Category: Cleveland Indians (Page 12 of 96)

The Indians dug themselves out of an early hole and prevailed in a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Thursday night. Paul Byrd had a rocky start, allowing the Rays to jump out to a 4-0 lead before Andy Marte’s two-run blast cut the deficit in half in the fifth inning. Grady Sizemore had another big night offensively, going 3-for-4 and hitting the game-tying homer in the seventh. In that same inning, Ryan Garko doubled in what proved to be the game-winner. Matt Miller and Rafael Betancourt combined for two scoreless innings of relief, the latter getting the save.

Terry Pluto makes a strong argument that the Indians don’t need to mess around with first base for next season. Ryan Garko fits their needs very well.

Thirty-one runs the Indians had scored in their previous three games. They could only manage one on Wednesday night and it resulted in a 2-1 rain-shortened loss to the White Sox. The run came on an Andy Marte homer, one of two Indian hits on the night. The game failed to make it through the eighth as thunderstorms rumbled through the city. After an almost two hour delay, the contest was finally called, leaving the Tribe without a chance at a comeback and a possible sweep. Starter Fausto Carmona didn’t pitch badly, striking out six in as many innings, but still was tagged with the loss, his tenth of the season. On the other side, Branden McCarthy was lights out for the Sox. The young right-hander fanned eight in just over five innings of work and derailed what has been a surging Indians lineup as of late.

The Indians will welcome the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to town for a four-game series at the Jake, their last of the season.

C.C Sabathia and Ryan Garko starred in the Indians’ 6-0 shutout over the White Sox Tuesday night. In his final start of the season, Sabathia went out with a bang, throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out 11. He left a formidable impression with Tribe fans and demonstrated the kind of ace we have all viewed him to be.

“I definitely feel this is the best year I’ve pitched,” Sabathia said. “I’ve been more consistent.”

Sabathia, finishing the season with a 3.22 ERA, led the charge on the mound while Garko led it with his bat. He had three hits, including a homer and a double, and five RBI as the Tribe won their fourth straight. C.C stands in the AL’s top three in ERA and has arguably been the team’s most consistent starter this season, emotional outbursts aside.

Not only did the Indians trounce the White Sox 14-1 Monday night and officially put an end to their playoff hopes, they put themselves in the record books doing so with a Casey Blake grand slam. The Tribe now have hit 14 grand slams on the year, which ties a single-season record set by the Oakland A’s in 2000.

“It’s quite an accomplishment,” Wedge said. “You talk about the importance of hitting with runners in scoring position. To be up with the bases loaded and punch the ball out of the ballpark that many times is special stuff. I wish it would have been more meaningful, in terms of our season.”

While Travis Hafner owns a chunk of those 14, Casey Blake hit his second as part of an eight-run sixth inning. Victor Martinez went a perfect 3-for-3 in the game and Shin-Soo Choo and Ryan Garko added two RBIs apiece as the Indians rocked Sox starter John Garland. Cliff Lee rebounded from a rough start last week and put up seven solid innings, allowing only the run and four hits.

The season is coming to a close and the Indians appear to have caught a final spark, winning their last three games.