7/03/2005

Tribe left with no answers, costly errors.

On paper the pitching match up was no contest. On the field, it was an entirely different story.

Through 6 innings Kevin Millwood never looked sharp but somehow kept getting out of trouble. He would walk 5 and allowed 5 stolen bases, including 2 by Brian Roberts in the same inning, while Baltimore youngster Daniel Cabrera looked like a veteran.

Cabrera was throwing in the upper 90's all game leaving the Indians the same frustration that C.C. Sabathia did to the Orioles a night earlier. He went 7 strong innings striking out 5 while only allowing 4 hits and no runs.

Millwoods luck would only hold up for so long as his mistakes finally came back to hurt him. He would walk the first two batters in the home half of the six and with one out, Ronnie Belliard completely miscued a double play ball hit off the bat of Eli Marrero that would have ended the inning. Jay Gibbons would bat next wasting no time as he lined Millwoods first pitch over the centerfield fence. The Orioles would add another run later in the ballgame.

The Indians had little chance against Cabrera but every chance they got they couldnt take advantage of. Alex Cora led off the 5th with a triple but the next 3 batters went in order. Cora again would have an opportunity in the 7th to put some runs on the board but struck out with 2 men on base.

TheTribe wrap up the series tomorrow with a start time of 5pm EST. Cliff Lee ( 8-3 3.56 ) matches up against Sidney Ponson ( 7-5 5.35 )

Note: The Indians find themselves back in 3rd place in the wild card standings after the loss today with the Twins winning again. There is still only a game that seperates the indians, twins and orioles.