Indians Tidbits...

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 26, 2005

Jake Westbrook ... no luck, zero wins.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Tribe Returns Home Against Detroit
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Apr 25, 2005

The Indians will begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Jacobs Field on Tuesday night.

Jake Westbrook will try for a fifth time to get his first victory of 2005 in the opener.

The hard-luck right-hander is 0-4, despite having thrown two complete games. Three of his losses have been by scores of 1-0, 3-2, and 2-0.

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In Westbrook's four starts, the Indians have scored a total of three runs.

The Indians went 3-4 on a trip to Kansas City, Anaheim and Seattle and while there was improvement, the bats are still not producing as expected. Cleveland hit .253 (62-for-245) as a team and scored 27 runs, an average of 3.9 on the swing.

Two of the losses were by one run, both on walk-off homers -- by the Royals' Alberto Castillo and Angels' Orlando Cabrera.

Here are the pitching matchups for the three-game series against the Tigers at Jacobs Field. All three games are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.

TUESDAY
LHP Nate Robertson (0-2, 6.46 ERA vs. RHP Jake Westbrook (0-4), 3.81 ERA)
WEDNESDAY
RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. RHP Kevin Millwood (0-2, 3.91 ERA)
THURSDAY
RHP Mike Maroth (1-1, 4.03 ERA) vs. C.C. Sabathia (1-0, 1.42 ERA)

NOTABLE ... OF Coco Crisp has hit in seven straight games, batting .367 (11-for-30) and in 12 of his last 13 (.321, 17-for- 53). ... 2B Ron Belliard hit homers in three of his last four games (Last 5G: .421, 8-for-19, six RBI). He is tied for fifth in the AL in homers with five. ... CA Victor Martinez has hit in six straight games, batting .308 (8-for-26) with three RBI. ... LHP Cliff Lee has won his last two starts and not allowed a run in his last 14 innings.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (10-8) had its scheduled home game against Pawtucket postponed by snow and rain. The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday, July 26. Right-hander Kyle Denney (0-1, 2.65 ERA) was supposed to start for the Bisons and manager Marty Brown will likely move everybody in the rotation back. Kazuhito Tadano, who celebrated his 25th birthday Monday, is scheduled to start after Denney, followed by right-hander Steve Watkins, lefty Brian Tallet and right-hander Francisco Cruceta. The Bisons have won four of their last five, including a doubleheader sweep of Pawtucket on Sunday. Tallet (0-0, 2.84 ERA) and right-hander Fernando Cabrera (2-0, 2.16 ERA) combined on a four-hit shutout win, 2-0, in the opener. Cruceta (2-1, 4.50 ERA) earned a 5-3 victory in the second game. Jake Robbins (0-2, 4.91 ERA) got his fourth save.

Outfielder Darnell McDonald has appealed a 15-game suspension for testing positive for steroids. He leads the team with a .278 average as the Bisons are only hitting .222 as a team. Third baseman Jake Gautreau leads the club with four homers, but has only six RBI and a .246 average. DH Andy Abad has a team-high 12 RBI on three homers and a .204 average. Shortstop Brandon Phillips is hitting .214 with one homer and four RBI. He leads the team in walks (eight) and strikeouts (17). Catcher Ryan Garko is hitting just .192 with one homer, six RBI, five walks and 16 strikeouts. Lefty reliever Chad Zerbe is 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in six games. Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (1-2, 10.66 ERA) has pitched his way out of the starting rotation

CLASS A AKRON (9-7) lost to visiting Bowie, 3-1. Scott Youngbauer got the Aeros' only hit, an RBI double in the first inning, off former Baltimore Orioles lefty Eric DuBose and two relievers. It was Akron's first game since Thursday as the Aeros were rained/snowed out of three weekend games. Right-hander Fausto Carmona (1-2, 3.96 ERA) gave up two runs over seven innings. Right-hander Paul Shuey, activated from the Indians' extended spring training program and assigned to the Aeros before the game, gave up two hits and one run over two innings. Lefty Derrick Van Dusen was released to make roster room for Shuey, who is recovering from hip surgery last summer. Jake Dittler is scheduled to start Tuesday and will be followed in the rotation by Brian Slocum, Dan Denham and J.D. Martin. Aeros hitters are struggling: left-fielder Jason Cooper's average is only 150; right-fielder Jon Van Every is at .184, catcher Javi Herrera at .171 and shortstop Ivan Ochoa at .152. Prized prospects Michael Aubrey and Franklin Gutierrez are both hitting .250. Only third baseman Pat Osborn is off to a good start, hitting .327. Infielder Eider Torres has been placed on the Akron suspended list for testing positive for steroids. Anthony Lunetta was transferred from Lake County to take his place.

CLASS A KINSTON (10-6) was not scheduled on Monday after edging Myrtle Beach, 3-2, Sunday. Lefty Jeremy Sowers (2-1, 3.78 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday and will be followed in the rotation by lefties Billy Traber (2-1, 2.00 ERA) and Rafael Perez (2-0, 0.00 ERA, eight hits allowed and 14 strikeouts in 18 innings) and right-handers Ron Bay (0-1, 3.21 ERA) and Nick Pesco (3-0, 1.08 ERA). Several K-Tribe hitters are doing well, too. Ryan Mulhern leads the team with a .360 average and 11 RBI; Kevin Kouzmanoff is at .352; Micah Schilling, .300; Brad Snyder, three homers, .293; and Shaun Larkin, .289. Nate Panther has a team-high four homers.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (10-7) split a doubleheader against West Virginia, losing the first game in 10 innings, 1-0, and nearly pitching a no-hitter in a 3-0 win in the nightcap. Right-hander Justin Hoyman lowered his ERA to 1.11 by pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk, striking out seven in the opener. The Captains didn't allow a hit until one out in the seventh of the second game. Right-fielder Chad Longworth (.333) went 2-for-2 and drove in two runs. Adrian Schau (1-1) pitched three perfect innings in relief of starter Tony Sipp, who walked one and struck out four in two hitless innings. Mike Hernandez fanned one in his hitless inning. Kieran Mattison got his second save, but allowed the only hit, a one-out single in the final inning.

Mattison was called up from Mahoning Valley when lefty pitcher Dan Cevette went on the injured list with a broken left thumb. Matt Whitney was activated and went 0-for-3 as the DH in his season debut in the second game. Center-fielder Argenis Reyes is hitting .328, second baseman Marshall Szabo is at .316, and first baseman Fernando Pacheco (.300) has a team-high 12 RBI. Next to pitch in the rotation will be Reid Santos (0-1, 7.20 ERA), Chris Niesel (1-1, 2.45) and Aaron Laffey (0-0, 0.60).
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OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 27, 2005

Aaron Boone

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Boone Eager To Bust Batting Slump
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Apr 26, 2005

Aaron Boone is not about to panic although Cleveland Indians fans are fretting over his slow start.

"This (a .129 batting average) is nothing I'm worried about, but it is a little frustrating," Boone said before the Indians' scheduled game Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers was rained out.

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"Right now, Aaron needs to play," said Indians manager Eric Wedge, adding that he will give the third baseman every chance to work his way out of a 8-for-62 slump to start the season.

"Aaron Boone is our third baseman," Wedge said with emphasis to reporters who kept asking about when a change might be made. "You guys are quick to jump off here. Aaron is a solid teammate, a guy who cares, who works hard. He's going to be fine.

"He hit well in Florida and now his timing is a little off. That's happened to all the guys at once. We went from being hot to struggling at the same time."

The 31-year-old hit .350 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 19 spring training games.

Boone, who missed all of the 2004 season and had two operations on his left knee during that time, believe it is just a matter of time -- or timing -- until he hits.

"The good thing and the bad thing is that I've been down this road before," he said. "Quite frankly, I've not had one good start in my career. I've had some good Aprils here and there, but without fail, my first 20, 30, 50 at bats have been ... not good."

Boone said the knee is fine, though he experiences the normal soreness any athlete will have for a period of time after surgery.

"Physically, I'm fine," Boone said.

Here are the revised pitching matchups for the rain-shortened series against Detroit at Jacobs Field. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Westbrook (0-4, 3.81 ERA)

THURSDAY
RHP Mike Maroth (1-1, 4.03 ERA) vs. RHP Kevin Millwood (0-2, 3.91 ERA)

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (10-9) lost at Syracuse, 10-9, despite home runs by Jake Gautreau, John Rodriguez and Ryan Garko, who went 3-for-4 to break out of a long slump. Rodriguez hit a two-run homer, his second, in the top of the ninth to tie the score, 9-9. The Sky Chiefs' Aaron Hill hit a one-out homer in the bottom half off Chad Zerbe (3-2) to win it. Garko, who lifted his average to .232, hit his second homer in the third inning. Gautreau hit his fifth, a two-run shot, in the fourth as the Bisons built a 6-0 lead. Buffalo starter Kyle Denney gave it all back, allowing six runs and 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings. Kaz Tadano gave up three more runs in 2 2/3 innings before Zerbe took over. Syracuse had 14 hits, including five homers. Brandon Phillips (.230) and Andy Abad (.241) each had two of Buffalo's 11 hits, but Jeff Liefer went 0-for-5 to drop his average to .186.

CLASS A AKRON (10-7) routed visiting Bowie, 15-6, in a "school day" game that started in the morning after the Aeros got only one hit the previous night. Jon Van Every (.222) went 3-for-5 and hit a grand slam and Jason Cooper (.172) went 2-for-4, with a two-run homer, scored three runs and also drove in four for the Aeros. Franklin Gutierrez (1-for-3, .255) and Jose Morban (1-for-4, .254) also scored three runs apiece for Akron, which led 15-1 after four innings. Jake Dittler (2-1, 2.22 ERA) allowed nine hits but only one run over seven innings. Lefty reliever Mariano Gomez continued to struggle, giving up three hits, three walks and four runs in just two-thirds of an inning to put his ERA at 15.00. Bowie pitchers did not take kindly to the walloping, as they hit four Akron batters (Cooper, Pat Osborn, Michael Aubrey and Armando Camacaro) with pitches.

CLASS A KINSTON (11-6) crushed visiting Lynchburg, 10-0, as Nate Panther hit a grand slam and Ryan Mulhern a two-run homer. Jeremy Sowers (3-1, 2.91 ERA) pitched five perfect innings, striking out eight. Only one ball was hit to the outfield against the left-hander, who was Cleveland's first round pick a year ago. Lynchburg's first hit was a single leading off the seventh inning against Sean Smith, who had relieved Sowers to start the sixth. Smith gave up two hits and one walk over three scoreless innings, striking out three and lowering his ERA to 1.91. Edward Mujica gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth. Mulhern (2-for-4, .370) hit his third homer and scored four runs. Panther (3-for-5, .254) hit his fifth homer and tied Mulhern with 13 RBI for the season. Kevin Kouzmanoff (.368), Brandon Pinckney (.213) and Dave Wallace (.268) all had two of Kinston's 16 hits.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (10-7) was rained out in Hagerstown when the sun did not shine on the Captains and hometown Suns.
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he may not be worried about his BA, but its pathetic and he is not getting the job done with his glove either.....:(

JCOSU86 · Apr 27, 2005

IMHO, Boone is this year's Brady Anderson/Scott Stewar/Jose Jimenez. By September we will be saying "hey, Boone was on this team in April". :(

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 27, 2005

IMHO, Boone is this year's Brady Anderson/Scott Stewar/Jose Jimenez. By September we will be saying "hey, Boone was on this team in April". :(

god....I hope not..... :smash:

....if so...move Blake back to third.

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 28, 2005

Jake Westbrook: "I stunk tonight."

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Westbrook, Indians Trounced By Tigers
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Apr 28, 2005

Jake Westbrook's pitch assessment was more accurate than his pitch assortment.

"The bottom line is I stunk," said the right-hander after getting pounded in a 10-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Jacobs Field on Wednesday night.

Westbrook (0-5) gave up eight hits and a career-high nine runs over 2 1/3 innings.

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"However I pitched wasn't working very good," said the right-hander. "Whatever I was trying to do wasn't working very good."

Westbrook also walked two, hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch in an outing that put his ERA for the season against Detroit at an astronomical 33.23. That includes an 11-1 loss in Detroit on April 9, when he allowed eight runs (seven earned) and seven hits in two innings.

A year ago, things were much different. Westbrook pitched seven perfect innings of relief against the Tigers on April 19, 2004.

"They seem to have my number so far this year," he said.

Meanwhile, the Indians' offense continued to post paltry numbers. Cleveland managed only four hits -- three of them solo homers by Aaron Boone, Grady Sizemore and Alex Cora.

Boone has nine hits this year for a .138 average -- four of the hits are homers.

NOTABLE: Before the game, the Indians announced that left-hander C.C. Sabathia signed a contract extension through 2008 -- and that right-handed reliever Paul Shuey retired at age 34.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (10-9) was postponed by rain in Syracuse.

CLASS AA AKRON won at home over Bowie, 5-1, in a school day game. Right-hander Brian Slocum (2-0, 2.70 ERA) gave up one unearned run and two hits over six innings. Steve Green (two innings) and Chris Cooper (one inning) finished the combined four-hitter. Michael Aubrey (.266) and Scott Youngbauer (.255) each went 2-for-4 and hit solo homers for the Aeros.

CLASS A KINSTON (11-6) took one of the worst losses in team history, 21-8, to visiting Lynchburg. Lefty Billy Traber (2-2) in his fourth rehab start with the K-Tribe, gave up eight runs and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings -- and then things got bad. Dan Eisentrager (13.00 ERA) was pounded for nine runs and 10 hits over two innings and Jim Ed Warden (14.29 ERA) allowed four runs and five hits over 3 1/3 innings. Shaun Larkin (.288) hit a three-run homer for Kinston.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (11-8) split a doubleheader with Hagerstown, winning 9-7 after losing 4-1. Reid Santos (0-2, 6.86 ERA) gave up four runs and six hits over six innings in the opener as the Captains got only four hits. Josh Harris (1-0) won the second game and Kieran Mattison got his third save as Lake County overcame a 7-1 deficit. Josh Noviskey and Argenis Reyes each had two hits and two RBI for the Captains</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Indians sign LHP Sabathia to contract extension</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>April 28, 2005

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - C.C. Sabathia has become the latest young player on the Cleveland Indians to receive a multi-year contract.

On Wednesday, the Indians exercised their 2006 club option on Sabathia and signed him to a two-year contract extension through 2008.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the 24-year-old Sabathia is scheduled to make $5.25 million this year.

A two-time All-Star, Sabathia is the third emerging star on the Indians to receive a new deal since the season began earlier this month. Catcher Victor Martinez, 26, signed a five-year contract that could be worth $22.2 million on April 5 and first baseman-designated hitter Travis Hafner, 27, signed a three-year deal worth a reported $11.5 million eight days later.

"This signing has tremendous impact for this franchise and this city's sports fans," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "The Dolan family has consistently demonstrated that keeping our core players - players like C.C. Sabathia, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez - is essential for this organization's future."

The 6-7 Sabathia is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts after beginning the season on the disabled list, improving to 55-35 with a 4.07 ERA in 128 career starts. His 55 career wins are 19 more than any other active major league pitcher under the age of 25.

"I am comfortable with this organization," Sabathia said about his decision to re-sign with the Indians. "I am comfortable with the guys in the clubhouse. I felt like the organization was going in the right direction. I grew up with the guys in our baseball lives. We've been through the ups and downs and hopefully we are going up now." As a rookie in 2000, Sabathia went 17-5 with a 4.39 ERA and 171 strikeouts. He has reached double digits in wins in every season since, including an 11-10 mark with a 4.12 ERA last year. "C.C. Sabathia is a special talent and special person and we are very fortunate to have someone with his ability and character leading our organization into what we hope is the next championship era of Cleveland Indians baseball," Shapiro added.

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JCOSU86 · Apr 29, 2005

FYI: Akron is 11-7 http://www.akronaeros.com/

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 29, 2005

Aaron Boone, after his third strikeout.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Solo Shots Sinking Indians So Low
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Apr 28, 2005

Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta both homered in the fifth inning Thursday night. So much for the good news as far as Indians fans are concerned -- although you can add that Kevin Millwood retired the final 14 Detroit Tigers he faced. It wasn't enough as the Tribe lost, 3-2, at Jacobs Field.
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The homers by Blake and Peralta both came with the bases empty -- meaning 18 of the 23 homers hit by Cleveland this season have been solo shots.

What's more, the only seven runs the Indians have scored since Saturday in Seattle have come on seven homers.

That's not only weird, it's downright depressing.

Indians third baseman Aaron Boone went 0-for-4 to lower his batting average to .130 (6-for-69). Put it this way: if Boone, who missed all of the 2004 season after having knee surgery, went 15 for his next 31 (.484) -- he would still only have a .210 average.

Boone struck out three times and stranded five runners.

Millwood (0-3) got off to an unlucky start when Coco Crisp misplayed Brandon Inge's sinking liner from a sure single into a triple. Crisp lost his footing and the ball skipped past him to the center-field wall.

It took Millwood time to settle down, but he showed his mettle by holding the Tigers to three runs when a less-experienced pitcher might have caved in.

Ivan Rodriguez lined an RBI single off Millwood's shin. Carlos Guillen then walked and Rondell White was safe on an infield single to load the bases.

Rodriguez scored on a groundout by Dmitri Young and Guillen made it 3-0 by scoring a sacrifice fly by Craig Monroe.

Meanwhile, Mike Maroth (2-1) improved to 4-0 in his last four appearances against the Indians -- who fell to 1-7 on the season against lefty starters. Maroth walked one and struck out eight over six innings.

Even the sight of Troy Percival could not ignite the Indians' stagnant offense. Percival, 0-9 in his career against Cleveland, worked the ninth for his second save this season, 13th against the Indians and 318th in the majors.

MINOR MATTERS

CLASS AAA BUFFALO (10-9) was rained out again, this time in Ottawa.

CLASS AA AKRON (11-7) was not scheduled. The Aeros open a three-game series in Harrisburg on Friday night.

CLASS A KINSTON (12-6) hit five homers in routing visiting Lynchburg, 12-1. Left-hander Rafael Perez (3-0, 0.38 ERA) gave up his first run of the season, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings. Brad Snyder (No. 4), Kevin Kouzmanoff (No. 3) and Ryan Mulhern (No. 4) hit consecutive solo shots in the first inning for a 3-0 lead. Kouzmanoff (No. 5) hit a three-run homer in the fourth to make it 11-1 and Ryan Goleski (No. 4) finished the scoring in the fifth. Snyder (.300) went 3-for-5 with three runs; Kouzmanoff (.364) went 2-for-4 with three runs and four RBI; and Mulhern (.387) went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (12-8) got only four hits in a 4-3 win over visiting Hagerstown, but one was a three-run homer by Chris Gimenez (No. 3) in the first inning. Lefty Aaron Laffey (1-0, 1.29 ERA) gave up three hits and two runs over six innings. He walked four and struck out three. Michael Hernandez allowed one hit and fanned three over two scoreless innings and Kieran Mattison (2.25 ERA) gave up a solo homer in the ninth, but earned his fourth save.

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OSUBasketballJunkie · May 2, 2005

Ben Broussard watches his two-run single.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Offensive Outburst Helps Sabathia Win
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Apr 29, 2005

C.C. Sabathia pitched like an ace and the Indians' offense finally turned up some winning cards Friday night in a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Jacobs Field.
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Ben Broussard (.222) went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs, Ronnie Belliard (.306) also went 2-for-4 and had two RBI while Travis Hafner (.292) went 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Indians

"We needed this," Broussard told reporters. "I think everybody knows our offense is a lot better than it has been this season."

Cleveland entered the game last in hitting with a .226 average, but broke a three-game losing streak. Victor Martinez (.215) went 2-for-4 to hike his average, but not everybody got into the fun. Third baseman Aaron Boone (.123) went 0-for-4 and is hitting only .115 (6-for-52) since April 10.

Sabathia (2-0) gave up only three hits over seven shutout innings in his first start since getting a two-year, $17.75 million contract extension earlier in the week.

The big left-hander walked one, struck out four and lowered his ERA to 0.92.

Right-handers David Riske (0.00 ERA in 9 2/3 innings) and Rafael Betancourt (0.73 ERA) each worked a scoreless inning of relief to complete Cleveland's first shutout of the season.

The Royals (5-18) lost their ninth straight.

C.C. SABATHIA'S MAJOR-LEAGUE CAREER: <TABLE borderColor=red cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=2 <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>Yr

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Team

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>Age

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>W

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>L

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>ERA

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>G

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>GS

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>IP

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>H

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>BB

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>SO

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>01

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>20

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>17

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>5

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>4.39

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>33

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>33

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>180.1

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>149

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>95

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>171

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>02

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>21

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>13

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>11

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>4.37

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>33

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>33

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>210

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>198

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>88

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>149

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>03

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>22

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>13

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>9

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>3.50

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>30

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>30

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>197.2

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>190

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>66

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>141

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>04

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>23

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>11

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>10

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>4.12

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>30

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>30

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>188

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>176

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>72

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>139

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>05

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>24

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>2

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>0

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>0.92

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>3

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>3

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>19.2

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>13

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>4

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>16

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>MLB Totals

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>56

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>35

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>4.04

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>129

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>129

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>795.2

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>726

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>325

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>616

</TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (10-11) dropped a doubleheader in Ottawa, 3-2 and 7-4. Ernie Young hit his third homer in the opener for the Bisons, who got only five hits. Steve Watkins (2-1, 3.13 ERA) gave up three hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings. Matt Miller worked a hitless inning in the game, which went only seven innings as part of a minor-league doubleheader. Ryan Garko (.241) went 2-for-3 with his third homer, a solo shot, in the second game for Buffalo. John Rodriguez (.246) was the only other Bisons player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4. Jeremy Guthrie (1-3, 8.66 ERA) allowed eight hits and six runs over five innings, but only two of the runs were earned -- partly because of an errant pickoff throw for an error by the right-hander.

CLASS A AKRON (12-7) rolled to a 10-0 lead and won at Harrisburg, 11-5. Michael Aubrey (.286) went 3-for-6 with three RBI; Scott Youngbauer (.275) 2-for-4 with two RBI; and Ivan Ochoa (.153) 1-for-4 with three runs for the Aeros. Travis Thompson (1-0), who rejoined the club when Paul Shuey retired Thursday, pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings of relief. Akron starter Dan Denham (.2.78 ERA) walked five and allowed four hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings. Travis Foley (9.00 ERA) replaced Thompson and also was wild, walking four while allowing three hits and two runs over two innings before Chris Cooper (4.35) worked a scoreless ninth.

CLASS A KINSTON (13-6) won at Salem, 7-6, as Kevin Kouzmanoff (.380) and Ryan Mulhern (.373) each hit their fifth homers. Kouzmanoff went 3-for-5, Mulhern 1-for-5 and Chris De La Cruz (.217) 2-for-4 for the K-Tribe. Ronald (Bear) Bay (1-1, 3.15) got his first win since joining the Cleveland organization from the Cubs' farm system in a trade for lefty Cliff Bartosh. Bay gave up five hits and two runs -- both solo homers, while striking out five and not issuing a walk over six innings. Tom Mastny (3.97 ERA) allowed two runs and two hits over 1 2/3 innings and Ed Mujica (7.50 ERA) got his third save despite giving up three hits and two runs over the final 1 1/3 innings.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (13-8) edged visiting Hagerstown, 2-1, as Brian Finegan drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth to force in the go-ahead run. Captains starter Tony Sipp allowed only one hit over six scoreless innings, walking four and striking out seven. Sipp has a 2-0 record and has yet to allow a run in 17 innings this season, yielding only five hits and six walks total while fanning 17. Winner Scott Roehl (1-2, 4.35 ERA) pitched two hitless innings, but blew a 1-0 lead in the seventh, giving up an unearned run. A runner reached second when Captains third baseman Argenis Reyes made an error, then stole home and scored on a throwing error by Roehl on the play to tie it. Josh Harris worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

<CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Travis Hafner's homer was not nearly enough.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Struggling Indians Royally Flushed
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 1, 2005

Travis Hafner halted his homerless streak for the Indians, but the Kansas City Royals snapped their nine-game losing streak by hitting three homers, including a grand slam by Ken Harvey, in an 8-1 win Saturday.
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Hafner hit his first homer in the second inning -- his first in 95 at-bats since Sept. 16. It was Cleveland's 24th homer of the season -- and 19th with the bases empty.

Eli Marrero hit two homers for the Royals, who finished April with a 6-18 record -- the worst in the American League.

That's not too far behind Cleveland, which enters May at 9-14. Besieged by bullpen woes a year ago, the Indians went 9-13 in April a year after starting 7-20 in the month. That gives Eric Wedge an overall record of 25-47 in the opening month since becoming Indians manager.

"It's getting to the point where we can't say it's early anymore," Indians right fielder Casey Blake said of Cleveland's latest slow start.

Left-hander Cliff Lee (2-1), who did not give up a run over his previous 14 innings, allowed five earned runs and eight hits over five innings. He stretched his scoreless streak to 16 innings -- until Harvey hit his grand slam and Marrero followed with another homer for a 5-1 Royals lead in the third inning. A throwing error by shortstop Alex Cora helped the Royals load the bases before Harvey cleared them.

TRAVIS (PRONK) HAFNER'S MAJOR-LEAGUE CAREER:
<TABLE borderColor=red cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=2 <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>Yr

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Team

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>Age

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>G

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>AB

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>H

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>AVG

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>HR

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>RBI

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>SB

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>BB

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>SO

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>02

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Texas

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>25

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>23

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>62

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>15

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>.242

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>1

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>6

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>0

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>8

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>15

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>03

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>26

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>91

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>291

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>74

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>.254

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>14

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>40

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>2

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>22

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>81

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>04

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>27

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>140

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>482

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>150

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>.311

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>28

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>109

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>3

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>68

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>111

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>05

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>Cleveland

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>28

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>21

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>75

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>22

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>.293

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>1

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>8

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>0

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>13

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>15

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width="19%" height=20>MLB Totals

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="4%" height=20>

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>265

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>910

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>261

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="7%" height=20>.287

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>54

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>163

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>5

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>111

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right width="5%" height=20>222

</TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (10-11) was rained out in Ottawa -- the Bisons' seventh postponement in 11 days.

CLASS A AKRON (13-7) won at Harrisburg, 6-3. First baseman Michael Aubrey (.307) went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs with a two-run single and his third homer. Right-hander J.D. Martin (1-0, 1.40 ERA) allowed three runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight without a walk. In four starts this season, Martin has given up only 15 hits, four runs and four walks over 25 2/3 innings -- while striking out 34. Steve Green (2.57 ERA) worked two scoreless innings and Todd Pennington (2.25 ERA) pitched a hitless ninth for his third save.

CLASS A KINSTON (13-7) lost at Salem, 3-1. Nick Pesco (3-1, 1.45 ERA) gave up eight hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings. Juan Lara and Mariano Gomez, who was recently sent down from Class AA Akron, each worked a scoreless inning of relief. Ryan Mulhern (.380) went 2-for-4 and singled home Kinston's run in the ninth inning. Kevin Kouzmanoff (.373) went 1-for-4for the K-Tribe.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (13-9) was routed at Lexington, 14-4. Argenis Reyes (.341), Brian Finegan (.281) and Matt Whitney (.154) all went 2-for-4 and Marshall Szabo (.291) went 1-for-2 with his first homer for the Captains. Right-hander Justin Hoyman (1.59), Cleveland's second-round pick in 2004, allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks over four innings. Kyle Collins (0.96) pitched two hitless innings. T.J. Burton (7.16 ERA) then was crushed for six runs in just one-third of an inning and Josh Harris (9.00 ERA) gave up three more runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

<CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Rafael Betancourt reacts to Mike Sweeney's homer.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Royals' Four Homers Topple Tribe, 6-5
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 1, 2005

The Indians lost yet again by one run Sunday, this time on an eighth-inning homer by Mike Sweeney that gave the Kansas City Royals a 6-5 triumph at Jacobs Field.
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The Indians went hitless for five innings, bunched four hits together in a five-run sixth inning to tie the score, then flailed futilely at pitches by Royals relievers over the final 3 1/3 to fall to 9-15 on the season, 3-9 in one-run games and 3-8 at home.

"This is very frustrating because there are high hopes for this team from everybody in this clubhouse," said Cleveland DH Travis Hafner.

The Indians' team batting average fell to .225 -- worst in the majors.

"Everything is magnified because we're not hitting," manager Eric Wedge said. "These guys are working hard to get through this. We've got good people. I know this gets old, but it's going to come together."

It did -- but only for one inning.

Victor Martinez lined a one-out single to break up Jose Lima's no-hit bid.

"No, I never thought we would get no-hit," said Martinez. "Why? Because we have good hitters and we were taking good swings. It was a matter of time."

Time quickly ran out on Lima as Hafner hit his next pitch into the left-field seats for his second homer to get Cleveland within 5-2.

Jose Hernandez singled to right and Ben Broussard walked. After Casey Blake lined out to center, Grady Sizemore lined his third homer over the

wall in right-center to tie the score.

"Oh, yeah, we knew," Sizemore said when asked about having no hits entering the inning. "I was able to put a good swing on a changeup and just like that, we tied the score and had the momentum. I thought we had it going."

Just as quickly, the offense went back into cold storage, going hitless against winner Mike Wood (1-2), Andrew Sisco and Ambiorix Burgos over the final 3 1/3 innings. Burgos, a 21-year-old, struck out two in the ninth for his first save in only his fourth game in the majors.

Sweeney hit a 1-2 pitch from Rafael Betancourt (1-1) into the left-field bleachers to put Kansas City ahead in the eighth. It was the first hit allowed by Betancourt to a right-handed batter in 13 2/3 innings.

Sweeney and Terrence Long hit solo homers and John Buck added a two-run shot to help Kansas City go ahead 5-0 off Scott Elarton. Two of the runs were unearned because of errors -- one by Elarton when he dropped a throw at first base for an error.

Elarton allowed three earned runs and six hits over six innings. He walked one, struck out six, but got no offensive support while he was in the game.

Outfielder Casey Blake went 0-for-4 to extend his slump to 1-for-25 and drop his average to .178.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (11-12) split a doubleheader at Ottawa with each game going to extra innings. The Bisons lost the first game in eight innings, 2-1 and won the second game, 5-4, in nine innings. Designated hitter Ernie Young (.297) went 4-for-4 and drove in the winning run. John Rodriguez (.236), Mike Kinkade (.233) and Dusty Wathan (.290) all had two hits and Ryan Garko (.279) went 1-for-2 with three walks for the Bisons in the second game. Chad Zerbe (4-2, 3.29 ERA) gave up one run and two hits over 1 2/3 innings, but got the win. Kenny Rayborn pitched one perfect inning for his first save. Bisons starter Francisco Cruceta (4.26 ERA) allowed four hits and two runs over five innings and Kaz Tadano (2.25 ERA) gave up one run over 1 1/3 innings.

In the first game, Garko had two hits and drove in Jake Gautreau (3-for-4, .283) in the third inning for Buffalo's only run. Brian Tallet (2.25 ERA) gave up four hits over five scoreless innings, walking one and striking out six. Fernando Cabrera gave up the tying run in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Jake Robbins (0-3, 5.53) allowed three hits and the winning run in the eighth.

Outfielder Jody Gerut, recovering from reconstructive surgery on his right knee, is expected to join the Bisons on Monday on a rehab assignment. Gerut, who had surgery last September, was playing at the Indians' extended spring training camp in Florida.

CLASS A AKRON (14-7) won at Harrisburg 1-0 as Fausto Carmona and two relievers combined on a four-hit shutout. Carmona (2-1, 3.13 ERA) allowed four hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings, striking out two. Travis Thompson (0.00 ERA in seven innings this season) struck out one in a perfect 1 1/3 innings and Todd Pennington (2.00 ERA) walked two and struck out one in a hitless ninth to earn his fourth save. Michael Aubrey (1-for-4, .304) tripled to lead off the seventh inning and scored on a one-out double by Jason Cooper (1-for-3, .167). A third-inning triple by Ivan Ochoa (.169) was the Aeros' only hit.

CLASS A KINSTON (13-8) lost at Salem, 4-1. Left-hander Jeremy Sowers (2.70 ERA) gave up only one run on six hits over five innings. He walked two, struck out two, and left with the score tied, 1-1. Losing pitcher Matt Davis (0-2, 6.19 ERA) gave up three runs on five hits over 2 2/3 innings. Brad Snyder (.305) went 2-for-4, but both Kevin Kouzmanoff (..354) and Ryan Mulhern (.360) were cooled off, each going 0-for-4. Kinston's run scored in the third. Luis Cotto got a one-out bunt single and went to third on a single by Shaun Larkin. Brandon Pinckney was safe when his RBI grounder was bobbled for an error. But Snyder struck out and Kouzmanoff grounded out to end the rally.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (13-10) lost at Lexington, 3-0. The Captains got only three singles, by Chris Gimenez (..205), Matt Whitney (.188) and Jose Constanza (.246). Adrian Schau (1-2, 4.40 ERA) gave up two runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings and Michael Hernandez (1.23 ERA) allowed two runs and four hits over two innings for Lake County</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</CENTER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

OSUBasketballJunkie · May 4, 2005

Travis Hafner hits a two-run homer.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Indians, Hafner Find Home In The Dome
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 3, 2005

Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer, Casey Blake belted a solo shot and Jake Westbrook finally got a win as the Indians defeated the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, Tuesday night in the Metrodome.
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"The bats are heading in the right direction and what we have to do is work off this win tomorrow," manager Eric Wedge told reporters.

Westbrook (1-5) finally got some offensive support and won for the first time since beating Kansas City last Sept. 27.

"Jake did his job and gave us a chance to win a ballgame," said Wedge. "He's had some tough losses and it is good to see him get the first one out of the way."

Rafael Betancourt (1.84 ERA), Arthur Rhodes (1.32 ERA) and Bob Wickman (5.79 ERA) each pitched a scoreless inning as the Indians (10-15) won for only the second time in six games. Minnesota dropped to 15-10.

Wickman allowed a one-out infield single to Michael Cuddyer. After Nick Punto lined out, Cuddyer went to second on fielder's indifference and to third on a balk by Wickman -- who then walked Shannon Stewart.

Stewart stole second as pinch-hitter Matt LeCroy worked the count to 3-and-1. But LeCroy swung and missed on the next two pitches from Wickman, who got sixth save.

"Wicky got a little of of sync, but battled back," said Wedge.

Westbrook allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out three and lowered his ERA from 6.35 to 5.77.

A year ago, the right-hander went 14-9 with a 3.38 ERA, third-lowest in the AL. The Indians scored a total of only six runs in his five previous starts this season.

Hafner (.296) put Cleveland ahead, 2-0, with his third homer in the first inning off right-hander Joe Mays. Blake (.187) snapped a 1-for-27 slump by hitting his fourth homer in the second and Ronnie Belliard (.296) added an RBI double later in the inning for a 4-0 lead.

Westbrook gave up a homer to Justin Morneau, his third, in the bottom half and an RBI single to Joe Mauer in the third.

Ben Broussard (.253) went 3-for-5 and Coco Crisp (.252) 2-for-4 as Cleveland totaled 10 hits and seven walks off five Minnesota pitchers. Aaron Boone, went 0-for-5 to drop his average to .115 and the Indians still struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-13.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (12-12) overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat visiting Scranton Wilkes-Barre, 10-5. Shortstop Brandon Phillips (.229) went 3-for-5) with a three-run homer, his first, and third baseman Mike Kinkade (.260) went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Right-fielder Ernie Young (.309) hit his fourth homer and went 2-for-4 while center-fielder John Rodriguez (.250) also went 2-for-4. Kenny Rayborn (1-0, 6.61) was the winner in relief. He allowed one run and four hits over five innings. Starter Kyle Denney (5.79 ERA) gave up two walks, six hits and four runs over two innings. Andrew Brown (5.25 ERA) pitched two scoreless innings. Jody Gerut, in the lineup as the designated hitter in his first game of the season, went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. Gerut is on a rehab assignment after having reconstructive knee surgery last September and spending the first month of the season at the Cleveland Indians' extending spring training program in Florida.

CLASS A AKRON (14-8) lost at Binghamton, 9-3, despite center-fielder Franklin Gutierrez (.277) going 3-for-4 with one run, one RBI and two stolen bases. Second baseman Anthony Lunetta (.333), recently called up from Class A Lake County, went 2-for-5 and also stole a base. Right-hander Jake Dittler (2-2, 3.23) gave up 12 hits and seven runs, though only five were earned because of his own throwing error. Travis Foley (4.91) allowed three hits and two unearned runs in 1 2/3 innings.

CLASS A KINSTON (14-10) won at Lynchburg, 7-1, as Rafael Perez (4-0, 0.60) continued to pitch well. The left-hander allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings, striking out six. In 30 innings this season, he has given up only five earned runs, 16 hits and six walks while fanning 27. Tom Mastny (3.38 ERA) struck out four and gave up one hit and one walk over two scoreless innings and Edward Mujica (6.43 ERA) worked a hitless ninth. Center-fielder Brad Snyder (.330) stayed hot, going 3-for-5 with one run and his fifth stolen base. Second baseman Micah Schilling (.289) went 2-for-5 and hit his first homer, a two-run shot in the sixth inning. DH Ryan Mulhern (.349) also went 2-for-5, while shortstop Chris De La Cruz (.226) and first baseman Shaun Larkin (.273) were 2-for-4.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (14-11) was routed at Lexington, 16-4. Second baseman Argenis Reyes (.354) went 3-for-5, but made one of the Captains' five errors. Third baseman Matt Whitney made three of them and also went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .150. Captains starter Reid Santos (0-3, 9.12 ERA) was hit hard, allowing 11 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over 3 2/3 innings. Josh Harris (13.03 ERA) also had a forgettable outing, giving up six runs on five hits and four walks over 1 2/3 innings. Bright spots were Kyle Collins (0.79 ERA) who worked a scoreless 1 1/3 innings and infielder Jose Ortega, who made his pitching debut and gave up only one walk in working a hitless inning.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

OSUBasketballJunkie · May 5, 2005

Josh Bard hits his game-winner.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Bard's Blast Boosts Tribe Past Twins
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 4, 2005

Josh Bard broke a ninth-inning tie with a home run to give the Indians a 5-4 win over the Twins in Minnesota on Wednesday night. Casey Blake hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs as Cleveland came back from a 4-1 deficit.
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"That was a good, tough, hard-fought win and a great sign for us," manager Eric Wedge told reporters.

Bob Howry (2-1) worked two hitless innings and Bob Wickman got his seventh save with a typical high-wire act in the bottom of the ninth.

Wickman struck out Nick Punto, but yielded consecutive singles to Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Torii Hunter then popped out, but Jacque Jones drew a walk to load the bases for Lew Ford, who lined an 0-2 pitch to shortstop Alex Cora, who flipped to second base to force Jones and end the game.

Bard's homer was his first since Sept. 23, also against the Twins. The switch-hitting catcher entered the game just 1-for-13 this season, but went 2-for-4. His homer off J.C. Romero broke a 4-4 tie.

"Obviously, Bardo had a big hit for us," said Wedge. "He's the type of guy who keeps his head in the game and stays prepared."

Cleveland starter Kevin Millwood (4.34 ERA) battled through five innings. He gave up 11 hits and four runs, walking one and striking out six as he remained winless since signing as a free agent with the Indians.

"That was quite a start for Millwood," said Wedge. "He had to work hard and got through five innings. He gave us a chance to win. He's got mental toughness and bows his neck when he needs to. He's a competitor."

Morneau hit his fourth homer to help the Twins go ahead, 4-1. Blake singled home the Indians' first run in the second inning and hit his fifth homer, a two-run shot in the fourth to make it 4-3. Grady Sizemore tied it with an RBI double in the sixth. Sizemore (.262) went 3-for-4 off Twins starter Carlos Silva and is hitting .900 (9-for-10) in his career against the right-hander.

Travis Hafner (.306) went 2-for-4 and Aaron Boone (.122) ended an 0-for-17 slump with a swinging bunt that went for a fifth-inning single.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (12-13) was blasted by visiting Scranton Wilkes-Barre, 12-1. Jeremy Guthrie (1-4, 9.78 ERA) gave up five hits, three walks and seven runs (four earned) over just 1 2/3 innings. Kaz Tadano (2.22 ERA) gave up one run and two hits over four innings, Matt Miller (3.86 ERA) and Chad Zerbe (4.60 ERA) finished. John Rodriguez drove in Buffalo's run with a sacrifice fly as the Bisons totaled only five hits.

CLASS A AKRON (15-9) split a doubleheader in Binghamton, winning the second game in extra innings, 4-3. Left-fielder Jason Cooper went a combined 4-for-7 in the two games to raise his average to .202.

The Aeros were hitless in the nightcap before Cooper singled to start the seventh inning. Jon Van Every (.206) beat out a bunt for a single and J.J. Sherill (.194) sacrificed both runners over. Pinch-hitter Anthony Lunetta (.286) was intentionally walked to load the bases and pinch-hitter Michael Aubrey (.294) followed with an RBI single to tie it 1-1 -- though Van Every was thrown out trying to score. Akron took a 4-1 lead with a three-run eighth that included two walks, a passed ball, sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Armando Camacaro (.185). Travis Thompson (2-0, 1.74 ERA) gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but held on for the win. Aeros starter Brian Slocum (2.38 ERA) allowed one run and only two hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out six.

Cooper went 2-for-3 and hit his third homer as the Aeros got only four hits in a 3-1 loss in the first game. Lefty Billy Traber (0-1, 3.60 ERA) allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings in his first start since being promoted from Kinston. Chris Cooper (3.97 ERA) worked one scoreless inning.

CLASS A KINSTON (15-10) won in Lynchburg, 9-3, as third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff (.363) went 4-for-5 with two RBI. Shaun Larkin (.293) went 3-for-5, Brad Snyder (.333) 2-for-5 with two runs, Ricardo Rojas (.161) 2-for-5 with one run and two RBI, and Caleb Brock (.207) 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI. Ron Bay (x-x, 2.42 ERA) struck out seven over six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks. Mariano Gomez (9.00 ERA with Kinston), sent down recently from Akron, continued to struggle as he yielded three runs and five hits over two innings. Jim Ed Warden (11.57) pitched one scoreless inning.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (15-11) routed visiting Kannapolis, 13-3, as center-fielder Argenis Reyes drove in six runs. Reyes (.359) hit a grand slam in the third inning for his first homer of the season and went 2-for-4. Three other Captains had two hits and two RBI: Matt Whitney (.217), Chris Gimenez (.205) and Fernando Pacheco (.279). Right-fielder Chad Longworth (.241) went 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Brian Finegan (.239) and Jose Constanza (.235) both went 0-for-3 and scored twice. Aaron Laffey (2-0, 1.63 ERA) gave up two runs and seven hits over six innings. Michael Hernandez (1.12 ERA) allowed an unearned run over 1 1/3 innings and Scott Roehl (3.38 ERA) pitched a hitless ninth.

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OSUBasketballJunkie · May 6, 2005

It wasn't a good day for C.C. Sabathia.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Indians Shut Down By Fired-Up Twins
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 5, 2005

The Indians' offense was sent back into a deep freeze by Minnesota's Brad Radke, but the Twins got plenty fired up about Cleveland pitchers C.C. Sabathia and Jason Davis during their 9-0 win Thursday.
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Davis hit Shannon Stewart with a pitch in the seventh inning and the two got into a confrontation a few minutes later after Stewart came around to score. That led to both benches emptying, though no punches were thrown and Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected.

Sabathia (2-1) stomped and kicked the mound in disgust during a five-run fifth inning in which he gave up a homer to rookie Jason Bartlett, four singles and two bases-loaded walks.

"No excuses for the way I pitched. I was all over the place," Sabathia told reporters.

The Indians' only hits were a fourth-inning single by Victor Martinez, Ben Broussard's double in the eighth and Coco Crisp's ninth-inning single off Radke, who struck out eight.

The Indians failed to gain their first three-game sweep in Minnesota since 1999.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (13-13) rallied to defeat visiting Scranton Wilkes-Barre, 7-6, as Andy Abad (.221) hit a three-run homer, his fourth, in the bottom of the eighth inning. John Rodriguez (.244) hit a two-run homer, his third, in the first inning for Buffalo, which came back from a 6-2 deficit. Ryan Garko (.279) went 3-for-4 and Jake Gautreau (.276) 2-for-4 for the Bisons. Fernando Cabrera (3-0, 2.13 ERA) struck out three and allowed only two hits in three scoreless innings of relief. Jake Robbins (5.00 ERA) worked a scoreless ninth for his fifth save. Bisons starter Steve Watkins (4.50 ERA) gave up six runs and nine hits over five innings.

CLASS A AKRON (15-10) blew a 7-3 lead and lost at Binghamton, 9-7. First baseman Michael Aubrey (.302) hit his fifth homer, a three-run shot, and went 2-for-5 as the Aeros totaled 14 hits. Shortstop Ivan Ochoa (.192) went 2-for-4 and had three RBI, left-fielder J.J. Sherrill (.297) went 3-for-4, catcher Javi Herrera (.190) went 2-for-4 and center-fielder Franklin Gutierrez (.291) was 2-for-5. Right-hander Dan Denham (4.13 ERA) allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. Steve Green (0-1, 3.86 ERA) gave up three runs, three hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings.

CLASS A KINSTON (16-10) scored five runs in the first inning and won at Lynchburg, 5-3. Nick Pesco (4-1, 1.47 ERA) gave up five hits and two runs (one earned) over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four. Juan Lara (2.63 ERA) struck out all four batters he faced, Matt Davis (6.23 ERA) gave up a run in 1 1/3 innings and Edward Mujica (5.87 ERA) got the final two outs for his fourth save. Right-fielder Ryan Goleski (.223) went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Shortstop Chris De La Cruz (.246) also went 2-for-4.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (15-12) lost at home to Kannapolis, 7-3. Left-hander Tony Sipp (2-1, 0.79 ERA) allowed his first runs of the season in the sixth inning. He had worked 22 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up two runs in the sixth, Sipp allowed six hits, three walks and the two runs over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine. Bo Ashabraner (13.50 ERA) allowed two runs, two walks and one hit over 1 1/3 innings in his season debut and Adrian Schau (5.28 ERA) gave up three more runs in one inning. Wyatt Toregas (.230), Josh Noviskey (.196) and Chad Longworth (.281) each had two of the Captains' eight hits. Jose Constanza had two RBI and shortstop Brian Finegan (.230) drove in Lake County's other run, but made his 12th error of the season.
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OSUBasketballJunkie · May 8, 2005

Travis Hafner watches his two-run homer.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Seven-Run Start Helps Tribe Win, 8-6
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 6, 2005

Travis Hafner and Jhonny Peralta both hit two-run homers as the Indians scored seven runs with two outs in the first inning and held on to defeat the Rangers, 8-6, Friday night in Texas.
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The seven runs were more than the Indians scored total in 24 of their first 27 games. Hafner, Victor Martinez, Casey Blake and Grady Sizemore each had two of Cleveland's season-high 14 hits as the Indians improved to 9-8 on the road.

"The bottom line is we scored eight runs," manager Eric Wedge told reporters. "That's good."

It was the Indians' first win in Texas since May 10, 2003. Cleveland went 1-8 against the Rangers last season.

"It's good to get the first one, but we've got two more tough ones against them this weekend," Wedge said. "They're a good hitting ballclub and we're going to have to stay focused against them."

Center-fielder Grady Sizemore made a sensational leaping catch at the wall to rob Gary Matthews Jr., of a homer in the fifth inning and took a hit away from Richard Hidalgo with a running catch in the eighth. The Indians needed both plays as the Rangers chipped away at their early deficit and had the winning run at the plate in the ninth against Bob Wickman.

Pinch-hitter David Dellucci walked to open the ninth, but Michael Young grounded into a double play on a close play at first. Young already was upset with first-base umpire Gary Darling, who had called a strike against him on a checked-swing on the previous pitch. Young yelled at Darling and was ejected, then manager Buck Showalter continued the argument and was ejected for the first time in three seasons as Rangers manager.

Cliff Lee (3-1, 4.46 ERA) led 7-0 before he even threw a pitch. He held the Rangers to three runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out two without giving up a walk.

David Riske struck out four of the five men he faced in a perfect 1 2/3 innings, but Bob Howry faced three batters and allowed three runs in the eighth before Arthur Rhodes stopped the rally and turned it over to Wickman, who got his eighth save.

Alex Cora opened the game with a single. Two outs later, Hafner hit his fourth homer for a 2-0 lead. Blake and Ben Broussard had consecutive doubles to make it 3-0, Jose Hernandez added an RBI single and scored on a triple by Sizemore. Peralta then hit his second homer of the season for a 7-0 lead.

Hafner has four homers in his last six games and is hitting .407 (11-for-27) with eight RBI over his last eight to put his average at .301

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (14-13) edged visiting Scranton Wilkes-Barre, 2-1, as catcher Ryan Garko tripled home both Bisons runs in the third inning. Brian Tallet (1-0, 2.10 ERA) outpitched Mike Bacsik in a battle of left-handers. Tallet allowed one run, in the top of the third, and four hits over six innings. Bacsik, the former Bisons and Cleveland Indians pitcher, who was dealt to the Mets in the Roberto Alomar trade three years ago, gave up two runs and seven hits over six innings. Right-hander Andrew Brown (4.50 ERA) struck out one in two perfect innings of relief for Buffalo. Matt Miller (2.70 ERA) worked the ninth for his first save. Garko (.301) and right-fielder Mike Kinkade (.273) both went 3-for-4. Bisons center-fielder Ernie Young made a key play when he threw out former Tribe farmhand Chris Coste trying to score from second base on a base hit in the third inning. Buffalo outfielder Darnell McDonald began serving his 15-day suspension for testing positive for steroids. His roster spot was taken by second baseman Danny Garcia, who was activated from the disabled list.

CLASS A AKRON (16-10) scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally past visiting Harrisburg, 6-5. Ivan Ochoa (2-for-4, .190) singled and was bunted to second by Jose Morban (1-for-4, .231). Scott Youngbauer (1-for-5, .216) singled home Ochoa to tie the score and went to second on the throw home. After Michael Aubrey (0-for-3, .281) was intentionally walked, both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Franklin Gutierrez (0-for-3, .266) hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Youngbauer with the winning run. Travis Foley (1-0, 9.53 ERA) blew a 3-1 lead by allowing four runs in the eighth inning, then pitched a perfect ninth and was the winner. Aeros left-fielder Jason Cooper (2-for-3, .219) hit his fourth homer in the second inning, then broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jon Van Every (1-for-3, .219) to make it 3-1. Akron starter Victor Kleine (1.64 ERA) allowed one run on five hits and three walks over five innings. Chris Cooper (3.38 ERA) gave up two hits, but struck out three in two scoreless innings.

CLASS A KINSTON (16-10) had its home game against Salem (9-18) postponed by rain. It was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Saturday -- when the K-Tribe will put its three-game winning streak on the line in the first of two seven-inning games.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (16-12) edged visiting Kannapolis, 6-5, in 12 innings. Catcher Wyatt Toregas (3-for-6, .250) singled home the winning run after hitting a three-run homer, his third, in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 6. Marshall Szabo (0-for-3, .264) was hit by a pitch with one out in the 12th and went to third on a single by Argenis Reyes (2-for-5, .345). Szabo then grounded a single to left to win it. Trailing 5-0, Chris Gimenez (1-for-5, .196) doubled and scored as Chad Longworth (2-for-5, .297) hit his first homer in the Captains' seventh. Captains starter Justin Hoyman (2.78 ERA) had his first poor outing in six starts this season, giving up five runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings. Relievers T.J. Burton, Scott Roehl, Kieran Mattison and Kyle Collins then combined to allow only three hits over eight scoreless innings, striking out a total of eight without a walk. Collins (1-1, 0.68 ERA) struck out two in one perfect inning to get the win.

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Grady Sizemore ... nearly a great catch.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Soriano, Drese Lead Rangers Over Tribe
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 7, 2005

Former Indians right-hander Ryan Drese pitched a complete-game six-hitter and Alfonso Soriano hit two homers for the second night in a row to lead the Texas Rangers to a 6-1 victory over Cleveland on Saturday night.
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Drese (3-3), traded to Texas in the deal that sent Travis Hafner to Cleveland, pitched the Rangers' first complete game of the season and fourth of his career. The right-hander had a 7.84 ERA in two previous starts against Cleveland and had given up 16 runs in 15 2-3 innings over his last three starts, but was pretty much in command.

Hafner doubled to open the Indians' second inning, but was retired trying to advance to third on a groundout by Casey Blake, who eventually scored on a single by Josh Bard for a 1-0 lead.

Soriano tied it with a leadoff homer off Scott Elarton (0-2, 7.18 ERA) in the bottom half -- his third homer in three at-bats. He had hit a pair of two-run homers Friday in an 8-6 loss. Soriano added an RBI double in the third and led off the fifth with another homer, his 10th this season to tie Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees for the major-league lead. In his last three games, Soriano has five homers and 10 RBI on 9-for-14 (.643) hitting.

"He's hot right now," Indians manager Eric Wedge told reporters in an understatement. "He's a very good hitter and you can't make mistakes with him. He can hit pitches over the plate or just off the plate, too."

Elarton dropped to 0-4 with a 7.94 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers. He gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings, striking out five.

"Scott left some breaking balls up that they got to," manager Eric Wedge said. "He settled down in the middle innings and pitched well, then we had to get him in the seventh."

Scott Sauerbeck struck out the only batter he faced and David Riske worked a perfect 1 1/3 innings.

Indians center-fielder Grady Sizemore almost made a sensational leaping catch near the wall of a drive hit by Laynce Nix in the second inning. Sizemore got the ball in his glove, but it fell out as he tumbled to the ground and Nix was credited with a double.

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (15-13) got 15 hits and three home runs in a 10-2 rout of visiting Ottawa. Ernie Young (1-for-5, .293) led off the Bisons' seven-run second inning with his fifth homer and Mike Kinkade (2-for-5, .280) capped the outburst with his sixth homer, a three-run shot. Francisco Cruceta (3-1, 3.96 ERA) gave up five hits, two walks and two runs over five innings, striking out five. Kenny Rayborn (5.59 ERA) worked three perfect innings, striking out three, for his second save. Brandon Phillips (3-for-5, .231) hit a solo homer in the Bisons' eighth inning. Ryan Garko (2-for-3, .314) continued a surge that has seen him hike his average nearly 100 points in two weeks and Jody Gerut (2.for-5, .235) had his first multi-hit game since joining Buffalo on Monday.

CLASS A AKRON (17-10) used a four-run seventh inning to edge visiting Harrisburg, 5-4. Travis Thompson (3-0, 0.92 ERA) gave up one run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings, but was the winner. Chris Cooper (3.14) worked a perfect ninth for his first save. Aeros starter Fausto Carmona (3.32 ERA) yielded three runs on seven hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings. Franklin Gutierrez (.268), Jason Cooper (.222), Scott Youngbauer (.211), Jon Van Every (.218) and Ivan Ochoa (2-for-3, .207) all had singles during the Aeros' winning rally. Before the game, the Aeros announced that right-hander J.D. Martin (1-0, 1.40 ERA) was put on the inactive list with a sore elbow.

CLASS A KINSTON (17-11) split a doubleheader with visiting Salem, winning the second game, 6-3, on Caleb Brock's three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning. It was the first homer of the season for Brock (1-for-3, .219). Kinston tied it 3-3 with a three-run sixth. Brad Snyder (1-for-5, .324) doubled. After Ryan Mulhern (0-for-2, .312) walked, Snyder scored on a double by Ryan Goleski (3-for-5, .235). Mulhern scored on a wild pitch and Nathan Panther (2-for-3, .247) singled hom Goleski to tie it. Tom Mastny (3.31) made his first start of the season and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over three innings. Dan Eisentrager (7.88 ERA) gave up one run one three hits and two walks over four innings, striking out five. Mariano Gomez (1-0, 4.50 ERA), sent down after struggling at Akron last month, had by far his best outing of the season. He allowed two walks and struck out five over three hitless innings to get the win.

Shortstop Chris De La Cruz (.262) had two of Kinston's four hits and only RBI in the first game. Jeremy Sowers (3-2, 2.84 ERA) struck out nine over five innings, but allowed two runs on three hits and two walks. Juan Lara (2.35 ERA) worked a hitless 1 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out three. He walked the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, but Edward Mujica came on to get a strikeout to end the threat.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (16-13) was nearly no-hit at home by former Ohio University pitcher Adam Russell in a 5-2 loss to Kannapolis. The Captains got only four walks over the first eight innings off Russell, a sixth-round pick by the White Sox in 2004. With one out in the ninth, Argenis Reyes and Wyatt Toregas drew walks and Fernando Pacheco (.278) broke up both the no-hitter and shutout with an RBI double. That finished Russell (1-3, 4.19 ERA), who walked six and struck out six over 8 1/3 innings. With two outs, Mike Butia (.227) got an RBI single, but with runners on first and third, Chris Gimenez (.189) struck out to end the game. Captains starter Chris Niesel (2-2, 5.46 ERA) allowed six hits and four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven. Michael Hernandez (0.96 ERA) continued his fine work in middle relief by pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Bo Ashabraner (11.57) yielded a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.
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aurorabuckeye13 · May 8, 2005

indians lost to texas 7-2 today... they grounded into 4 double plays and the rangers almost had two more in the ninthRight now the indian's offense is absolutely pathetic, and aaron boone right now is the worst, i mean come on his batting average is almost under .100

OSUBasketballJunkie · May 9, 2005

Victor Martinez tries to settle Jake Westbrook.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Tumbling Tribe Toppled In Texas
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 8, 2005

The Indians fell farther back in the AL Central Division on Sunday with a 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers and 40-year-old left-hander Kenny Rogers.
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Cleveland (12-18) is in fourth place, two games behind Detroit (14-16), seven behind Minnesota (19-11) and a whopping 11 1/2 behind the Chicago White Sox (24-7).

The Indians started 12-18 last season, too, and were five back of first-place Chicago then. After 30 games in 2003, Cleveland was 9-21 and trailed first-place Kansas City by 11.

"Chicago has been on a roll since Day 1 and they're still riding it," Indians manager Eric Wedge told reporters after Cleveland fell to 1-8 this season against left-handed starters. "We've just got to grind it out."

The Indians got 10 hits off Rogers and three relievers, but left 11 runners on base. Jose Hernandez left two stranded to end the first inning and hit into double plays to end the sixth and eighth. Ryan Ludwick hit into a double play to end the second and Aaron Boone hit into yet another twin-killing in the seventh. Cleveland put two more runners on that inning, but Ron Belliard left both stranded. Travis Hafner struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth to end the game.

Rogers (3-2) won his third straight and extended his shutout streak to 21 innings with seven innings of six-hit ball. He walked four and struck out four and didn't allow an extra-base hit in lowering his ERA to 1.79.

Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 and doubled home Cleveland's first run in the eighth inning off reliever Brian Shouse. The Indians got another run on a fielder's choice groundout by Coco Crisp in the ninth before Francisco Cordero fanned Hafner.

The Rangers struck quickly off Jake Westbrook (1-6). David Dellucci led off the first inning with a triple and scored on Michael Young's fourth homer. Young fouled off seven pitches and hit the 11th he saw over the fence.

"He kept fouling them off until he got a pitch where he wanted it," said Westbrook, who gave up six runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. "It was a sinker, down where I wanted it, but give him credit, he went down and got it."

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (16-13) extended its winning streak to four by blasting Ottawa, 16-5, with a 15-hit attack that included homers by Brandon Phillips, Mike Kinkade and Dusty Wathan. Jason Bere (1-0) was activated from the Indians' extended spring training program and Kyle Denney placed on the disabled list with a sore elbow. Bere gave up five runs on six hits and three walks over five innings in his first start above Class AA in two years. Phillips (.239) hit his fourth homer leading off the first inning and went 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. Wathan (.268) hit his second homer, a two-run shot, in the second and went 2-for-4. Kinkade (.286) hit a two-run homer, his third, in the seventh and went 2-for-5. Catcher Ryan Garko went 2-for-4 and is on a 19-for-38 (.500) tear that has lifted his average to .322. Andy Abad (2-for-3, .241) drove in four runs while Jake Gautreau and Jake Thrower also had two hits apiece for the Bisons. Buffalo improved to 12-6 at home and swept a two-game series from Ottawa by a total score of 26-7 to move into first place in the North Division of the International League, a half-game ahead of the Lynx. The Bisons start an eight-game trip in Durham on Monday and will go to Charlotte on Friday for another four-game set.

CLASS A AKRON (17-11) lost in 10 innings to visiting Harrisburg, 5-4. The Aeros scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score. Anthony Lunetta (1-for-5, .250) hit a two-run single and Scott Youngbauer (2-for-5, .222) followed with a two-run homer, his third. Akron then put runners on second and third with two outs, but Pat Osborn (1-for-5, .250) grounded out and the teams went to the 10th. Michael Aubrey (.290) and Jason Cooper (.233) both went 2-for-4 for Akron. Aeros starter Jake Dittler (3.11 ERA) allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits and four walks over seven innings. Steve Green (0-2, 3.93 ERA) gave up two runs, one earned, over two innings before Chris Cooper (2.93 ERA) got the final three outs. The Aeros, one game out of first place in the Southern Division, are at first-place Erie on Monday night to start a four-game series and 10-game trip.

CLASS A KINSTON (18-11) defeated visiting Salem, 12-3, as first baseman Ryan Mulhern (2-for-4, .320) drove in five runs with two homers, his sixth and seventh of the season. Caleb Brock, who hit a game-winning three-run homer Saturday with two outs in the 10th inning, scored five runs and went 4-for-5 to lift his average to .297. Brad Snyder (3-for-4, .339) and Kevin Kouzmanoff (2-for-3, .347) each had three RBI. Kinston starter Sean Smith gave up two runs on seven hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. Winner Matt Davis (1-2, 5.40 ERA) allowed an unearned run and two hits over 2 2/3 innings and Jim Ed Warden (9.00 ERA) worked a hitless two innings. The K-Tribe, winners of four of five and leading the Southern Division by 2 1/2 games, will open a four-game series at Potomac on Monday night.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (16-13) was not scheduled on Sunday. The Captains, in fourth place and 3 1/2 games back in the Northern Division, start an eight-game trip Monday night that takes them to Asheville for four games and Hickory for another four.
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OSUBasketballJunkie · May 10, 2005

Kevin Millwood

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Millwood Almost Perfect; Indians win
By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: May 10, 2005

All it took for Kevin Millwood to finally get his first win as a member of the Indians was to practically pitch a perfect game in a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in Anaheim.
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Millwood (1-3) hit Vladimir Guerrero with a pitch in the first inning and allowed a leadoff double to Jose Molina in the third -- and that was it over eight innings before Bob Wickman worked the ninth for his ninth save.

Millwood struck out eight and retired the last 18 Angels he faced, lowering his ERA to 3.38 and getting his first American League victory and 99th of his career.

"He was outstanding," Eric Wedge told reporters -- though the manager watched most of the game on TV in the clubhouse after being ejected in the fourth inning.

"He stepped it up a notch and commanded the ballgame. He was able to do whatever he wanted -- a great performance.

"He was a little tired there at the end, but what a great effort."

Millwood, signed as a free agent last winter by the Indians, pitched a no-hitter in 2003 for Philadelphia against San Francisco. He also pitched two one-hitters for Atlanta -- in 1998 against Pittsburgh and in the 1999 NL playoffs over Houston.

Travis Hafner put Cleveland ahead with an RBI single in the first inning off John Lackey. Coco Crisp hit his second homer in the third inning and Ron Belliard hit his sixth in the fourth.

Wickman gave up a one-out single to Chone Figgins that glanced off the glove of second baseman Belliard. With two outs, Guerrero lined a drive to left-center that Grady Sizemore tracked down for the final out.

Wedge was ejected by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez for arguing that Jhonny Peralta was hit by a pitch. Television replays and still photos showed the ball apparently glancing off Peralta's left hand.

"He said it hit the bat," Wedge said of Hernandez. "Obviously, I didn't agree. I'm not saying it might not have hit the bat, but I think it hit his hand first."

MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (17-13) won its fifth straight, a 6-1 victory in Durham as Jake Gautreau (.275) drove in three runs. Jeremy Guthrie (2-4, 7.11 ERA) was staked to a 4-0 lead before he threw a pitch. Brandon Phillips (2-for-5, .246) led off the game with his fifth homer. Jody Gerut (1-for-4, .217) then doubled and Ryan Garko (0-for-4, .309) was hit by a pitch. One out later, Andy Abad (3-for-4, .265) singled to load the bases. With two outs, Gautreau hit a two-run single and Jake Thrower (2-for-4, .197) singled home another run. Guthrie gave up three hits and three walks over six scoreless innings, striking out four. Kaz Tadano (2.39 ERA) gave up one run in two innings and Fernando Cabrera (1.98 ERA) worked a scoreless ninth. Former Indians catcher Tim Laker (.290) went 1-for-3 for Durham.

CLASS A AKRON (18-11) won in Erie, 8-3, as Jason Cooper, Pat Osborn, Scott Youngbauer and Jon Van Every hit homers. Cooper (1-for-4, .234), who was named the Eastern League Player of the Week earlier in the day, hit his fifth homer in the fourth inning. Van Every (2-for-4, .233) hit a two-run shot, his third, in the second. Youngbauer (2-for-3, .238) and Osborn (2-for-3, .264) hit solo shots in the eighth, their fourth and first of the season, respectively. Billy Traber (1-1, 3.97 ERA) gave up three runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. Travis Foley (7.36 ERA) worked a perfect 1 2/3 innings and Todd Pennington (3.27 ERA) one perfect inning of relief.

CLASS A KINSTON (18-12) lost at Potomac, 10-7. Caleb Brock (2-for-4, .317) hit his second homer, while Kevin Kouzmanoff (2-for-4, .352) and Chris De La Cruz (1-for-4, .243 each drove in two runs and Ryan Goleski (.232) went 2-for-5. Rafael Perez (4-1, 2.45 ERA), had his first bad performance of the season. The lefty, who came into the game with an 0.79 ERA, gave up seven runs on seven hits and four walks over three innings. Juan Lara (3.00 ERA) didn't do much better, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits over 2 2/3 innings before Edward Mujica (4.35 ERA) struck out three in 2 1/3 perfect innings.

CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (16-14) lost in Asheville, 6-5, on an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Captains' Kyle Collins (1-2, 0.61 ERA) issued a one-out walk to Jose Valdez, who then stole second and continued to third on a throwing error by catcher Wyatt Toregas. Valdez then scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by John Restrepo. Captains starter Reid Santos (9.10 ERA) gave up five runs on six hits and three walks over five innings before T.J. Burton (4.76 ERA) pitched two hitless innings. Outfielder Mike Conroy, activated earlier in the day when Jose Constanza was put on the DL with a broken right index finger, went 3-for-4 in his season debut for Lake County. Toregas (.250) went 2-for-5 and Brian Finegan (.229) 2-for-4.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

Indians Tidbits...

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

JCOSU86

Go Buckeyes!

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

JCOSU86

Go Buckeyes!

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

aurorabuckeye13

Heisman

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0