Tribe embarasses hapless tigers.
Perhaps it was the holiday with sunny weather, or the 1$ hotdogs, perhaps it was the resurgence of a baseball team that saw lines stretch from the ticket windows to the doors of Gund Arena.
Whatever it was, today was special.
Scott Elarton pitched his best game ever as a Cleveland Indian and certainly one of the best of his career.
Elarton's command over his pitch selections looked like absolute witchery. He threw a complete game allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, striking out 6 and at one point retiring 17 straight batters while only allowing a single hit through 6 innings. He did not walk one batter. Scotty struck out Ivan Rodriguez to end the game before a crowd of 26,869. All were on their feet.
The offense would have its way with Jason Johnson picking up right where it left off from sunday jumping on the Detroit right hander for 7 runs in 4 innings.
With the Indians already up 4-0, Josh bard doubled and scored on Jhonny Peralta's single to center. Sizemore would follow with a single but Coco Crisp would strike out swinging. Then came Travis Hafner.
enough said.
Hafner made it 8-0 as he absolutely demolished a 471 foot home run that disappeared into the trees in centerfield. He hit the ball so far you simply lost sight of it. Pronk would add another solo shot in the 8th that bounced off the top of the cleveland bullpen. Hafner had himself a day at the ballpark accounting for 4 hits, 5 rbis and 3 runs scored.
Broussard, Belliard and Peralta drove in the other runs as Victor Martinez pushed his hitting streak to 15 games.
Game 2.
It was indeed the 4th of July and the Indians, having already displayed their own fireworks in game one, were about to set off the grand finale.
The Tigers started Justin Verlander, a pitcher just called up from AA and immediately the tribe's offense welcomed him to the majors tagging him for 3 runs in the first inning. He would regain a bit of focus but not for long.
The crowd of 33,599 was electric and very, very loud.
In the bottom of the 8th Coco Crisp came to bat with 2 outs. He drilled a pitch to right of center that just barely stayed in the park. Tigers centerfielder Nook Logan made a valient effort but lost sight of the ball. Crisp watched it all the way, turning on the jets as he rounded 3rd to come home for an in the park home run. Jacobs field exploded into insanity but Cleveland still had something left.
Travis Hafner followed immediately with his 3rd home run of the day. launching the ball into the second deck mezzanine to put the final run on the board.
The buzz and electricity that this team is creating around the city is unmistakable and infectious. They're making their presence felt and the baseball world is taking notice. Its a very fun time to be an Indians fan.
Cleveland sweeps the double header with 2 games remaining. Westbrook gets the start on tuesday with C.C. Sabathia going on wednesday.
Note: Aaron Boone was scratched from the lineup the last 2 games due to his wife being in labour. They had a boy on sunday morning. Congratulations Aaron.
Whatever it was, today was special.
Scott Elarton pitched his best game ever as a Cleveland Indian and certainly one of the best of his career.
Elarton's command over his pitch selections looked like absolute witchery. He threw a complete game allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, striking out 6 and at one point retiring 17 straight batters while only allowing a single hit through 6 innings. He did not walk one batter. Scotty struck out Ivan Rodriguez to end the game before a crowd of 26,869. All were on their feet.
The offense would have its way with Jason Johnson picking up right where it left off from sunday jumping on the Detroit right hander for 7 runs in 4 innings.
With the Indians already up 4-0, Josh bard doubled and scored on Jhonny Peralta's single to center. Sizemore would follow with a single but Coco Crisp would strike out swinging. Then came Travis Hafner.
enough said.
Hafner made it 8-0 as he absolutely demolished a 471 foot home run that disappeared into the trees in centerfield. He hit the ball so far you simply lost sight of it. Pronk would add another solo shot in the 8th that bounced off the top of the cleveland bullpen. Hafner had himself a day at the ballpark accounting for 4 hits, 5 rbis and 3 runs scored.
Broussard, Belliard and Peralta drove in the other runs as Victor Martinez pushed his hitting streak to 15 games.
Game 2.
It was indeed the 4th of July and the Indians, having already displayed their own fireworks in game one, were about to set off the grand finale.
The Tigers started Justin Verlander, a pitcher just called up from AA and immediately the tribe's offense welcomed him to the majors tagging him for 3 runs in the first inning. He would regain a bit of focus but not for long.
The crowd of 33,599 was electric and very, very loud.
In the bottom of the 8th Coco Crisp came to bat with 2 outs. He drilled a pitch to right of center that just barely stayed in the park. Tigers centerfielder Nook Logan made a valient effort but lost sight of the ball. Crisp watched it all the way, turning on the jets as he rounded 3rd to come home for an in the park home run. Jacobs field exploded into insanity but Cleveland still had something left.
Travis Hafner followed immediately with his 3rd home run of the day. launching the ball into the second deck mezzanine to put the final run on the board.
The buzz and electricity that this team is creating around the city is unmistakable and infectious. They're making their presence felt and the baseball world is taking notice. Its a very fun time to be an Indians fan.
Cleveland sweeps the double header with 2 games remaining. Westbrook gets the start on tuesday with C.C. Sabathia going on wednesday.
Note: Aaron Boone was scratched from the lineup the last 2 games due to his wife being in labour. They had a boy on sunday morning. Congratulations Aaron.
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