Author: John Blake (Page 23 of 68)

The Indians suffered yet another late-inning loss Friday night as they fell to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-5. C.C. Sabathia went eight strong innings allowing three earned runs on eight hits, striking out six. He left a two run lead to the flimsy bullpen which once again showed us which area of the team needs an overhaul this offseason. Brian Sikorski came in to work the ninth inning and allowed a run on three hits to make it a 5-4 game. Jason Davis came in to attempt to save the game with runners on first and second and one out. However, Davis walked the first batter he faced on four pitches to load the bases. After getting ahead of Carl Crawford 0-2, Davis grooved a splitter and Crawford deposited it into right field for the win. Manager Eric Wedge continues to have trouble finding someone, anyone, to finish a game with the lead.

“We’re going to keep trying with guys,” Wedge said. “That’s just where we’re at.”

The bullpen fiasco ruined a breakout game from young third baseman Andy Marte, as he went 3-4 with two doubles and his very first major league home run. It’s a shame that blast had to come in a tough loss. As they say, better luck next year.

Well, as long as the bullpen never shows up it looks like the Tribe will be alright. Paul Byrd pitched a complete game Thursday afternoon as the Tribe beat the Twins 3-2 in the series finale. The Indians grabbed a 2-o lead with the help of Hector Luna’s RBI triple in the second inning. While Byrd didn’t have his greatest stuff on the mound, he was able to bear down and make good pitches when he had to. With the game at 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Byrd and the Indians got a scare when Justin Morneau drove a ball deep to center field but Grady Sizemore was able to haul it in at the wall. The 10 complete games by Indian pitchers this season leads the majors.

“I didn’t have great stuff,” he said. “I was grunting and groaning out there to throw hard, and [the pitch speed would read] 83 mph. After the first inning, I was asking some of our other pitchers if I looked like I was doing something different, but they said no. It just happens sometimes, that you don’t have your best stuff, so you adjust accordingly.”

Thank God Wedge left Byrd in. Who knows what could have happened had he brought in Carmona, Davis or anyone else in the pen.

The Indians rode a six-game win streak and things were looking somewhat positive. Unfortunately, they have regressed and are back to their old inconsistent ways again. The monster that is the Indians bullpen reared its ugly head again in their 7-2 loss to the Twins Wednesday night. Starter Cliff Lee battled through his five innings and left with the game tied 2-2. After the relief work of Fernando Cabrera, it was still tied going into the eighth when all hell broke loose for the Tribe bullpen. Fausto Carmona and Rafael Betancourt combined for five runs in the inning, leaving any chance of a Tribe victory. Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run shot off Betancourt in the eighth to blow the game wide open.

What is it with the Metrodome? The dome of horrors continues to haunt the Tribe this season, where they are 2-6.