Indians show up Tigers.
The Detroit Tigers came into Cleveland on friday not really looking like the team they've been all year. they've dropped 11 of their last 16 games and the indians have held their ground against most of the year.
Game 1.
Jeremy Sowers had to rely on his teams offense, not his deception to battle through the early part of this game. Omar Infante and Brandon Inge drove in 2 early tigers runs. Sowers outing wasnt impressive to say the least but he got the outs and prevented any detroit rallies.
Cleveland would answer quickly on Joe Ingletts 2 out rbi single.
In the 3rd Grady Sizemore knotched a double and after Hafner was intentionally put on first, Sizemore would come around to tie the game on a Victor Martinez single. Shin Soo Choo struck a double of his own scoring hafner and should have scored martinez as well. Choo turned on the speed and was going for a triple until he saw martinez still standing on third and with choo closer to third than second, allowed the tigers to tag him out. Jhonny Peralta came up next and drove in martinez on a single.
Sowers lasted 6 innings only surrending the two early runs and striking out 4 batters. He would give up no walks.
Fernando Cabrera and Rafael Betancourt pitched the rest of the way. Cabrera went two innings giving up no hits or walks while striking out 4 batters. Betancourt would not allow a single hit in the 9th earning the save.
Game 2.
Just like every game of the year it seems, the Indians found themselves in an early hole. The Tigers scored a run in the 1st and 2nd innings off starter Jake Westbrook and looked like they were going to cruise behind 15 game winner Justin Verlander.
The Indians tied it in the 3rd but detroit would counter with 3 runs in the top of the 5th.
I've written about it before but the 5th inning seems to always be our wake up call. Cleveland sent 10 batters to the plate in route to a 6 run inning that tied the game and gave the indians the lead and for good.
Sizemore set the stage for the rally when he beat out an infield single. He would advance and have to stop at third when Jason Michaels smoked a pitch to right center that ended up in the stands for a ground rule double. Hafner would strike out giving way to a red hot Ryan Garko and his bat would again deliver. Garko took a fastball the opposite way for a single and moved to third on a Shin Soo Choo single to left.
Joe Inglett was next...
Inglett battled Verlander fouling off numerous pitches and finally got the pitch he wanted and drove it to right center scoring allowing Garko and Choo to score. The Tigers defense was shading Inglett more towards left center which allowed the ball to hit the gap like it did giving inglett the chance for a triple. The ball got to the cut off man and immediately thrown to third but inglett slid in safely.
Verlander was removed in favor of Zach Miner. Kelly Shoppach hit a hard ground ball to Detroit short stop Carlos Guillen that deflected off of his glove allowing Inglett to score. Andy Marte struck out to end the inning but Cleveland now lead 8-5.
Westbrook would be pulled in the 7th for Jason Davis. Davis pitched a scoreless inning with Mastny finishing off the tigers for his 3rd big league save.
Game 3.
..was extended B.P. for the tigers. We won the series but Detroit slugged their way to a 7-1 win sunday on home runs by Marcus Thames, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Guillen, and Ivan Rodriguez. Cliff Lee lasted 5 innings surrending 5 runs on 10 hits and 3 home runs.
The lone indians run was batted in by Victor Martinez in the 1st inning.
The Toronto Blue Jasy come to town for a 3 game series starting monday night. Paul Byrd is on the hill and I hope he's forgotten that kansas city game last week.
Game 1.
Jeremy Sowers had to rely on his teams offense, not his deception to battle through the early part of this game. Omar Infante and Brandon Inge drove in 2 early tigers runs. Sowers outing wasnt impressive to say the least but he got the outs and prevented any detroit rallies.
Cleveland would answer quickly on Joe Ingletts 2 out rbi single.
In the 3rd Grady Sizemore knotched a double and after Hafner was intentionally put on first, Sizemore would come around to tie the game on a Victor Martinez single. Shin Soo Choo struck a double of his own scoring hafner and should have scored martinez as well. Choo turned on the speed and was going for a triple until he saw martinez still standing on third and with choo closer to third than second, allowed the tigers to tag him out. Jhonny Peralta came up next and drove in martinez on a single.
Sowers lasted 6 innings only surrending the two early runs and striking out 4 batters. He would give up no walks.
Fernando Cabrera and Rafael Betancourt pitched the rest of the way. Cabrera went two innings giving up no hits or walks while striking out 4 batters. Betancourt would not allow a single hit in the 9th earning the save.
Game 2.
Just like every game of the year it seems, the Indians found themselves in an early hole. The Tigers scored a run in the 1st and 2nd innings off starter Jake Westbrook and looked like they were going to cruise behind 15 game winner Justin Verlander.
The Indians tied it in the 3rd but detroit would counter with 3 runs in the top of the 5th.
I've written about it before but the 5th inning seems to always be our wake up call. Cleveland sent 10 batters to the plate in route to a 6 run inning that tied the game and gave the indians the lead and for good.
Sizemore set the stage for the rally when he beat out an infield single. He would advance and have to stop at third when Jason Michaels smoked a pitch to right center that ended up in the stands for a ground rule double. Hafner would strike out giving way to a red hot Ryan Garko and his bat would again deliver. Garko took a fastball the opposite way for a single and moved to third on a Shin Soo Choo single to left.
Joe Inglett was next...
Inglett battled Verlander fouling off numerous pitches and finally got the pitch he wanted and drove it to right center scoring allowing Garko and Choo to score. The Tigers defense was shading Inglett more towards left center which allowed the ball to hit the gap like it did giving inglett the chance for a triple. The ball got to the cut off man and immediately thrown to third but inglett slid in safely.
Verlander was removed in favor of Zach Miner. Kelly Shoppach hit a hard ground ball to Detroit short stop Carlos Guillen that deflected off of his glove allowing Inglett to score. Andy Marte struck out to end the inning but Cleveland now lead 8-5.
Westbrook would be pulled in the 7th for Jason Davis. Davis pitched a scoreless inning with Mastny finishing off the tigers for his 3rd big league save.
Game 3.
..was extended B.P. for the tigers. We won the series but Detroit slugged their way to a 7-1 win sunday on home runs by Marcus Thames, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Guillen, and Ivan Rodriguez. Cliff Lee lasted 5 innings surrending 5 runs on 10 hits and 3 home runs.
The lone indians run was batted in by Victor Martinez in the 1st inning.
The Toronto Blue Jasy come to town for a 3 game series starting monday night. Paul Byrd is on the hill and I hope he's forgotten that kansas city game last week.
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