Category: Cleveland Indians (Page 15 of 96)

It was a rather unconventional walk-off win, but the Indians will take it. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, Ryan Garko grounded into a fielder’s choice which scored the winning run in the Tribe’s 5-4 win over the Twins Friday night. Not only did Garko have the game-winning RBI, he helped the Indians get off to a quick lead thanks to his two-run blast off one of the American League’s best in Johan Santana. Franklin Guitierrez also had a solid night with three hits and two doubles, one of which started the 10th inning rally.

Fausto Carmona took the hill once again and for once, the game didn’t completely blow up in his face. Despite five walks, Carmona gave up only two runs in five innings and left with the lead. The Twins were able to get to Tom Mastny in the ninth to tie it but the Indians were able to deliver some extra-inning magic.

Well, that nice little run of victories the Indians had a few weeks ago may have officially ended. The rare energy and passion seen during that span appears to have died. The Tribe lost for the fifth time in six games Thursday to the Twins and are 5-8 in the month of September after storming through August. Starter Cliff Lee only gave up one run through four, but was pulled after his pitch cout rose. Then Eric Wedge went through his relievers like they were going out of style. Eight relievers he used to finish the final five innings in their 9-4 loss. The Twins pulled ahead for good in the eighth when they scored three on two home runs off Fernando Cabrera.

Andy Marte was basically the Indians’ offense, which only managed six hits. Marte had two of them, including a three-run shot in the sixth that temporarily tied the game at four.

The Indians lost to the Royals for the second straight night as starter Jake Westbrook couldn’t keep Kansas City off base and the offense for the Tribe was stagnant once again. During their 6-2 loss Wednesday night, the Indians weren’t able to keep up with the Royals as they continued to plate runs after building an early lead. The four-run deficit could have been much greater had it not been for some nifty defensive plays by Casey Blake and Ryan Garko. The only runs the Tribe did score came from a Grady Sizemore homer and a Blake sacrifice fly.

Westbrook has now given up more than 10 hits in three of his last four starts. Being a pitcher who doesn’t rely on strikeouts and makes the hitter put the ball in play, Jake’s going to see a lot of hits as a result of that approach. He just hasn’t done the greatest job his last few starts limiting them.

In his last start of the season, Jeremy Sowers had a rough first inning in which he gave the Royals an early 2-0 lead. Sowers, boasting a sub-2 ERA over his last nine starts, wasn’t nearly as sharp Tuesday as he and the Tribe lost 5-3 to the Royals in the 1,000th game in Jacobs Field history. The Indians attempted to chisel away at the Royals’ lead throughout the game but just weren’t able to muster enough offense on a dreary and rainy night. Jhonny Peralta, Joe Inglett, and Ryan Garko provided the RBI’s for the Tribe.

In a game that really wasn’t all that exciting, the Royals’ battery mates provided some interesting between-inning entertainment. In a rather bizarre moment, Royals starter Runelvys Hernandez got into it with his catcher, John Buck, after the third inning. After he ended the inning with a strikeout of Garko, Hernandez and Buck proceeded to throw punches at each other in the dugout. Dude, you just struck a guy out, what in the world do you have to be upset about? The fight ended and both remained in the game. Weird, but funny nonetheless.

Sabathia did it again. His complete game Sunday afternoon helped give the Tribe a 5-2 win and a series split over the White Sox. Sabathia struck out nine to notch his 11th win of the season. With the game tied at two in the ninth, the Tribe exploded and plated three runs to beat the Sox. Victor Martinez hit a solo homer and Casey Blake singled home a run as Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was shuffling relievers in and out during the ninth. A bases loaded walk to Sizemore gave the Tribe the three-run cushion and Sabathia took care of business in the bottom half.

“Last year, I was pitching pretty good at the end,” he said. “I want to keep it going. I have three or four starts left, and I want to finish strong.”