 8-3, but the game quickly became very interesting.  Jack Hannahan, Lou Marson, Michael Brantley, and Asdrubal Cabrera hit 4 consecutive singles to begin the frame.  Asdrubal's base-knock plated Hannahan and loaded the bases for Hafner.  However, Pronk whiffed, placing the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Travis Buck.  Buck responded by hitting a 2-run double into the left field corner.  That clutch 2-bagger, though, would mark the Tribe's high-water mark of the evening because Orlando Cabrera popped out and Matt LaPorta grounded out to end the inning.

     The Jays tallied twice in the top of the 9th before Brantley added a meaningless RBI single in the bottom half.

     Jo-Jo Reyes tossed 5 2/3 solid frames, allowing 3 unearned runs, and he picked up the victory.  Reyes is now 2-0 against the Indians this season.

     Travis Snider (5 RBI) and Rajai Davis (4 RBI) fueled Toronto's offensive attack.

The Indians could not quite hurdle the Blue Jays on Friday night

Cleveland Indians: Hafner Slams the Tribe Past the Jays

7-7-11     vs. Toronto     W, 5-4     47-39

     For 8 innings on Thursday night, the Indians' offense was utterly hopeless.

     Facing a mediocre Blue Jays' pitching staff, the Tribe wasted 1 golden opportunity after another.

     As a result, Toronto enjoyed a 4-0 cushion when the bottom of the 9th began.

     What happened next almost defies explanation.

     Travis Buck lined a single to center field.  Matt LaPorta drilled a double into the right field corner.  Jack Hannahan worked a walk.  Suddenly the Indians had the bases loaded, the Jays were yet to record an out, and the tying run, Michael Brantley, was striding toward the batter's box.

     Sensing disaster, Toronto manager John Farrell yanked Frank Francisco and inserted Luis Perez, a young lefty who had never earned a save at the major or minor league level.  The decision, though, paid dividends initially because Perez whiffed Brantley.

     Cleveland's comeback bid appeared to be losing steam.

     But the Tribe is a team that refuses to quit, and that never-say-die attitude was about to be rewarded.

     Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single pulled the Indians to within 3 and brought Travis Hafner to the plate.  Pronk is usually a patient hitter, but on this occasion the slugger launched the 1st pitch he saw deep into the right field bleachers.  The Indians stormed the field to celebrate the walk-off grand slam that capped what was arguably the Tribe's most dramatic victory of the season.

     Prior to Hafner's heroics, Zach McAllister made his major league debut.  McAllister allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4 frames of work.  McAllister was shaky, but he never imploded.  If he had crumbled, the Indians would have probably been unable to stage their late rally.

A home plate celebration capped this improbable win

Cleveland Indians: Pitching, Hitting, Fielding Combine to Best the Yankees

7-6-11     vs. New York Yankees     W, 5-3     46-39

     The key to the Indians' magical 2011 season has been their ability to play as a team.  The results have been rewarding because the Tribe currently sits atop the American League Central as we near the All-Star Break.

     On Wednesday evening, a complete team effort carried the Indians past the Yankees, capping Cleveland's 3rd consecutive series victory.

     Justin Masterson pitched 8 shutout innings to notch his 8th win, but he could not have done it alone.

     Despite the lack of a knockout punch, the Indians' offense was able to piece together a productive performance.

     In the bottom of the 1st, a walk and a single set the table for Travis Hafner, who bounced a RBI single through the left side of the infield.  Asdrubal Cabrera scored moments later as a result of a wild pitch and Russell Martin's ensuing throwing error.  The mad dash around the bases tested Cabrera's sore ankle, but the Tribe shortstop appeared to be in good condition.

     The Indians were then held scoreless until Lonnie Chisenhall cranked his 1st major league home run, a solo shot in the 7th.

     The Tribe tacked on a pair of critical insurance runs in the 8th.  2 walks and a single loaded the bases before Carlos Santana worked a walk and Grady Sizemore hit a sacrifice fly.

     Following Vinnie Pestano's disastrous outing in which he allowed 3 9th inning runs without recording an out, Chris Perez was summoned.  And the Tribe's electric closer slammed the door on the Yankees' comeback bid.

     Meanwhile, Cleveland's defense was nothing short of magnificent.  Cabrera, Sizemore, and Matt LaPorta all made phenomenal defensive plays to support Masterson.  LaPorta was activated off the disabled list only a few hours prior to the contest.

     Derek Jeter's double in the 8th gave the future Hall of Famer his 2,997th career hit.

Masterson and the Indians were too much for the Yankees

Cleveland Indians: Asdrubal Injured as Tribe Loses

7-5-11     vs. New York Yankees     L, 9-2     45-39

     It was a play Asdrubal Cabrera has made dozens of times this season.

     The Tribe's All-Star shortstop lunged to his left, fielded a sharp grounder, leaped high in the air, and fired a perfect strike to 2nd to record a forceout.

     However, this time, Cabrera landed awkwardly, and the crowd gasped as the Indians' best player fell to the ground.

     Fortunately, Asdrubal was able to play 2 more innings, but he was eventually forced to exit.

     An hour later, the Tribe revealed that Asdrubal had suffered an ankle sprain.  He is day-to-day and should be able to avoid the disabled list.  If Cabrera does miss an extended period of time, though, one can only imagine the devastating effect it would have on the Indians.

     Cabrera's sprained ankle was merely 1 aspect of an utterly miserable night.

     Carlos Carrasco allowed 6 tallies in 4 frames, and the Yankees bludgeoned the Tribe.

     Carrasco almost escaped a bases-loaded situation in the 2nd when he induced a tailor-made double play ground ball.  Cabrera flipped the ball to 2nd, but Cord Phelps' relay was in the dirt, enabling the Bronx Bombers to score a gift run.  What should have been an inning-ending twin killer unraveled Carrasco.  Derek Jeter lashed a 2-run double, the 2,996th hit of his illustrious career, and Curtis Granderson launched a 2-run homer.

     That 5-run 5th was too much for the Indians to overcome because former Indian C.C. Sabathia tossed 7 scoreless frames to earn his 12th victory.

     Sacrifice flies by Lou Marson and Michael Brantley in the 9th prevented Cleveland from being shut out.

A painful sight for the Indians and their fans

Cleveland Indians: Kearns, Duncan Spark Comeback Victory

7-4-11     vs. New York Yankees     W, 6-3     45-38

     A sell-out crowd of 40,676 was waiting to explode.

     The fans had flocked to Progressive Field to watch a 4th of July showdown pitting the Yankees against the Indians.

     But, as the teams reached the 7th inning stretch, the Tribe had yet to give the partisan crowd much reason to cheer.

     Josh Tomlin did carry a no-hitter into the 7th, but he promptly yielded 3 hits, including Nick Swisher's 2-run double.

     Cleveland appeared destined for a disappointing defeat because the offense was lifeless and A.J. Burnett was twirling a shutout.

     However, in the bottom of the 7th, the Indians staged a clinic. 

     The subject: working the count.

     Grady Sizemore drew a 1-out walk, and Lonnie Chisenhall, after his foul pop down the left field line somehow dropped between Brett Gardner and Alex Rodriguez, also drew a free pass.  Combined, Sizemore and Chisenahall forced Burnett to make 14 pitches.  The next batter, Shelley Duncan, quickly fell behind 0-2, but he battled back and flaired a RBI single to right.  Austin Kearns then stepped to the plate and stunned Burnett, and probably his own teammates as well, by hitting his 1st home run of the season, a 3-run shot that barely cleared the right field wall.

     Curtis Granderson's solo homer pulled the Yanks to within 1 before Carlos Santana's 2-run belt removed all doubt.

     The Tribe's All-Star closer, Chris Perez, tossed a 1-2-3 9th to notch his 20th save.

     The dramatic rally made a winner out of Tomlin, who set a major league record on Monday night.  The young righty became the 1st pitcher in baseball history since 1919 to work at least 5 frames in each of his 1st 29 career appearances.

Kearns (26) is congratulated following his clutch big fly

Cleveland Indians: Talbot, Tribe Drop Series Finale

7-3-11     at Cincinnati     L, 7-5     44-38

     Following Saturday's game in which the Tribe used 6 relievers, the Indians desperately needed Mitch Talbot's Sunday afternoon start to include both quality and length.

     Instead, it was poor and brief.

     Talbot allowed 6 runs in 4 innings of work, and Manny Acta once again turned to his bullpen sooner than he would have liked.  Talbot's rough outing netted the young right-hander his 5th loss of the season.

     A 2-run blast off the bat of Shelley Duncan in the top of the 2nd gave Talbot and the Indians an early 2-nil advantage. 

     But Talbot began to unravel in the home half of the frame. 

     The Reds eventually scored 7 unanswered runs to secure a lead that was threatened but never relinquished.  Solo homers by Chris Heisey and Edgar Renteria bookended the offensive flurry.

     Cleveland slowly crawled back to within striking distance as Grady Sizemore hit a 2-out, 2-run single in the 6th.  Travis Hafner added a pinch-hit RBI single in the 7th, but the Indians were unable to climb any closer. 

     Mike Leake hurled 6 frames, yielding 4 tallies, to notch the victory.

Asdrubal Cabrera (above) and Chris Perez were selected to the All-Star team on Sunday

Cleveland Indians: Brantley, Bullpen Trump the Reds

7-2-11     at Cincinnati     W, 3-1     44-37

     When facing the Reds this season, the Tribe is invincible.

     On Saturday afternoon, the Indians survived Fausto Carmona's embarrassing injury and improved to 5-0 against their in-state rivals.

     A goofy 3rd inning would prove to be the difference.  Lou Marson's single led-off the frame, and Fausto Carmona was instructed to drop a sacrifice bunt.  Carmona bunted the ball too sharply, enabling Scott Rolen to throw to 2nd base.  However, Marson was safe because Paul Janish did not have his foot on the bag when he received the throw.  Meanwhile, Carmona stumbled and fell flat on his face as he crossed 1st base.  Carmona's pride was probably hurt more than anything else, but he did exit the game due to what was termed a strained quad muscle.  After Carmona was helped off the field, Michael Brantley deposited a 3-run homer into Cleveland's right field bullpen.

     Carmona's brief outing forced the Tribe relief corps to bear a heavy burden.  Frank Herrmann ( 3 innings pitched), Rafael Perez (1 IP), Joe Smith (1 IP), Tony Sipp (1/3 IP), Chad Durbin (2/3 IP), and Vinnie Pestano (1 IP) combined to protect the lead and seal the victory.

     The Reds, though, were not without opportunities.  Cincy stranded 7 base runners in the final 3 frames alone as the Cleveland 'pen worked around several jams.  Joey Votto's solo shot off of Sipp in the 8th accounted for Cincinnati's only tally.

     Despite allowing only 2 earned runs over 7 innings of work, Homer Bailey suffered the defeat.

Pestano struck out the side in the 9th to earn his 1st save

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Captures the Ohio Cup

7-1-11     at Cincinnati     W, 8-2     43-37

     The drought is over.

     Courtesy of their 8-2 victory on Friday night, the Indians claimed the Ohio Lottery Ohio Cup, given annually to the winner of the Cleveland-Cincinnati season series, for the 1st time since its inception in 2008.

     Speaking of droughts, Justin Masterson halted a streak of 11 consecutive winless starts.  Masterson allowed only 1 run in 8 dominant innings, and his offense finally gave him some support.

     Grady Sizemore lofted a solo home run over the center field wall in the 2nd to kick-start the hit parade.

     In the 3rd, Asdrubal Cabrera crushed a 2-out, 2-run homer deep into the left field bleachers, and Carlos Santana's solo shot made it back-to-back jacks.

     A 4-spot in the 5th capped the Tribe's offensive explosion.  Following singles off the bats of Michael Brantley and Orlando Cabrera, respectively, Cleveland produced 3 straight 2-out RBI hits.  Santana grounded a RBI single past the diving 3rd baseman Scott Rolen, Sizemore drilled a RBI double to right, and Travis Buck shot a 2-run single into left.  Unfortunately, Buck tweaked his hamstring on the play and was forced to exit the game.  The extent of the injury will not be determined until tomorrow.

     Bronson Arroyo allowed all 8 tallies in his 4 2/3 frames of ineffective work.  Arroyo has now served up 24 gopher balls this season.

     Brandon Phillips, a former Indian, was the only Red who showed any sign of life as he hit 2 solo bombs.

Sizemore watches the flight of his 2nd inning homer