Category: Cleveland Indians (Page 35 of 96)

Indians’ first baseman Eduardo Perez was traded Friday to the Seattle Mariners for infielder Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera, who hit .236 this season with AAA Tacoma, will be assigned to Buffalo and first baseman Ryan Garko will join the Indians. With the log jam the Indians have at first base, Perez became expendable. Does this signal the beginning of more trades for the Indians now that the season is a lost cause?

Cabrera is only 20 years old and is known for his above average speed and defense. Last season, he was rated as the Mariners’ 6th best prospect and was voted the best defensive second baseman in his league. The Indians clearly are thin at second base and shortstop when it comes to minor league talent so Cabrera may be able to fill that void. I wonder if this trade was made simply to dump Perez and give Garko a chance up at the big league level or if Shapiro really does see a future with this Cabrera kid. Remember, Ronnie Belliard’s contract is up after this season.

The Indians had won two games in a row and were on the verge of a sweep until a ninth inning meltdown lost it for the Tribe Wednesday night. Given the Indians’ track record the last month, a sweep was probably too much to ask for from this club. The Tribe were down 3-1 going into the eighth but managed to score three to take the lead. Bob Wickman entered in the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead and that’s when the ugliness began for the Tribe. So Taguchi hit a pop-up to catcher Kelly Shoppach, who dropped the ball in fair territory, leaving Taguchi at second on the error. After an RBI double that tied the game, Jhonny Peralta’s poor throw to first on a grounder helped score the winning run for the Cardinals. Jake Westbrook pitched a solid ballgame, giving up three runs in six innings of work. Grady Sizemore provided some punch at the top of the order and had four of the Tribe’s 10 hits on the night.

The Tribe were riding a modest win streak going into the final game of the series and actually had some momentum for the first time in quite awhile. But, as they have done all season long, found a way to lose and failed to close it out thanks to the disappointing ninth inning.

“It was a total defensive collapse,” Wedge said. “We gave it back to them a lot easier than we took it from them. It was an embarrassing ending to what potentially could have been a real big game for us.”

In his previous start, C.C admitted to quitting and losing focus during his worst performance of his career when he gave up nine runs to the Chicago Cubs. He was frustrated and upset with himself and apologized after the game. Sabathia had something to prove going into his start Tuesday night and came up big. The Tribe offense didn’t do much after the two-run first inning so the only way they were going to get a victory was if Sabathia pitched a dominant game and that’s exactly what he did. He displayed some great mental toughness by putting his last ugly outing behind him and focused on the task at hand. Kudos.

“I felt like a kid throwing a baseball,” Sabathia said. “I was having fun. Just to get back out there and be pitching, it felt awesome.”

C.C Sabathia returned to form as he pitched eight outstanding innings in the Indians’ 3-1 win over the Cardinals Tuesday night. Sabathia surrendered only a run and five hits over the eight innings and bounced back from some rough previous starts. Ronnie Belliard started the Indians off on the right foot by hitting a two-run home run in the first off Cardinals starter Anthony Reyes. Victor Martinez gave them their third run with his RBI single in the seventh. The Tribe won back-to-back games for the first time since June 1 against the White Sox. With the victory, the Indians are guaranteed to win the three-game series against the Cards, which makes it their first series victory since the aforementioned battle with the Sox.

It finally happened. The Indians broke out the bats as they won their first series opener since May 23. Ten series in a row had gone by without the Tribe winning the first game of a series until Monday night’s 10-3 romp over the slumping St. Louis Cardinals, who lost their seventh straight. The Indians were aided by four home runs, two by Travis Hafner, and seven extra-base hits. Grady Sizemore and Todd Hollandsworth hit the other two for the Tribe. Cliff Lee continues his strong month of June, allowing only two runs in six innings as he earned his seventh win of the season. Besides the pitchers, Aaron Boone was the only Indian not to get a hit.

Hollandsworth mentioned a few weeks ago that he wanted more playing time. Due to injury, he got his chance to play on a regular basis and is making the most of his opportunity.