Author: John Blake (Page 26 of 68)

Starter Jake Westbrook gave up most of his hits early in the ballgame and then cruised to a 4-0 shutout over the Angels Wednesday night. It was his second shutout of the season and his 50th win of his career. Westbrook struck out seven in the full nine innings and won back-to-back games for the first time since early April. The majority of the Tribe lineup was Triple-A players but it was the youngsters who led the charge offensively. Choo, Garko, and Inglett each had an RBI. Martinez and Choo each had three hits for the Tribe, who snapped a four-game losing slide.

Give some credit to Wedge for letting Westbrook go back out there to finish the game in the ninth. After eight, Westbrook had over 100 pitches. With Sowers and now with Jake, Wedge is starting to give his starters some freedom. I like a manager who rewards his pitchers for a job well done by letting them finish out games.

As it turns out, the Indians were not completely done cleaning house when they traded Ronnie Belliard over a week ago. Tuesday, they sent outfield Todd Hollandsworth to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named.

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has completed a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, sending OF Todd Hollandsworth to Cincinnati in exchange for a player to be named. To assume Hollandsworth’s place on the 25-man roster, the Indians have recalled OF Franklin Gutierrez from AAA Buffalo.

Jason Michaels is now the elder statesman in the outfield. With the young lineup the Indians will be throwing out there for the rest of season, the casual fan at the Jake will need to consult a media guide.

Just as the offense fought back to tie it, the bullpen from hell ruined what could have been a nice comeback by the Tribe., who fell to L.A of Anaheim 5-4 at the Jake. The Angels built a 4-0 lead midway through the game off Jeremy Sowers with the help of home runs by Vladmir Guerrero and Garret Anderson. The Indians then responded with four in the sixth to tie it up. Grady Sizemore started the rally with a home run. Shin-Soo Choo then doubled to score one and Hector Luna singled to score two more. Exit Sowers, enter Rafael Betancourt. After allowing two baserunners, Betancourt gave up the eventual winning run on an Adam Kennedy base hit.

“[The bullpen] has had its difficulties,” Wedge said.

Ya think! Boy, if that isn’t the understatement of the year.

Mark Shapiro and the Indians’ organization continue to take steps to keep their core players in a Tribe uniform for several years. Tuesday, the Indians signed starter Cliff Lee to a three-year extension.

Cliff Lee signed a three-year, $14 million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, another long-term commitment for a young player the club considers key to winning in the future.

Lee’s deal includes a club option for the 2010 season for $8 million, plus $1 million in award and incentive bonuses, ESPN Insider Jerry Crasnick reports.

“This signing further exemplifies ownership’s consistent, continued desire to maintain the present core group of Cleveland Indians players and demonstrates Cliff’s desire to be part of that core,” Shapiro said.

The Indians tried in the off-season and during spring training to sign Lee long-term but couldn’t get a deal done. Cliff is young and talented and has a lot of promise as a starter in this league. Now, if only he can learn how to avoid the big inning in games he’ll be fine.