Author: John Blake (Page 36 of 68)

With the game tied in the 10th, Twins left-fielder Jason Tyner hit one of his two RBI singles of the game to give Minnesota the 3-2 extra inning win over the Tribe. With the exception of Jason Michaels’ two-run homer in the sixth, the Indians couldn’t do much off starter Brad Radke and the rest of the Twins’ bullpen. The Tribe could only manage six hits in the ballgame. After Paul Byrd exited in the sixth, the pen did its job of holding the Twins scoreless until Ed Mujica surrendered the game-winning hit in the 10th. That breaks an amazing streak of 46 2/3 innings of work for Mujica without allowing an earned run. The long string of innings dates back to early 2006 when he was still in Double-A Akron.

Brad Radke had his trademark changeup working very effectively and the Tribe had difficulties with it all night. He can’t get it up there like he used to, but Radke still knows how to pitch and still possesses above average off-speed stuff. The Indians are a very aggressive team offensively and pitchers with good changeups will always seem to be of concern for the Tribe.

The Indians returned from the break and seemed refreshed and re-energized as they used four homers to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 in the Metrodome Thursday night. Minnesota’s young pitching stud Francisco Liriano, the league’s ERA leader, was rocked for four earned runs in five innings pitched as he lost just his second game of the season. He may have edged out Travis Hafner for one of the final A.L All-Star spots, but Pronk got the better of Liriano this time, launching a solo home run to right field in the fifth inning. Liriano gave up three long balls on the night, including one to Casey Blake, who made his first return to the lineup after being out with an oblique strain. The Tribe added an insurance run in the ninth via Kelly Shoppach’s home run.

After allowing two straight walks to start the game, Cliff Lee settled down and gave up only two earned runs and five hits to notch his ninth win of the season. He has now won six of his last seven decisions dating back to early June. Fausto Carmona, who continues to dominate as a setup man, pitched another scoreless eighth and Bob Wickman saved his 14th of the season.

At the young age of 23, Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore has been invited to his very first MLB All-Star Game. Sizemore, who enters the break batting .291 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI, will be the Indians’ lone representative for the American League team. In addition, he also leads the league in runs scored and extra-base hits. It’s been a disappointing season thus far for Grady’s Tribe, but Indians fans can be proud of his accomplishments and his All-Star selection.

Ever since he broke into the majors, Sizemore has become a fan favorite in Cleveland because of his constant hustle on the field. He’s an extremely talented athlete, one who almost went to the University of Washington on a football scholarship. The Indians are happy he made the right decision by sticking to baseball. They got him, along with Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips, from Montreal in a 2002 trade for Bartolo Colon. With his athletic ability and all-out playing style, it’s easy to see why the Indians were so high on this kid at the time. Four years later, Grady is an All-Star and one of the center pieces of the Indians’ future. He may be a laid-back guy off the field, but once he steps on the baseball diamond, Sizemore plays every game like it’s his last.

“I like to play that way,” he said. “I like to give it my all every day. I just love being a baseball player. It’s a great job to have. I wouldn’t have it any other way – to get to compete at the professional level every day.”

Indians third base coach Jeff Datz loves what Sizemore brings to the table.

“He can impact the game in so many ways,” said Datz. “He’s in scoring position when he’s at the plate because he can hit one out at anytime. Or he can hit one into the gap for a double or triple. If he hits a single or walks, he can steal second. He can take away base hits in the outfield with his speed and his glove. He’s absolutely fearless in the outfield. He’ll run into walls to catch a ball. He doesn’t care. And he’s so smart he always knows where to position himself. I rarely have to move him.”

In today’s modern era, it’s refreshing to see an athlete who puts the money and fame secondary to the love of the game. Grady, with his long-term deal, is financially set for awhile but does not let that get in the way of his play on the field. So many times we see athletes in all sports relax and dog it once they land that big-money contract. But not Grady. Tribe fans can’t help but be excited about the attitude of this kid. He plays hard to the final out and is a tremendous talent in the batter’s box as well as in center field. At 23, Grady will undoubtedly find himself in plenty more All-Star Games for the rest of his career.