scarletandgrey
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!
Well it looks to be that way. There is a lot left to play I just want to get as close as possible to leading the wild card.AKAKBUCK said:
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Error-Prone Indians Lose Despite 17 Hits
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Did Tampa Bay burst the Indians' bubble?
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Aug 13, 2005
All of the good, bad and ugly of the Indians' 2005 season was on display Friday night at Jacobs Field in an 8-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Cleveland cranked out 17 hits, including nine with runners in scoring position and a season-high seven doubles, but also grounded into four double plays and made four errors.
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Cleveland had a six-game winning streak halted and fell back into a tie with the New York Yankees for second in the AL wild-card race.
Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta and Ron Belliard all had three hits while Coco Crisp, Victor Martinez and Aaron Boone had two apiece. Crisp, Peralta, Martinez and starter Jake Westbrook all made errors -- and Boone had one against his name, too, until the official scorer changed it to Tampa Bay's 12th hit after the game.
Westbrook (10-13), who had won his previous four starts, allowed eight runs (six earned) and eight hits over only four innings. Staked to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, he promptly gave up six runs in the second. Peralta's misplay of a potential double-play grounder opened the door for the Devil Rays and Westbrook didn't help matters by walking two batters to force in a run during the rally.
Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mark Hendrickson (7-7) survived a poor start to win. He allowed 12 hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings. Former Indians closer Danys Baez gave up three straight hits to open the ninth, but made a fine play to field a bunt by Belliard and throw out the lead runner at third -- then got Boone to bang into a game-ending double play for his 24th save.
That was just part of the frustrations on offense in nearly every inning:
* Casey Blake nearly hit Cleveland's third grand slam in three nights in the first inning, but his slicing drive to right landed a few feet foul. He then flied out.
* Martinez closed the second by grounding out with two on.
* Belliard doubled with one out in the third, but both Boone and Blake then struck out.
* With two on and one run in, Martinez grounded into an inning-ending double play in the fourth.
* With two on in the fifth, Blake hit into another inning-ending double play.
* With runners on first and third in the sixth, Hafner hit into yet another inning-ending double play.
* In the ninth, after pinch-hitter Jeff Liefer singled home one run to make it 8-6, Belliard failed to put down a good sacrifice bunt and pinch-runner Ramon Vazquez was thrown out at third -- then Boone bounced into the final double play of the night.
As has been in the case in so many games this season, the Indians got excellent relief pitching. Fernando Cabrera struck out a career-high six in four scoreless innings and David Riske worked a perfect ninth.
Before the game, left-hander Arthur Rhodes rejoined the team after missing a week to attend to an illness in his family. Lefty Brian Tallet was sent back to Triple-A Buffalo, but Rhodes was not available to work in the game. He threw a bullpen session, but left two hours before the game.
In the photo above, Associated Press photographer Mark Duncan snapped his shutter at the precise instant that Tampa Bay first-base coach Billy Hatcher popped his bubblegum.
MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (65-55) lost at home to Ottawa, 7-5, but still leads the North Division of the International League by two games over Rochester. Brandon Phillips (.254) had two hits, including a solo homer, his 15th, while Jason Dubois (.342) hit a two-run homer, his third since being sent down by the Indians on Aug. 4. Joe Inglett (.314) had two more hits for the Bisons, who gave up two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to lose it. Starter Dan Denham allowed three runs (two earned) over four innings, Billy Traber yielded two more runs over three innings and Jose Diaz (1-2) gave up two more runs over the final two.
CLASS AA AKRON (69-49) opened a six-game lead in the Southern Division of the Eastern League with a 7-2 win at Trenton. Ryan Mulhern (.343) extended his hitting streak to 20 games with three more hits. He has batted .475 (38-for-80) with 11 doubles, one triple, 10 homers, 19 runs and 23 RBI during the streak. Pat Osborn (.278) also had three hits, while Ben Francisco (.287) and Eider Torres (.275) had two apiece. Brad Snyder (.302) hit a solo homer, his 12th with the Aeros and 18th of the season overall, including his time at Class A Kinston. Mariano Gomez (3-2, 5.62 ERA) gave up two runs over five innings. Travis Foley (3.73 ERA) worked one scoreless and Rafael Perez (1.08 ERA) struck out four over three scoreless innings for his first save.
CLASS A KINSTON (20-27) lost at Lynchburg, 8-4. Adam Miller (1-3, 5.08 ERA) continued to struggle after missing the first three months of the season with a strained right elbow. He gave up 11 hits and seven runs (six earned) over four innings. Brandon Pinckney (.244) had two hits, including a solo homer, his second. Former Indians farm-hand Derrick Van Dusen (8-5) beat Kinston for the second time in a week. He started this season by going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four games as a reliever at Class AA Akron before being released.
CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (20-24) lost at home to Hickory, 14-13. Ryan Knippschild (2.70 ERA) struck out five over four scoreless innings, but the Captains couldn't muster enough offense to catch up. Starter Cody Bunkelman (4.12 ERA) allowed six runs (five earned) over two innings and Adam Hanson (9.00 ERA) gave up eight runs over three innings. First-round draft pick Trevor Crowe (.252) went 3-for-6 with two runs and two RBI, while Brian Finegan (.298) knocked in four runs with a three-run homer, his eighth, a double and a single. Tim Montgomery (.264), Matt Whitney (.231), Fernando Pacheco (.245) and Marshall Szabo (.241) all had two hits -- with Pacheco getting four RBI.
CLASS A MAHONING VALLEY (26-25) won at New Jersey, 4-3, for a four-game winning streak. Jim Deters (3-3, 2.16 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) over 5 2/3 innings. Albert Vargas worked 2 1/3 scoreless and Matt Loberg (2.70 ERA) pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save. Chris Clem (.242) had three hits and two RBI to lead the Scrappers' offense.
ROOKIE LEAGUE BURLINGTON (19-30) lost to visiting Danville, 7-1. Boodle Clark had two of Burlington's five hits and scored the run. Joanniel Montero (0-1), hust promoted from Cleveland's farm team in the Dominican Summer League, gave up six runs in three innings in his first start in America. Paul Lubrano (0.72) finished with three perfect innings, striking out three.
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Did Tampa Bay burst the Indians' bubble?
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Aug 13, 2005
All of the good, bad and ugly of the Indians' 2005 season was on display Friday night at Jacobs Field in an 8-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Cleveland cranked out 17 hits, including nine with runners in scoring position and a season-high seven doubles, but also grounded into four double plays and made four errors.
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Cleveland had a six-game winning streak halted and fell back into a tie with the New York Yankees for second in the AL wild-card race.
Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta and Ron Belliard all had three hits while Coco Crisp, Victor Martinez and Aaron Boone had two apiece. Crisp, Peralta, Martinez and starter Jake Westbrook all made errors -- and Boone had one against his name, too, until the official scorer changed it to Tampa Bay's 12th hit after the game.
Westbrook (10-13), who had won his previous four starts, allowed eight runs (six earned) and eight hits over only four innings. Staked to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, he promptly gave up six runs in the second. Peralta's misplay of a potential double-play grounder opened the door for the Devil Rays and Westbrook didn't help matters by walking two batters to force in a run during the rally.
Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mark Hendrickson (7-7) survived a poor start to win. He allowed 12 hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings. Former Indians closer Danys Baez gave up three straight hits to open the ninth, but made a fine play to field a bunt by Belliard and throw out the lead runner at third -- then got Boone to bang into a game-ending double play for his 24th save.
That was just part of the frustrations on offense in nearly every inning:
* Casey Blake nearly hit Cleveland's third grand slam in three nights in the first inning, but his slicing drive to right landed a few feet foul. He then flied out.
* Martinez closed the second by grounding out with two on.
* Belliard doubled with one out in the third, but both Boone and Blake then struck out.
* With two on and one run in, Martinez grounded into an inning-ending double play in the fourth.
* With two on in the fifth, Blake hit into another inning-ending double play.
* With runners on first and third in the sixth, Hafner hit into yet another inning-ending double play.
* In the ninth, after pinch-hitter Jeff Liefer singled home one run to make it 8-6, Belliard failed to put down a good sacrifice bunt and pinch-runner Ramon Vazquez was thrown out at third -- then Boone bounced into the final double play of the night.
As has been in the case in so many games this season, the Indians got excellent relief pitching. Fernando Cabrera struck out a career-high six in four scoreless innings and David Riske worked a perfect ninth.
Before the game, left-hander Arthur Rhodes rejoined the team after missing a week to attend to an illness in his family. Lefty Brian Tallet was sent back to Triple-A Buffalo, but Rhodes was not available to work in the game. He threw a bullpen session, but left two hours before the game.
In the photo above, Associated Press photographer Mark Duncan snapped his shutter at the precise instant that Tampa Bay first-base coach Billy Hatcher popped his bubblegum.
MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (65-55) lost at home to Ottawa, 7-5, but still leads the North Division of the International League by two games over Rochester. Brandon Phillips (.254) had two hits, including a solo homer, his 15th, while Jason Dubois (.342) hit a two-run homer, his third since being sent down by the Indians on Aug. 4. Joe Inglett (.314) had two more hits for the Bisons, who gave up two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to lose it. Starter Dan Denham allowed three runs (two earned) over four innings, Billy Traber yielded two more runs over three innings and Jose Diaz (1-2) gave up two more runs over the final two.
CLASS AA AKRON (69-49) opened a six-game lead in the Southern Division of the Eastern League with a 7-2 win at Trenton. Ryan Mulhern (.343) extended his hitting streak to 20 games with three more hits. He has batted .475 (38-for-80) with 11 doubles, one triple, 10 homers, 19 runs and 23 RBI during the streak. Pat Osborn (.278) also had three hits, while Ben Francisco (.287) and Eider Torres (.275) had two apiece. Brad Snyder (.302) hit a solo homer, his 12th with the Aeros and 18th of the season overall, including his time at Class A Kinston. Mariano Gomez (3-2, 5.62 ERA) gave up two runs over five innings. Travis Foley (3.73 ERA) worked one scoreless and Rafael Perez (1.08 ERA) struck out four over three scoreless innings for his first save.
CLASS A KINSTON (20-27) lost at Lynchburg, 8-4. Adam Miller (1-3, 5.08 ERA) continued to struggle after missing the first three months of the season with a strained right elbow. He gave up 11 hits and seven runs (six earned) over four innings. Brandon Pinckney (.244) had two hits, including a solo homer, his second. Former Indians farm-hand Derrick Van Dusen (8-5) beat Kinston for the second time in a week. He started this season by going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four games as a reliever at Class AA Akron before being released.
CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (20-24) lost at home to Hickory, 14-13. Ryan Knippschild (2.70 ERA) struck out five over four scoreless innings, but the Captains couldn't muster enough offense to catch up. Starter Cody Bunkelman (4.12 ERA) allowed six runs (five earned) over two innings and Adam Hanson (9.00 ERA) gave up eight runs over three innings. First-round draft pick Trevor Crowe (.252) went 3-for-6 with two runs and two RBI, while Brian Finegan (.298) knocked in four runs with a three-run homer, his eighth, a double and a single. Tim Montgomery (.264), Matt Whitney (.231), Fernando Pacheco (.245) and Marshall Szabo (.241) all had two hits -- with Pacheco getting four RBI.
CLASS A MAHONING VALLEY (26-25) won at New Jersey, 4-3, for a four-game winning streak. Jim Deters (3-3, 2.16 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) over 5 2/3 innings. Albert Vargas worked 2 1/3 scoreless and Matt Loberg (2.70 ERA) pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save. Chris Clem (.242) had three hits and two RBI to lead the Scrappers' offense.
ROOKIE LEAGUE BURLINGTON (19-30) lost to visiting Danville, 7-1. Boodle Clark had two of Burlington's five hits and scored the run. Joanniel Montero (0-1), hust promoted from Cleveland's farm team in the Dominican Summer League, gave up six runs in three innings in his first start in America. Paul Lubrano (0.72) finished with three perfect innings, striking out three.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Devil Rays' Homers Topple Tribe, 8-2
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Jeremy Guthrie ... six innings of relief.
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Aug 14, 2005
Grady Sizemore hit his 14th homer while Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner extended their modest hitting streaks. That was pretty much it as far as highlights for Cleveland fans in the Indians' 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday night.
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The Devil Rays gave five fans some souvenirs by depositing Indians pitches far over the fence and into the crowd with a season-high five homers, including two by Jorge Cantu and a mammoth shot by Jonny Gomes.
"They just handed it to us," said Indians manager Eric Wedge, who once again remained stoic in a bad loss that included right fielder Casey Blake leaving the game with a bruised right shoulder after getting hit by a pitch.
"It hurt," Blake said. "A lot.
"I wanted to stay in there, but it stiffened up an inning later and I couldn't throw."
The first two games of a nine-game homestand have not gone anywhere near as planned by the Indians and their fans, who were hoping that the Tribe could make up some ground in the AL wild-card race against the perennial losers from Tampa Bay. Instead, Cleveland lost its second straight and third in 12 games to fall 4½ games back in the wild-card scramble as the Devil Rays clinched their first series victory in Cleveland. They had gone 0-8-1 with an overall record of 7-21 in nine previous trips to Jacobs Field before this season.
Cleveland, which is 11 games over .500 on the road (36-25), dropped to only 27-29 at Jacobs field this year.
Trailing, 5-0 in the sixth, Coco Crisp walked and scored on a double by Hafner, who has hit .324 (12-for-37) during a nine-game hitting streak. Victor Martinez went 3-for-3 and is 21-for-45 (.467) during an 11-game streak, while Sizemore hit his 14th homer in the ninth inning for Cleveland's other run.
Cantu hit a two-run homer in the third as Tampa Bay took a 4-0 lead against Scott Elarton (7-6). Cantu hit a solo shot, his 18th of the season, off Jeremy Guthrie in the seventh. It was his third homer in two nights.
Julio Lugo, Aubrey Huff and Gomes each hit solo homers -- with Gomes' shot going 461 feet to left-center, two rows of seats hitting the scoreboard. Mark McGwire is the only player to dent the scoreboard during game action at Jacobs Field, doing it twice.
Three of the homers came off Indians starter Scott Elarton (7-6), who did not come back to pitch after rain delayed play for 80 minutes in the bottom of the third inning.
Jeremy Guthrie, called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Buffalo when lefty Arthur Rhodes went on the disabled list with a sore right knee, allowed four runs over six innings. It was the longest outing by an Indians reliever this season.
MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (66-55) topped visiting Ottawa, 8-1 as Ryan Garko (.303) went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, his 17th. Mike Kinkade (.279) hit a two-run homer, his 13th, while Jason Dubois (.341) also hit a two-run shot, his fourth since being sent down by the Indians on Aug. 4. Francisco Cruceta (5-4, 5.19 ERA) pitched six shutout innings. Brian Tallet (4.47 ERA) gave up one run over two innings and Chris Cooper (4.63 ERA) struck out two over a scoreless ninth.
CLASS AA AKRON (70-49) scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to win at Altoona, 6-3. Ryan Mulhern (.335) went 0-for-4 to halt his 20-game hitting streak, but Nate Panther went 3-for-4 in his first game since being called up from Class A Kinston. Shaun Larkin (.236) hit his eighth homer and Jose Morban (.253) hit his ninth. Juan Lara (1-0, 1.32 ERA) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Edward Mujica (3.36 ERA) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 for his sixth save. Starter Jake Dittler (3.75 ERA) gave up three runs over the first six innings.
CLASS A KINSTON (21-27) rolled to a 12-0 win at Lynchburg as Stephen Head (.307) hit a three-run homer and solo shot, giving him four homers for the K-Tribe and 10 in 37 games since turning pro in late June. Ryan Goleski (.210) had three hits, including his 13th homer, a three-run shot, Brian Barton (.330) drove in two runs, while Anthony Lunetta (.283) and Brandon Pinckney (.251) both had three of Kinston's 13 hits. Scott Roehl (5-3, 1.52 ERA) yielded two hits over 6 2/3 innings, Jime Ed Warden (3.93 ERA) got one out and Tony Sipp (3.53 ERA) struck out three over two innings to complete the shutout.
CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (21-24) defeated visiting Hickory, 3-1. Chuck Lofgren (5-2, 1.98 ERA) allowed one run over six innings. T.J. Burton, Jesus Soto and Kieran Mattison each worked one scoreless inning with Mattison (3.00 ERA) getting his 23rd save. Matt Whitney (.237) and Marshall Szabo (.245) each had two of the Captains' seven hits.
CLASS A MAHONING VALLEY (27-25) won its fifth in a row, 7-2 at Jamestown. Evandy DeLeon (.234) hit a two-run homer, his third, and scored three runs, while Chad Longworth (.250) had two RBI. Kevin Dixon (3-2, 3.10 ERA) gave up three hits and struck out five over five scoreless innings. Mark Jecmen (2.55 ERA) gave up one unearned run over three innings.
ROOKIE LEAGUE BURLINGTON (19-31) was belted around at home by Danville, 13-3, though Niuman Romero (.284) and three hits and an RBI and Alfred Ard (.246) drove in two runs. Only Julio Pinto (3.49 ERA) pitched well for Burlington, striking out three in three perfect innings. Starter Christopher Hicks (5.02 ERA) gave up seven runs (four earned) over four innings, Michael Finocchi (2.91 ERA) yielded two runs in one inning and Josh Harris allowed four unearned runs over one inning.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Jeremy Guthrie ... six innings of relief.
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Aug 14, 2005
Grady Sizemore hit his 14th homer while Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner extended their modest hitting streaks. That was pretty much it as far as highlights for Cleveland fans in the Indians' 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday night.
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>
The Devil Rays gave five fans some souvenirs by depositing Indians pitches far over the fence and into the crowd with a season-high five homers, including two by Jorge Cantu and a mammoth shot by Jonny Gomes.
"They just handed it to us," said Indians manager Eric Wedge, who once again remained stoic in a bad loss that included right fielder Casey Blake leaving the game with a bruised right shoulder after getting hit by a pitch.
"It hurt," Blake said. "A lot.
"I wanted to stay in there, but it stiffened up an inning later and I couldn't throw."
The first two games of a nine-game homestand have not gone anywhere near as planned by the Indians and their fans, who were hoping that the Tribe could make up some ground in the AL wild-card race against the perennial losers from Tampa Bay. Instead, Cleveland lost its second straight and third in 12 games to fall 4½ games back in the wild-card scramble as the Devil Rays clinched their first series victory in Cleveland. They had gone 0-8-1 with an overall record of 7-21 in nine previous trips to Jacobs Field before this season.
Cleveland, which is 11 games over .500 on the road (36-25), dropped to only 27-29 at Jacobs field this year.
Trailing, 5-0 in the sixth, Coco Crisp walked and scored on a double by Hafner, who has hit .324 (12-for-37) during a nine-game hitting streak. Victor Martinez went 3-for-3 and is 21-for-45 (.467) during an 11-game streak, while Sizemore hit his 14th homer in the ninth inning for Cleveland's other run.
Cantu hit a two-run homer in the third as Tampa Bay took a 4-0 lead against Scott Elarton (7-6). Cantu hit a solo shot, his 18th of the season, off Jeremy Guthrie in the seventh. It was his third homer in two nights.
Julio Lugo, Aubrey Huff and Gomes each hit solo homers -- with Gomes' shot going 461 feet to left-center, two rows of seats hitting the scoreboard. Mark McGwire is the only player to dent the scoreboard during game action at Jacobs Field, doing it twice.
Three of the homers came off Indians starter Scott Elarton (7-6), who did not come back to pitch after rain delayed play for 80 minutes in the bottom of the third inning.
Jeremy Guthrie, called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Buffalo when lefty Arthur Rhodes went on the disabled list with a sore right knee, allowed four runs over six innings. It was the longest outing by an Indians reliever this season.
MINOR MATTERS
CLASS AAA BUFFALO (66-55) topped visiting Ottawa, 8-1 as Ryan Garko (.303) went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, his 17th. Mike Kinkade (.279) hit a two-run homer, his 13th, while Jason Dubois (.341) also hit a two-run shot, his fourth since being sent down by the Indians on Aug. 4. Francisco Cruceta (5-4, 5.19 ERA) pitched six shutout innings. Brian Tallet (4.47 ERA) gave up one run over two innings and Chris Cooper (4.63 ERA) struck out two over a scoreless ninth.
CLASS AA AKRON (70-49) scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to win at Altoona, 6-3. Ryan Mulhern (.335) went 0-for-4 to halt his 20-game hitting streak, but Nate Panther went 3-for-4 in his first game since being called up from Class A Kinston. Shaun Larkin (.236) hit his eighth homer and Jose Morban (.253) hit his ninth. Juan Lara (1-0, 1.32 ERA) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Edward Mujica (3.36 ERA) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 for his sixth save. Starter Jake Dittler (3.75 ERA) gave up three runs over the first six innings.
CLASS A KINSTON (21-27) rolled to a 12-0 win at Lynchburg as Stephen Head (.307) hit a three-run homer and solo shot, giving him four homers for the K-Tribe and 10 in 37 games since turning pro in late June. Ryan Goleski (.210) had three hits, including his 13th homer, a three-run shot, Brian Barton (.330) drove in two runs, while Anthony Lunetta (.283) and Brandon Pinckney (.251) both had three of Kinston's 13 hits. Scott Roehl (5-3, 1.52 ERA) yielded two hits over 6 2/3 innings, Jime Ed Warden (3.93 ERA) got one out and Tony Sipp (3.53 ERA) struck out three over two innings to complete the shutout.
CLASS A LAKE COUNTY (21-24) defeated visiting Hickory, 3-1. Chuck Lofgren (5-2, 1.98 ERA) allowed one run over six innings. T.J. Burton, Jesus Soto and Kieran Mattison each worked one scoreless inning with Mattison (3.00 ERA) getting his 23rd save. Matt Whitney (.237) and Marshall Szabo (.245) each had two of the Captains' seven hits.
CLASS A MAHONING VALLEY (27-25) won its fifth in a row, 7-2 at Jamestown. Evandy DeLeon (.234) hit a two-run homer, his third, and scored three runs, while Chad Longworth (.250) had two RBI. Kevin Dixon (3-2, 3.10 ERA) gave up three hits and struck out five over five scoreless innings. Mark Jecmen (2.55 ERA) gave up one unearned run over three innings.
ROOKIE LEAGUE BURLINGTON (19-31) was belted around at home by Danville, 13-3, though Niuman Romero (.284) and three hits and an RBI and Alfred Ard (.246) drove in two runs. Only Julio Pinto (3.49 ERA) pitched well for Burlington, striking out three in three perfect innings. Starter Christopher Hicks (5.02 ERA) gave up seven runs (four earned) over four innings, Michael Finocchi (2.91 ERA) yielded two runs in one inning and Josh Harris allowed four unearned runs over one inning.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Tampa Bay 1, Cleveland 0</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 14, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 14, 4:28 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Travis Lee thought he was lucky and Bob Wickman agreed -- to a point.
Lee connected for a pinch-hit homer off Wickman with one out in the ninth inning Sunday, sending the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 1-0 victory over the Indians and their first series sweep in Cleveland.
The Devil Rays had lost four straight when they arrived in Cleveland, where they were 7-21 all-time. But they completed their 12-game trip with a three-game sweep and hurt the Indians' wild-card chances.
``What a nice way to end this trip,'' Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. ``Our schedule is filled with teams that have postseason aspirations and hopefully we can ruin their plans.''
If not ruined, the Indians' blueprint for success certainly was altered. They entered the series on a six-game winning streak -- all on the road. But Cleveland, which is 11 games over .500 on the road, dropped to 27-30 at Jacobs Field.
``We've got to block that out and turn it around,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``The fire is there, but we just didn't finish off some opportunities.''
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</NOSCRIPT>Joe Borowski (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Danys Baez worked the ninth for his 25th save. Borowski has not allowed a run in 15 1-3 innings since being signed by Tampa Bay on July 11.
Lee, batting for Eduardo Perez, worked the count to 3-2 against Wickman (0-4) before hitting his second pinch-hit homer of the season and extending his hitting streak to 11 games. It also was his team-record eighth pinch-hit this year in 14 opportunities. He has six homers overall.
``I'm not sure what's going on,'' Lee said. ``I'm just reacting and getting lucky. I was looking fastball and it was a slider. I hit it and thought, 'No way,' but got just enough of it to slide it over the wall.''
Wickman was surprised Lee hit his best pitch and that it went out, but said luck had little to do with the Devil Rays' sweep.
``I've thrown the slider on a 3-2 count for 13 years and everybody knows it,'' he said. ``I threw it for a strike and Travis Lee beat me. But he nearly popped it straight up, too.
``The thing that annoys me is nobody gives them credit. That team is no slouch. They have some good hitters, but people will blame us for losing.''
Starting left-handers Cliff Lee for Cleveland and Scott Kazmir for Tampa Bay were at their best with runners on base.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 14, 4:17 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Lee gave up six hits and one walk while striking out three in eight scoreless innings -- his longest outing in 24 starts this season.
``If you had told me that I'd go eight without giving up a run, I'd tell you I got a win,'' Lee said. ``It just didn't happen.''
Lee bounced back from a poor outing in Kansas City on Tuesday night, when he gave up eight hits and six runs in five innings of a no-decision. The Indians rallied to win 13-7 with an 11-run ninth.
This time, he stranded seven runners, including two apiece in the first and seventh.
Kazmir allowed six hits in six scoreless innings, striking out seven, including Cleveland's 3-4-5 hitters with two on in the first.
He got some defensive help, too. With two on in the sixth, he struck out Jose Hernandez, but yielded a single to Casey Blake. Left fielder Jonny Gomes fielded the ball quickly and made a throw that was slightly up the first-base line, but in plenty of time for catcher Toby Hall to get back to the plate and tag out Travis Hafner trying to score from second.
Blake's hit broke Cleveland's 0-for-18 streak, including 0-for-7 against Kazmir, with runners in scoring position.
Blake, who left Saturday's game with a bruised right shoulder after being hit by a pitch from Seth McClung, started at first base for the first time since Sept. 23, 2003.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> The last time Cleveland lost 1-0 at home with the opponent scoring in its last at-bat was May 13, 1970, against Kansas City in a 12-inning loss. ... Hall of Famer Bob Feller, 86, threw out the first pitch as he was honored for his pitching career and service in World War II. All fans received a Feller figurine as they came through the gates. ... Indians C Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 12 games. ... Tampa Bay DH Jorge Cantu, who had three homers in the first two games of the series, went 2-for-4 Sunday and was 8-for-14 (.571) with six RBIs in the series. ... The last time Lee pitched eight innings also was against Tampa Bay, on Aug. 22, 2003.
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 14, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 14, 4:28 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Travis Lee thought he was lucky and Bob Wickman agreed -- to a point.
Lee connected for a pinch-hit homer off Wickman with one out in the ninth inning Sunday, sending the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 1-0 victory over the Indians and their first series sweep in Cleveland.
The Devil Rays had lost four straight when they arrived in Cleveland, where they were 7-21 all-time. But they completed their 12-game trip with a three-game sweep and hurt the Indians' wild-card chances.
``What a nice way to end this trip,'' Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. ``Our schedule is filled with teams that have postseason aspirations and hopefully we can ruin their plans.''
If not ruined, the Indians' blueprint for success certainly was altered. They entered the series on a six-game winning streak -- all on the road. But Cleveland, which is 11 games over .500 on the road, dropped to 27-30 at Jacobs Field.
``We've got to block that out and turn it around,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``The fire is there, but we just didn't finish off some opportunities.''
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr\" + \"ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.0.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=TYm7vNhtfvFyGpTRQv4jugp8Rauc9EL_x4AABn01&T=13ra3him0%2fX%3d1124059008%2fE%3d95861688%2fR%3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d2003045886%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d55776DD8');yzq_a('a', '&U=1396jaa0g%2fN%3dr8EdCNhtfYM-%2fC%3d360393.6835801.7848836.1806201%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d2896852');}</SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT>
Lee, batting for Eduardo Perez, worked the count to 3-2 against Wickman (0-4) before hitting his second pinch-hit homer of the season and extending his hitting streak to 11 games. It also was his team-record eighth pinch-hit this year in 14 opportunities. He has six homers overall.
``I'm not sure what's going on,'' Lee said. ``I'm just reacting and getting lucky. I was looking fastball and it was a slider. I hit it and thought, 'No way,' but got just enough of it to slide it over the wall.''
Wickman was surprised Lee hit his best pitch and that it went out, but said luck had little to do with the Devil Rays' sweep.
``I've thrown the slider on a 3-2 count for 13 years and everybody knows it,'' he said. ``I threw it for a strike and Travis Lee beat me. But he nearly popped it straight up, too.
``The thing that annoys me is nobody gives them credit. That team is no slouch. They have some good hitters, but people will blame us for losing.''
Starting left-handers Cliff Lee for Cleveland and Scott Kazmir for Tampa Bay were at their best with runners on base.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 14, 4:17 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Lee gave up six hits and one walk while striking out three in eight scoreless innings -- his longest outing in 24 starts this season.
``If you had told me that I'd go eight without giving up a run, I'd tell you I got a win,'' Lee said. ``It just didn't happen.''
Lee bounced back from a poor outing in Kansas City on Tuesday night, when he gave up eight hits and six runs in five innings of a no-decision. The Indians rallied to win 13-7 with an 11-run ninth.
This time, he stranded seven runners, including two apiece in the first and seventh.
Kazmir allowed six hits in six scoreless innings, striking out seven, including Cleveland's 3-4-5 hitters with two on in the first.
He got some defensive help, too. With two on in the sixth, he struck out Jose Hernandez, but yielded a single to Casey Blake. Left fielder Jonny Gomes fielded the ball quickly and made a throw that was slightly up the first-base line, but in plenty of time for catcher Toby Hall to get back to the plate and tag out Travis Hafner trying to score from second.
Blake's hit broke Cleveland's 0-for-18 streak, including 0-for-7 against Kazmir, with runners in scoring position.
Blake, who left Saturday's game with a bruised right shoulder after being hit by a pitch from Seth McClung, started at first base for the first time since Sept. 23, 2003.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> The last time Cleveland lost 1-0 at home with the opponent scoring in its last at-bat was May 13, 1970, against Kansas City in a 12-inning loss. ... Hall of Famer Bob Feller, 86, threw out the first pitch as he was honored for his pitching career and service in World War II. All fans received a Feller figurine as they came through the gates. ... Indians C Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 12 games. ... Tampa Bay DH Jorge Cantu, who had three homers in the first two games of the series, went 2-for-4 Sunday and was 8-for-14 (.571) with six RBIs in the series. ... The last time Lee pitched eight innings also was against Tampa Bay, on Aug. 22, 2003.
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Wickman either needs to retire today or be released, what a joke.
On the flipside, I gotta point out that I love my Tribe as much as my Buckeyes, but I LOVED that quote by Piniella about ruining teams postseason hopes. What a great attitude and approach to the game. The majority of these players in MLB are filthy rich beyond comprehension, yet when they get on the field its all about winning. Congrats to Tampa for coming to my hometown and kicking the shit out of my "lacklusters" who obviously don't have a manager like Lou to drive home the point about what the game is about.
EXTERMINATE THE KILLER "W'S" Wedge and Wickman
On the flipside, I gotta point out that I love my Tribe as much as my Buckeyes, but I LOVED that quote by Piniella about ruining teams postseason hopes. What a great attitude and approach to the game. The majority of these players in MLB are filthy rich beyond comprehension, yet when they get on the field its all about winning. Congrats to Tampa for coming to my hometown and kicking the shit out of my "lacklusters" who obviously don't have a manager like Lou to drive home the point about what the game is about.
EXTERMINATE THE KILLER "W'S" Wedge and Wickman
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 8, Texas 2</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>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 16, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 16, 9:28 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ronnie Belliard and Jhonny Peralta didn't listen and weren't talking.
Belliard hit a three-run double to snap a seventh-inning tie and Peralta homered twice and drove in three as the Cleveland Indians broke a three-game losing streak by handing the Texas Rangers their eighth straight loss, 8-2 on Tuesday night.
One day after Cleveland closer Bob Wickman expressed dismay that some of the Indians' position players often duck the media after games, neither Belliard nor Peralta was available for comment.
C.C. Sabathia (9-9), who won his third straight start as Cleveland rebounded from a three-game sweep at home by Tampa Bay, was talking. ``This was huge,'' said Sabathia, who allowed two runs and eight hits over seven innings. The left-hander was well aware the Indians needed a win to stay in the thick of the AL wild-card race after falling 4 1/2 games back.
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``The experience of last year, falling completely out of it, will help this year,'' Sabathia said.
A year ago, Cleveland got within one game of first place on Aug. 15, then lost nine straight.
Texas is 3-12 since a four-game winning streak July 27-30.
Belliard lined a 3-2 pitch to left-center off Kenny Rogers (11-6), who was making his second start since serving a 13-game suspension for shoving two cameramen.
``That was one of the best at-bats of the year,'' manager Eric Wedge said of Belliard, who had been 1-for-15 off Rogers in his career. ``He battled until he got a pitch he could drive and then didn't miss it.''
Travis Hafner opened the seventh with a sharply hit ball off second baseman Alfonso Soriano's glove that was ruled an error. Victor Martinez followed with a slow tapper toward third that Rogers came off the mound and grabbed. Without any chance of getting the runner, he threw to first anyway. Mark Teixeira scrambled 12 feet off the bag to keep the ball from going past for an error, holding Hafner at second.
Jose Hernandez put down a sacrifice bunt that Rogers fielded, but dropped for another error, loading the bases.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 16, 9:21 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``I don't think the game got away from Kenny,'' Texas manager Buck Showalter said. ``He pitched well enough to win. We just did some things and didn't help ourselves.''
Belliard's double made it 5-2. Grady Sizemore's sacrifice fly in the inning gave Cleveland a four-run lead.
One-out doubles by Michael Young and Teixeira put Texas ahead 1-0 in the first.
Peralta's 17th homer made it 2-1 in the bottom half, when the Indians thought they scored more.
After the two-run homer, Hafner walked and Martinez followed with a drive that appeared headed over the wall in center. Gary Matthews leaped and the ball disappeared from view, then suddenly appeared in his glove. Matthews threw back to the infield to double up Hafner.
``He would have to be a contortionist to make that catch,'' said Wedge, who argued with second base umpire Marvin Hudson. Television replays clearly showed Matthews trapped the ball after it caromed off the top of the fence. Martinez should have had an RBI double.
Young credited Matthews with an Oscar-worthy acting performance.
``I had a good view of it,'' the Rangers shortstop said. ``He made a great sell.''
Rogers then shut down the Indians until the seventh. He retired 17 of 18, including 12 straight after Jason Dubois' leadoff single in the third.
Rod Barajas hit the first pitch from Sabathia in the fifth for his 12th homer and a 2-2 tie.
Rogers, winless in three starts since July 16, gave up three earned runs and six hits over seven innings.
Peralta hit his 18th homer off Francisco Cordero in the eighth and Hernandez added an RBI single in the inning.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Indians 3B Aaron Boone was a late scratch because of a sore neck. ... Soriano has hit .344 (21-for-61) during a 15-game hitting streak. ... Sabathia is 6-2 in his career against Texas. ... Rogers fell to 13-14 all-time against Cleveland. ... Texas last lost eight straight in June 2003. ... Peralta's 18 homers are the most by an Indians shortstop since Woodie Held hit 18 in 1962. It was his first multihomer game. ... Belliard is batting .379 (22-for-58) with 57 RBIs in his career with the bases loaded.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 16, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 16, 9:28 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ronnie Belliard and Jhonny Peralta didn't listen and weren't talking.
Belliard hit a three-run double to snap a seventh-inning tie and Peralta homered twice and drove in three as the Cleveland Indians broke a three-game losing streak by handing the Texas Rangers their eighth straight loss, 8-2 on Tuesday night.
One day after Cleveland closer Bob Wickman expressed dismay that some of the Indians' position players often duck the media after games, neither Belliard nor Peralta was available for comment.
C.C. Sabathia (9-9), who won his third straight start as Cleveland rebounded from a three-game sweep at home by Tampa Bay, was talking. ``This was huge,'' said Sabathia, who allowed two runs and eight hits over seven innings. The left-hander was well aware the Indians needed a win to stay in the thick of the AL wild-card race after falling 4 1/2 games back.
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``The experience of last year, falling completely out of it, will help this year,'' Sabathia said.
A year ago, Cleveland got within one game of first place on Aug. 15, then lost nine straight.
Texas is 3-12 since a four-game winning streak July 27-30.
Belliard lined a 3-2 pitch to left-center off Kenny Rogers (11-6), who was making his second start since serving a 13-game suspension for shoving two cameramen.
``That was one of the best at-bats of the year,'' manager Eric Wedge said of Belliard, who had been 1-for-15 off Rogers in his career. ``He battled until he got a pitch he could drive and then didn't miss it.''
Travis Hafner opened the seventh with a sharply hit ball off second baseman Alfonso Soriano's glove that was ruled an error. Victor Martinez followed with a slow tapper toward third that Rogers came off the mound and grabbed. Without any chance of getting the runner, he threw to first anyway. Mark Teixeira scrambled 12 feet off the bag to keep the ball from going past for an error, holding Hafner at second.
Jose Hernandez put down a sacrifice bunt that Rogers fielded, but dropped for another error, loading the bases.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 16, 9:21 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``I don't think the game got away from Kenny,'' Texas manager Buck Showalter said. ``He pitched well enough to win. We just did some things and didn't help ourselves.''
Belliard's double made it 5-2. Grady Sizemore's sacrifice fly in the inning gave Cleveland a four-run lead.
One-out doubles by Michael Young and Teixeira put Texas ahead 1-0 in the first.
Peralta's 17th homer made it 2-1 in the bottom half, when the Indians thought they scored more.
After the two-run homer, Hafner walked and Martinez followed with a drive that appeared headed over the wall in center. Gary Matthews leaped and the ball disappeared from view, then suddenly appeared in his glove. Matthews threw back to the infield to double up Hafner.
``He would have to be a contortionist to make that catch,'' said Wedge, who argued with second base umpire Marvin Hudson. Television replays clearly showed Matthews trapped the ball after it caromed off the top of the fence. Martinez should have had an RBI double.
Young credited Matthews with an Oscar-worthy acting performance.
``I had a good view of it,'' the Rangers shortstop said. ``He made a great sell.''
Rogers then shut down the Indians until the seventh. He retired 17 of 18, including 12 straight after Jason Dubois' leadoff single in the third.
Rod Barajas hit the first pitch from Sabathia in the fifth for his 12th homer and a 2-2 tie.
Rogers, winless in three starts since July 16, gave up three earned runs and six hits over seven innings.
Peralta hit his 18th homer off Francisco Cordero in the eighth and Hernandez added an RBI single in the inning.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Indians 3B Aaron Boone was a late scratch because of a sore neck. ... Soriano has hit .344 (21-for-61) during a 15-game hitting streak. ... Sabathia is 6-2 in his career against Texas. ... Rogers fell to 13-14 all-time against Cleveland. ... Texas last lost eight straight in June 2003. ... Peralta's 18 homers are the most by an Indians shortstop since Woodie Held hit 18 in 1962. It was his first multihomer game. ... Belliard is batting .379 (22-for-58) with 57 RBIs in his career with the bases loaded.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Texas 3, Cleveland 0</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>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
August 17, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 17, 9:54 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- His fastball is more than adequate, and Chris Young is capable of blowing it by major league hitters. The Texas rookie's changeup, slider and curve are about average and need work.
But Young has a weapon that teams who haven't faced him can't prepare for.
``He's got something you can't teach,'' Rangers manager Buck Showalter said, ``and that's releasing the ball at a 6-foot, 10-inch angle.''
Young cut Cleveland's hitters down to size for eight shutout innings, allowing just two singles as the Rangers snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory Wednesday night. The 6-foot-10 Young, the tallest player in Rangers' history, was too much for the Indians, who only had videotape and scouting reports to go on before seeing the 26-year-old in person. They'll have to wait until next time to try and figure out Young (10-7). Cleveland didn't get a runner to third base off the right-hander, who walked one, struck out seven and retired 15 of the final 17 batters. Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 27th save.
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Since a shaky start in New York on Aug. 7, Young has been using bullpen sessions to work on keeping his fastball down.
``I had one goal,'' he said, ``to throw at their knees or lower.''
The Indians, who were shut out for the fifth time at home this season, didn't do much more than flail weakly at Young's pitches.
``We had trouble picking the ball up a little,'' Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. ``He's a big guy. He's a little bit sneaky. He hides the ball and has a little hitch in his delivery.''
Michael Young hit a two-run homer in the first off Cleveland's Kevin Millwood (6-10) and Phil Nevin connected for a solo shot in the fourth as the Rangers ended a nine-game road losing streak dating to July 30.
Texas improved to 11-22 since the All-Star break, a slide that has all but taken the Rangers out of playoff contention.
``We went through a tough stretch and even though we got one win, it's not over,'' Michael Young said. ``Hopefully, this is a good start.''
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 17, 9:49 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Indians, meanwhile, failed to gain ground on AL wild-card leading Oakland, which lost to Baltimore. Cleveland stayed three games behind the Athletics with its fourth loss in five games and second shutout in three.
And once again, Millwood was on the wrong end of a tough loss. The right-hander's record doesn't come close to showing how well he has pitched in his first season for Cleveland. He gave up four hits, but his only two bad pitches cost him dearly.
The Indians have averaged 3.0 runs in Millwood's 22 starts and have been shut out four times in his last nine outings.
``I don't know what it is,'' Millwood said. ``It's one of those things. There's nothing I can do about it. Whatever happens, happens. As long as I can give my team a chance to win, I've done my job.''
Young allowed one hit -- Coco Crisp's two-out single in the third -- through the first six innings and retired 10 straight before Travis Hafner led off the seventh with a single.
However, Young got Victor Martinez to fly to right, struck out Jeff Liefer and retired Ronnie Belliard on a fly to left.
Cleveland's best threat came in the first when Young put two runners on without giving up a hit. He plunked Jhonny Peralta in the upper leg with two outs and walked Hafner before striking out Martinez.
``He was throwing his fastball and changeup,'' Cleveland's Casey Blake said. ``He was using two pitches and he pitched a two-hitter. I hate to make excuses, but I think if you asked everyone in here, we all got one or two pitches to hit, but we didn't do anything with them.''
Millwood found himself in a familiar hole in the first. After walking leadoff hitter David Dellucci, he hung a 3-1 pitch to Young, whose 18th homer put the Rangers ahead 2-0.
Nevin hit his second homer since coming to Texas in a July 30 trade from San Diego in the second to make it 3-0.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Young is the eighth Texas rookie to win 10 games in a season. ... The Rangers have 199 homers. ... The Indians have lost five of six at home. ... On Tuesday night, Rangers 2B Alfonso Soriano batted cleanup for the first time in 759 career games. The only other time he appeared on a lineup card in the No. 4 hole was when he pinch ran for the New York Yankees in 1999 against Tampa Bay. Soriano's hitting streak was stopped at 15. ... The Indians' 64-55 record after 119 games was better than the club's mark in 2000 (63-56) when their lineup featured All-Stars Kenny Lofton, Roberto Alomar Jr., Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. ... Rangers OF Kevin Mench was a late scratch from the starting lineup with back spasms. He was replaced by Mark DeRosa.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
August 17, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 17, 9:54 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- His fastball is more than adequate, and Chris Young is capable of blowing it by major league hitters. The Texas rookie's changeup, slider and curve are about average and need work.
But Young has a weapon that teams who haven't faced him can't prepare for.
``He's got something you can't teach,'' Rangers manager Buck Showalter said, ``and that's releasing the ball at a 6-foot, 10-inch angle.''
Young cut Cleveland's hitters down to size for eight shutout innings, allowing just two singles as the Rangers snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory Wednesday night. The 6-foot-10 Young, the tallest player in Rangers' history, was too much for the Indians, who only had videotape and scouting reports to go on before seeing the 26-year-old in person. They'll have to wait until next time to try and figure out Young (10-7). Cleveland didn't get a runner to third base off the right-hander, who walked one, struck out seven and retired 15 of the final 17 batters. Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 27th save.
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Since a shaky start in New York on Aug. 7, Young has been using bullpen sessions to work on keeping his fastball down.
``I had one goal,'' he said, ``to throw at their knees or lower.''
The Indians, who were shut out for the fifth time at home this season, didn't do much more than flail weakly at Young's pitches.
``We had trouble picking the ball up a little,'' Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. ``He's a big guy. He's a little bit sneaky. He hides the ball and has a little hitch in his delivery.''
Michael Young hit a two-run homer in the first off Cleveland's Kevin Millwood (6-10) and Phil Nevin connected for a solo shot in the fourth as the Rangers ended a nine-game road losing streak dating to July 30.
Texas improved to 11-22 since the All-Star break, a slide that has all but taken the Rangers out of playoff contention.
``We went through a tough stretch and even though we got one win, it's not over,'' Michael Young said. ``Hopefully, this is a good start.''
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 17, 9:49 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Indians, meanwhile, failed to gain ground on AL wild-card leading Oakland, which lost to Baltimore. Cleveland stayed three games behind the Athletics with its fourth loss in five games and second shutout in three.
And once again, Millwood was on the wrong end of a tough loss. The right-hander's record doesn't come close to showing how well he has pitched in his first season for Cleveland. He gave up four hits, but his only two bad pitches cost him dearly.
The Indians have averaged 3.0 runs in Millwood's 22 starts and have been shut out four times in his last nine outings.
``I don't know what it is,'' Millwood said. ``It's one of those things. There's nothing I can do about it. Whatever happens, happens. As long as I can give my team a chance to win, I've done my job.''
Young allowed one hit -- Coco Crisp's two-out single in the third -- through the first six innings and retired 10 straight before Travis Hafner led off the seventh with a single.
However, Young got Victor Martinez to fly to right, struck out Jeff Liefer and retired Ronnie Belliard on a fly to left.
Cleveland's best threat came in the first when Young put two runners on without giving up a hit. He plunked Jhonny Peralta in the upper leg with two outs and walked Hafner before striking out Martinez.
``He was throwing his fastball and changeup,'' Cleveland's Casey Blake said. ``He was using two pitches and he pitched a two-hitter. I hate to make excuses, but I think if you asked everyone in here, we all got one or two pitches to hit, but we didn't do anything with them.''
Millwood found himself in a familiar hole in the first. After walking leadoff hitter David Dellucci, he hung a 3-1 pitch to Young, whose 18th homer put the Rangers ahead 2-0.
Nevin hit his second homer since coming to Texas in a July 30 trade from San Diego in the second to make it 3-0.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Young is the eighth Texas rookie to win 10 games in a season. ... The Rangers have 199 homers. ... The Indians have lost five of six at home. ... On Tuesday night, Rangers 2B Alfonso Soriano batted cleanup for the first time in 759 career games. The only other time he appeared on a lineup card in the No. 4 hole was when he pinch ran for the New York Yankees in 1999 against Tampa Bay. Soriano's hitting streak was stopped at 15. ... The Indians' 64-55 record after 119 games was better than the club's mark in 2000 (63-56) when their lineup featured All-Stars Kenny Lofton, Roberto Alomar Jr., Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. ... Rangers OF Kevin Mench was a late scratch from the starting lineup with back spasms. He was replaced by Mark DeRosa.
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0
scarletandgrey
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!
I hope they pick it up a little over the next couple of days. Oakland's not going to go quietly
Upvote
0
OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 9, Texas 4</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 18, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 18, 4:22 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jake Westbrook made his best pitch at precisely the right time.
Westbrook got a key double play with the bases loaded to protect a one-run lead, winning for fifth time in six starts as the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 9-4 Thursday to move closer in the AL wild-card race.
Jhonny Peralta had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Indians pulled within 2 1/2 games of idle Oakland. Coco Crisp and Travis Hafner each drove in two runs.
``The double play was key -- that and our offense coming up huge,'' said Westbrook (11-13). The first four hitters in the Indians' lineup went a combined 11-for-19 with seven runs and seven RBIs as Cleveland won for the second time in six games at Jacobs Field after completing a 6-0 trip to Detroit and Kansas City. Texas lost for the eighth time in nine games -- all on the road.
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Indians second baseman Ronnie Belliard left with a strained neck after running headlong into umpire Eric Cooper's left hip while chasing a groundball in the sixth. Belliard was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays, which were negative.
``Ronnie's a tough guy, but we didn't want to take any chances there,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``Hopefully, he'll be fine.''
Justin Thompson pitched the eighth for Texas in his first major league appearance since Aug. 15, 1999. An All-Star in 1997 with Detroit and now 32, he's spent the past six years in the minors trying to recover from four operations on his left arm.
Thompson gave up Peralta's two-run homer, his 19th.
``I had a lot of nerves going through my body,'' Thompson said. ``Once I got on the mound, I felt calm and went after the hitters. I just didn't make a quality pitch to Peralta, but it felt great to be out there. It's been a long road and here I am back doing what I love to do.''
Westbrook allowed four runs and 10 hits over six innings to improve to 9-4 in 13 starts since June 14. He finished his outing by getting Mark DeRosa to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded, preserving a 5-4 lead.
``I just thought, 'This is what you do, get ground balls,''' Westbrook said. ``Here and there, I felt good. I battled, the defense was great and our bullpen did what they always do.''
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 18, 4:21 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The inning began when Alfonso Soriano grounded a single up the middle. Belliard and Cooper collided, and they both went tumbling to the ground.
One out later, Sandy Alomar Jr. doubled and then Westbrook walked Adrian Gonzalez.
``He was a lefty and I worked carefully knowing that if I put him on, a right-hander was up next,'' said Westbrook. ``It all worked out.''
Four Indians relievers combined to pitch three hitless innings. Bob Howry got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth by getting Alomar to hit into a double play and ninth and David Riske worked the ninth.
Mark Teixeira drove in two runs for Texas. Michael Young had an RBI double and DeRosa singled home a run.
Crisp's two-run double gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the third inning against C.J. Wilson (0-6). Hafner and Belliard added RBI doubles later in the inning to make it 5-2.
Wilson, a rookie left-hander in his 11th career game in the majors, gave up five runs and seven hits over 2 2-3 innings. He is 0-11 overall this season, including 16 games in the minors.
``I lost again. That's the bottom line,'' said Wilson, who missed all of 2004 after having Tommy John surgery and has not won a professional game since July 9, 2003, for Double-A Frisco of the Texas League.
``Some might guys might lose their confidence,'' he said. ``I don't. I get frustrated. All I want to do is pitch well. They've shown a lot of faith in me and I want to reward them.''
Young doubled home a run and scored on a single by Teixeira in the fifth to bring Texas within 5-4.
Hafner had an RBI double and Jose Hernandez drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to make it 7-4 in the seventh.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Thompson made his first relief appearance in the majors. He's made 101 starts. ... Nine Rangers have hit 10 or more homers. That leads the majors, one more than Cleveland. ... Texas has lost 27 of its last 42 on the road. ... Hernandez went 0-for-3 and is in a 3-for-30 slump. ... Hafner, who came back Aug. 4 after missing 17 games with a concussion, has hit in 13 of 14 games, going 16-for-50 (.320).
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 18, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 18, 4:22 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jake Westbrook made his best pitch at precisely the right time.
Westbrook got a key double play with the bases loaded to protect a one-run lead, winning for fifth time in six starts as the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 9-4 Thursday to move closer in the AL wild-card race.
Jhonny Peralta had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Indians pulled within 2 1/2 games of idle Oakland. Coco Crisp and Travis Hafner each drove in two runs.
``The double play was key -- that and our offense coming up huge,'' said Westbrook (11-13). The first four hitters in the Indians' lineup went a combined 11-for-19 with seven runs and seven RBIs as Cleveland won for the second time in six games at Jacobs Field after completing a 6-0 trip to Detroit and Kansas City. Texas lost for the eighth time in nine games -- all on the road.
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Indians second baseman Ronnie Belliard left with a strained neck after running headlong into umpire Eric Cooper's left hip while chasing a groundball in the sixth. Belliard was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays, which were negative.
``Ronnie's a tough guy, but we didn't want to take any chances there,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``Hopefully, he'll be fine.''
Justin Thompson pitched the eighth for Texas in his first major league appearance since Aug. 15, 1999. An All-Star in 1997 with Detroit and now 32, he's spent the past six years in the minors trying to recover from four operations on his left arm.
Thompson gave up Peralta's two-run homer, his 19th.
``I had a lot of nerves going through my body,'' Thompson said. ``Once I got on the mound, I felt calm and went after the hitters. I just didn't make a quality pitch to Peralta, but it felt great to be out there. It's been a long road and here I am back doing what I love to do.''
Westbrook allowed four runs and 10 hits over six innings to improve to 9-4 in 13 starts since June 14. He finished his outing by getting Mark DeRosa to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded, preserving a 5-4 lead.
``I just thought, 'This is what you do, get ground balls,''' Westbrook said. ``Here and there, I felt good. I battled, the defense was great and our bullpen did what they always do.''
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 18, 4:21 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The inning began when Alfonso Soriano grounded a single up the middle. Belliard and Cooper collided, and they both went tumbling to the ground.
One out later, Sandy Alomar Jr. doubled and then Westbrook walked Adrian Gonzalez.
``He was a lefty and I worked carefully knowing that if I put him on, a right-hander was up next,'' said Westbrook. ``It all worked out.''
Four Indians relievers combined to pitch three hitless innings. Bob Howry got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth by getting Alomar to hit into a double play and ninth and David Riske worked the ninth.
Mark Teixeira drove in two runs for Texas. Michael Young had an RBI double and DeRosa singled home a run.
Crisp's two-run double gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the third inning against C.J. Wilson (0-6). Hafner and Belliard added RBI doubles later in the inning to make it 5-2.
Wilson, a rookie left-hander in his 11th career game in the majors, gave up five runs and seven hits over 2 2-3 innings. He is 0-11 overall this season, including 16 games in the minors.
``I lost again. That's the bottom line,'' said Wilson, who missed all of 2004 after having Tommy John surgery and has not won a professional game since July 9, 2003, for Double-A Frisco of the Texas League.
``Some might guys might lose their confidence,'' he said. ``I don't. I get frustrated. All I want to do is pitch well. They've shown a lot of faith in me and I want to reward them.''
Young doubled home a run and scored on a single by Teixeira in the fifth to bring Texas within 5-4.
Hafner had an RBI double and Jose Hernandez drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to make it 7-4 in the seventh.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Thompson made his first relief appearance in the majors. He's made 101 starts. ... Nine Rangers have hit 10 or more homers. That leads the majors, one more than Cleveland. ... Texas has lost 27 of its last 42 on the road. ... Hernandez went 0-for-3 and is in a 3-for-30 slump. ... Hafner, who came back Aug. 4 after missing 17 games with a concussion, has hit in 13 of 14 games, going 16-for-50 (.320).
Upvote
0
AmeriBuck007
Honey, Frank the Tank is not coming back
About time Broussard comes up big. Walk off homerun to win it 5-4 in the 10th..
Upvote
0
OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 5, Baltimore 4, 10 innings</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
August 19, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 19, 10:57 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- One swing, and Ben Broussard left to sing.
Broussard homered leading off the 10th inning as the Cleveland Indians kept pace in the AL wild-card chase by rallying for a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Broussard's homer off Steve Kline (2-4) not only gave the Indians a crucial win, but it ended a personal slump for the struggling first baseman who was scheduled to perform after the game at the House of Blues to promote his self-titled CD.
It's unlikely he'd hit a note in his concert as high as the one he delivered at Jacobs Field. ``It was meant to be or something,'' Broussard said. So, it seemed, was Cleveland's comeback. The Indians trailed 4-1 in the eighth, and were on their way to another loss at home before Casey Blake hit a tying, three-run homer off Todd Williams.
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After connecting for his 12th home run, Broussard, who came in batting .217 in his last 30 games and had been benched by manager Eric Wedge, pumped his fists as he rounded the bases. He was mobbed at home plate by his teammates, who pounded him on the head all the way back to the dugout.
Once there, Broussard nearly did a little damage of his own, banging the wall in excitement before heading to the clubhouse.
``That was a big load off my shoulders,'' Broussard said. ``I'm kind of a mellow person, but I was pretty fired up. That was a huge win for us. I've been working hard. I've got the blisters to prove it.''
As he dressed afterward, Blake looked at Broussard and shook his head.
``Unbelievable, Benny,'' Blake said.
``The Killer Bs,'' said Broussard.
The Indians, who entered the weekend 2 1/2 games behind Oakland for the wild-card lead, are 14-6 since July 28.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 19, 10:53 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Aaron Boone also homered for Cleveland.
Rookie Francisco Cabrera (1-0) allowed one hit in 2 1-3 innings for his first major league win.
The Orioles have lost 24 of their last 34 road games, and Kline was willing to accept the blame for this one.
``The team played hard and I went out and stunk it up on three pitches,'' Kline said. ``The team fought hard for a win, and I cost us.''
After giving up three runs in the eighth, the Indians came back and tied it when Blake snapped an 0-for-10 slump by connecting for his 15th -- and most important -- homer this season.
Baltimore starter Eric Bedard entered the inning with a three-hitter, but left after giving up singles to Jose Hernandez and Boone. Williams quickly got ahead 1-2 in the count, but Blake battled back and drove a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left.
``I tried to keep it down to get a groundball,'' Williams said. ``He reacted, and did his job.''
Helped by left fielder Coco Crisp's error, the Orioles, who were held in check for seven innings by Indians starter Scott Elarton, scored three runs in the eighth to go ahead 4-1.
Elarton deserved a better fate than a no-decision. The right-hander gave up one run and three hits in seven innings, leaving after 94 pitches and the score tied 1-1. He walked one and struck out six.
And for the first time in 11 starts, he didn't give up a homer. Elarton tied the club record held by Sonny Siebert, who gave up a homer in 10 straight games in 1967.
Boone, who missed the previous three games with a stiff neck, tied it at 1 in the fifth with his 11th homer.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Miguel Tejada's RBI single.
Rafael Palmeiro was not in Baltimore's lineup for the second straight game, sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Palmeiro injured himself on an infield single Tuesday in Oakland and has played only twice since coming back from a 10-day steroid suspension.
A tender ankle was the latest complication for Palmeiro, who can only hope to repair a tarnished reputation.
``Everything has been hard,'' he said. ``It's something that I would have never, ever expected. It kind of came out of nowhere and when it happened, I wasn't prepared for it.''
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Kline made his first appearance at Jacobs Field since May 8, 1997, when he was with the Indians. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard sat out with a sprained neck and shoulder he hurt in a collision with second-base umpire Eric Cooper on Thursday. Hernandez made his first start of the season at second. ... Sign of the times: On the lineup board in the media dining room, Baltimore's No. 7 hitter was listed as Sammy Soso. He's batting .108 (4-for-37) in his past 10 games. ... Baltimore pitchers have given up 45 homers in 28 games.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
August 19, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 19, 10:57 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- One swing, and Ben Broussard left to sing.
Broussard homered leading off the 10th inning as the Cleveland Indians kept pace in the AL wild-card chase by rallying for a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Broussard's homer off Steve Kline (2-4) not only gave the Indians a crucial win, but it ended a personal slump for the struggling first baseman who was scheduled to perform after the game at the House of Blues to promote his self-titled CD.
It's unlikely he'd hit a note in his concert as high as the one he delivered at Jacobs Field. ``It was meant to be or something,'' Broussard said. So, it seemed, was Cleveland's comeback. The Indians trailed 4-1 in the eighth, and were on their way to another loss at home before Casey Blake hit a tying, three-run homer off Todd Williams.
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After connecting for his 12th home run, Broussard, who came in batting .217 in his last 30 games and had been benched by manager Eric Wedge, pumped his fists as he rounded the bases. He was mobbed at home plate by his teammates, who pounded him on the head all the way back to the dugout.
Once there, Broussard nearly did a little damage of his own, banging the wall in excitement before heading to the clubhouse.
``That was a big load off my shoulders,'' Broussard said. ``I'm kind of a mellow person, but I was pretty fired up. That was a huge win for us. I've been working hard. I've got the blisters to prove it.''
As he dressed afterward, Blake looked at Broussard and shook his head.
``Unbelievable, Benny,'' Blake said.
``The Killer Bs,'' said Broussard.
The Indians, who entered the weekend 2 1/2 games behind Oakland for the wild-card lead, are 14-6 since July 28.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 19, 10:53 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Aaron Boone also homered for Cleveland.
Rookie Francisco Cabrera (1-0) allowed one hit in 2 1-3 innings for his first major league win.
The Orioles have lost 24 of their last 34 road games, and Kline was willing to accept the blame for this one.
``The team played hard and I went out and stunk it up on three pitches,'' Kline said. ``The team fought hard for a win, and I cost us.''
After giving up three runs in the eighth, the Indians came back and tied it when Blake snapped an 0-for-10 slump by connecting for his 15th -- and most important -- homer this season.
Baltimore starter Eric Bedard entered the inning with a three-hitter, but left after giving up singles to Jose Hernandez and Boone. Williams quickly got ahead 1-2 in the count, but Blake battled back and drove a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left.
``I tried to keep it down to get a groundball,'' Williams said. ``He reacted, and did his job.''
Helped by left fielder Coco Crisp's error, the Orioles, who were held in check for seven innings by Indians starter Scott Elarton, scored three runs in the eighth to go ahead 4-1.
Elarton deserved a better fate than a no-decision. The right-hander gave up one run and three hits in seven innings, leaving after 94 pitches and the score tied 1-1. He walked one and struck out six.
And for the first time in 11 starts, he didn't give up a homer. Elarton tied the club record held by Sonny Siebert, who gave up a homer in 10 straight games in 1967.
Boone, who missed the previous three games with a stiff neck, tied it at 1 in the fifth with his 11th homer.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Miguel Tejada's RBI single.
Rafael Palmeiro was not in Baltimore's lineup for the second straight game, sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Palmeiro injured himself on an infield single Tuesday in Oakland and has played only twice since coming back from a 10-day steroid suspension.
A tender ankle was the latest complication for Palmeiro, who can only hope to repair a tarnished reputation.
``Everything has been hard,'' he said. ``It's something that I would have never, ever expected. It kind of came out of nowhere and when it happened, I wasn't prepared for it.''
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Kline made his first appearance at Jacobs Field since May 8, 1997, when he was with the Indians. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard sat out with a sprained neck and shoulder he hurt in a collision with second-base umpire Eric Cooper on Thursday. Hernandez made his first start of the season at second. ... Sign of the times: On the lineup board in the media dining room, Baltimore's No. 7 hitter was listed as Sammy Soso. He's batting .108 (4-for-37) in his past 10 games. ... Baltimore pitchers have given up 45 homers in 28 games.
Upvote
0
AmeriBuck007
Honey, Frank the Tank is not coming back
Another win tonight 6-1.... Only 1.5 and 8.5 back now.
Upvote
0
OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 6, Baltimore 1</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
August 20, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 20, 10:42 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Soon, the Cleveland Indians could be looking at the division standings again.
Cliff Lee remained unbeaten since July 8, pitching seven superb innings as the Indians stayed with rest of the AL wild-card pack by beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Saturday night.
Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez each hit a two-run homer off Rodrigo Lopez (12-7) for the Indians, who came in trailing wild-card pacesetter Oakland by 2 1/2 games. Cleveland (67-56), which is 11 games over .500 for the second time, is 8 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago -- the closest the Indians have been since June 19.
Suddenly, a division crown that seemed impossible is at least worth talking about.
``We just want to keep plowing, man,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``We just need to keep going. They know they control their own destiny.''
Lee (13-4), who has lost just once since June 1 (a span of 14 starts), allowed one run and four hits, but only two after the first inning. The left-hander hasn't lost in his last seven starts, going 4-0.
Although the Indians have gained ground on the White Sox, Lee isn't so sure they're within striking distance.
``Honestly,'' he said, ``it's going to be pretty hard to catch them. They are going to really have to fall apart. A more realistic goal for us is the wild card and as long as we keep winning, I think we're in.''
The Orioles made four errors and bobbled several other balls, perhaps still feeling the effects of a 5-4 loss in 10 innings on Friday. Interim manager Sam Perlozzo wasn't upset by his team's shoddy effort.
``I don't concern myself too much with the errors,'' he said. ``We've been playing good fundamentally lately. Errors are going to happen.''
In his first full season in the majors, Lee went 10-1 in the first half of 2004 before tiring and falling apart. The lefty had an 0-3 record in August but bounced back to finish 14-8 -- respectable, just not what it could have been.
This season, though, Lee has been steady since opening day with only a few no-decisions tarnishing an otherwise spotless resume. Last Sunday, he pitched eight shutout innings but came away with nothing in a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay.
Lee gave up two singles and a run in the first, and then nothing until the sixth as he retired 13 of 14. The one batter who did reach, Brian Roberts, was thrown out trying to steal second.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 20, 10:37 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Lee also got help from right fielder Casey Blake, who made a leaping catch at the wall in the first to rob Miguel Tejada, and third baseman Aaron Boone, who went up to snare a line drive by Javy Lopez in the seventh.
``I thought it was gone,'' Lee said of Tejada's shot. ``After that, I felt like things were going to go my way.''
Hafner's 19th homer, his first in 76 at-bats, gave the Indians a 3-1 lead in the first. It was the first homer for Cleveland's designated hitter since he returned from the disabled list on Aug. 3, almost one month after he was struck in the face with a pitch by Chicago's Mark Buehrle.
Grady Sizemore led off with a double and moved up one out later when Rodrigo Lopez fired a pickoff attempt into center field for an error. Jhonny Peralta followed by ripping an RBI double inside the bag at third.
Hafner, who battled headaches and dizziness following the beaning, then hit a high shot into the lower seats in right.
The Indians, who let Rodrigo Lopez off the hook by blowing other early scoring changes, finally strung some hits together in the fifth to score three runs and go up 6-1.
Peralta reached on third baseman Melvin Mora's throwing error, and after Hafner just missed hitting his second homer of the night, Martinez connected for his 15th this season to make it 5-1.
Ben Broussard blooped a broken-bat double to right, and Aaron Boone followed with a soft RBI single.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on Mora's RBI single.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Indians OF Coco Crisp went 0-for-5 and stranded eight. ... Lopez won his three previous starts. ... Baltimore is 3-20 in its last 23 games at Jacobs Field. ... Orioles 1B-DH Rafael Palmeiro sat out his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle. Palmeiro is unlikely to play again until Tuesday, when Baltimore opens a seven-game homestand. ... The start was delayed 57 minutes by rain. ... Roberts set an Orioles record with 10 steals in April and has 24 this season, but only eight in his last 77 games. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard missed his second game in a row with a strained neck and shoulder, sustained when he crashed into an umpire on Thursday.
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
August 20, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 20, 10:42 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Soon, the Cleveland Indians could be looking at the division standings again.
Cliff Lee remained unbeaten since July 8, pitching seven superb innings as the Indians stayed with rest of the AL wild-card pack by beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Saturday night.
Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez each hit a two-run homer off Rodrigo Lopez (12-7) for the Indians, who came in trailing wild-card pacesetter Oakland by 2 1/2 games. Cleveland (67-56), which is 11 games over .500 for the second time, is 8 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago -- the closest the Indians have been since June 19.
Suddenly, a division crown that seemed impossible is at least worth talking about.
``We just want to keep plowing, man,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``We just need to keep going. They know they control their own destiny.''
Lee (13-4), who has lost just once since June 1 (a span of 14 starts), allowed one run and four hits, but only two after the first inning. The left-hander hasn't lost in his last seven starts, going 4-0.
Although the Indians have gained ground on the White Sox, Lee isn't so sure they're within striking distance.
``Honestly,'' he said, ``it's going to be pretty hard to catch them. They are going to really have to fall apart. A more realistic goal for us is the wild card and as long as we keep winning, I think we're in.''
The Orioles made four errors and bobbled several other balls, perhaps still feeling the effects of a 5-4 loss in 10 innings on Friday. Interim manager Sam Perlozzo wasn't upset by his team's shoddy effort.
``I don't concern myself too much with the errors,'' he said. ``We've been playing good fundamentally lately. Errors are going to happen.''
In his first full season in the majors, Lee went 10-1 in the first half of 2004 before tiring and falling apart. The lefty had an 0-3 record in August but bounced back to finish 14-8 -- respectable, just not what it could have been.
This season, though, Lee has been steady since opening day with only a few no-decisions tarnishing an otherwise spotless resume. Last Sunday, he pitched eight shutout innings but came away with nothing in a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay.
Lee gave up two singles and a run in the first, and then nothing until the sixth as he retired 13 of 14. The one batter who did reach, Brian Roberts, was thrown out trying to steal second.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 20, 10:37 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Lee also got help from right fielder Casey Blake, who made a leaping catch at the wall in the first to rob Miguel Tejada, and third baseman Aaron Boone, who went up to snare a line drive by Javy Lopez in the seventh.
``I thought it was gone,'' Lee said of Tejada's shot. ``After that, I felt like things were going to go my way.''
Hafner's 19th homer, his first in 76 at-bats, gave the Indians a 3-1 lead in the first. It was the first homer for Cleveland's designated hitter since he returned from the disabled list on Aug. 3, almost one month after he was struck in the face with a pitch by Chicago's Mark Buehrle.
Grady Sizemore led off with a double and moved up one out later when Rodrigo Lopez fired a pickoff attempt into center field for an error. Jhonny Peralta followed by ripping an RBI double inside the bag at third.
Hafner, who battled headaches and dizziness following the beaning, then hit a high shot into the lower seats in right.
The Indians, who let Rodrigo Lopez off the hook by blowing other early scoring changes, finally strung some hits together in the fifth to score three runs and go up 6-1.
Peralta reached on third baseman Melvin Mora's throwing error, and after Hafner just missed hitting his second homer of the night, Martinez connected for his 15th this season to make it 5-1.
Ben Broussard blooped a broken-bat double to right, and Aaron Boone followed with a soft RBI single.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on Mora's RBI single.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Indians OF Coco Crisp went 0-for-5 and stranded eight. ... Lopez won his three previous starts. ... Baltimore is 3-20 in its last 23 games at Jacobs Field. ... Orioles 1B-DH Rafael Palmeiro sat out his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle. Palmeiro is unlikely to play again until Tuesday, when Baltimore opens a seven-game homestand. ... The start was delayed 57 minutes by rain. ... Roberts set an Orioles record with 10 steals in April and has 24 this season, but only eight in his last 77 games. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard missed his second game in a row with a strained neck and shoulder, sustained when he crashed into an umpire on Thursday.
<TABLE cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 vspace="5" hspace="10"><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Never Forget 31-0
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 5, Baltimore 1</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 21, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 21, 4:26 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- The only numbers Travis Hafner is concerned with are the ones in Cleveland's win column.
Hafner drove in four runs to help C.C. Sabathia win his fourth straight start, and the Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-1 victory Sunday.
The Indians, who began play 1 1/2 games behind Oakland in the AL wild-card race, won their fourth straight and fifth in six games to move a season-high 12 games over .500.
``All we want to do is win,'' Hafner said after getting three hits. ``If we win, we make up ground in the wild card and the division. All I care about is getting to the playoffs any way possible.'' Though Cleveland has trimmed 6 1/2 games off a 15-game deficit to AL Central leader Chicago since July 25, Hafner doesn't quite consider it a race with the White Sox -- yet. ``If you get it under five, that's realistic,'' he said. ``Time will tell over the next month how much we have learned.''
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The skidding Orioles, who had playoff hopes in the first half, fell to 13-23 since the All-Star break and lost for the 26th time in 36 road games -- despite opening a six-game trip with a three-game sweep in Oakland.
``I'm disappointed,'' said Sam Perlozzo, who is 9-7 as interim manager. ``I didn't expect to come in here and get swept.''
Sabathia (10-9) improved to 4-0 in August after losing his last five starts in July.
``I've felt good all year, but I've been more in control lately,'' Sabathia said. ``I feel a huge difference.''
The left-hander gave up one run and three hits in eight innings, punctuating his performance by getting Eric Byrnes to hit his final pitch for a double play.
``Yeah, I'm pumped,'' Sabathia said. ``We're pretty close in the wild card and creeping up on the White Sox.''
Cleveland broke a 1-all tie in the sixth and extended the lead when Hafner's two-run double capped a three-run seventh.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 21, 4:17 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Jhonny Peralta began the sixth with a soft liner to left-center off the glove of left fielder Byrnes, who was brushed by center fielder Luis Matos as he tried for the catch. Matos was charged with an error -- one of six by Baltimore in the last two games -- for causing the bobble.
``At the last second, I heard Luis call for it,'' Byrnes said. ``It's tough to get out of the way, but that's my job. I screwed up.''
Hafner lined a single to left and Peralta slid home ahead of Byrnes' throw for a 2-1 lead.
Coco Crisp made it 3-1 in the seventh with a sacrifice fly off reliever Tim Byrdak. After Peralta walked, Hafner lined a shot inches fair down the right-field line for two more runs. Two wild pitches by Byrdak, one that allowed Grady Sizemore to reach base on a strikeout, fueled the rally.
Hafner put Cleveland ahead 1-0 with an RBI double in the first off Bruce Chen (10-7), who lost for the first time in four starts in August.
``I thought it was a homer,'' Hafner said of the drive that hit the top of the left-field wall. ``I still do, but the umpires said no.''
Baltimore tied it in the fifth. Alejandro Freire was hit in the left foot by a pitch, bunted to second by Matos, took third on a single to left by Chris Gomez, and scored on a groundout by Brian Roberts.
Sabathia worked out of an odd third inning in which Baltimore put three runners on without hitting the ball hard -- which might have unnerved the 25-year-old lefty and led to a big inning when he struggled in July.
Matos reached when his grounder went off shortstop Peralta's glove for an error. One out later, Matos took off for second, but Sabathia stepped off the mound and ran directly at the runner to start a textbook rundown sequence that emptied the bases.
Roberts walked, stole second, and went to third when Byrnes beat out a grounder to Peralta for the Orioles' first hit. Sabathia, however, got Melvin Mora to line to left to end the threat.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Hafner hit .353 (12-for-34) with 10 RBIs, six doubles and one homer during a nine-game homestand. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard returned after missing two games with a sore neck, the result of a collision with umpire Eric Cooper on Thursday. ... Orioles 1B-DH Rafael Palmeiro sat out his fifth straight game with a sprained right ankle. ... Crisp, who stranded eight runners Saturday night, struck out with the bases loaded to end the second and hit into a double play to end the fifth. ... Byrnes has hit .081 (3-for-37) over his last 10 games.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 21, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 21, 4:26 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- The only numbers Travis Hafner is concerned with are the ones in Cleveland's win column.
Hafner drove in four runs to help C.C. Sabathia win his fourth straight start, and the Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-1 victory Sunday.
The Indians, who began play 1 1/2 games behind Oakland in the AL wild-card race, won their fourth straight and fifth in six games to move a season-high 12 games over .500.
``All we want to do is win,'' Hafner said after getting three hits. ``If we win, we make up ground in the wild card and the division. All I care about is getting to the playoffs any way possible.'' Though Cleveland has trimmed 6 1/2 games off a 15-game deficit to AL Central leader Chicago since July 25, Hafner doesn't quite consider it a race with the White Sox -- yet. ``If you get it under five, that's realistic,'' he said. ``Time will tell over the next month how much we have learned.''
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The skidding Orioles, who had playoff hopes in the first half, fell to 13-23 since the All-Star break and lost for the 26th time in 36 road games -- despite opening a six-game trip with a three-game sweep in Oakland.
``I'm disappointed,'' said Sam Perlozzo, who is 9-7 as interim manager. ``I didn't expect to come in here and get swept.''
Sabathia (10-9) improved to 4-0 in August after losing his last five starts in July.
``I've felt good all year, but I've been more in control lately,'' Sabathia said. ``I feel a huge difference.''
The left-hander gave up one run and three hits in eight innings, punctuating his performance by getting Eric Byrnes to hit his final pitch for a double play.
``Yeah, I'm pumped,'' Sabathia said. ``We're pretty close in the wild card and creeping up on the White Sox.''
Cleveland broke a 1-all tie in the sixth and extended the lead when Hafner's two-run double capped a three-run seventh.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Aug 21, 4:17 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Jhonny Peralta began the sixth with a soft liner to left-center off the glove of left fielder Byrnes, who was brushed by center fielder Luis Matos as he tried for the catch. Matos was charged with an error -- one of six by Baltimore in the last two games -- for causing the bobble.
``At the last second, I heard Luis call for it,'' Byrnes said. ``It's tough to get out of the way, but that's my job. I screwed up.''
Hafner lined a single to left and Peralta slid home ahead of Byrnes' throw for a 2-1 lead.
Coco Crisp made it 3-1 in the seventh with a sacrifice fly off reliever Tim Byrdak. After Peralta walked, Hafner lined a shot inches fair down the right-field line for two more runs. Two wild pitches by Byrdak, one that allowed Grady Sizemore to reach base on a strikeout, fueled the rally.
Hafner put Cleveland ahead 1-0 with an RBI double in the first off Bruce Chen (10-7), who lost for the first time in four starts in August.
``I thought it was a homer,'' Hafner said of the drive that hit the top of the left-field wall. ``I still do, but the umpires said no.''
Baltimore tied it in the fifth. Alejandro Freire was hit in the left foot by a pitch, bunted to second by Matos, took third on a single to left by Chris Gomez, and scored on a groundout by Brian Roberts.
Sabathia worked out of an odd third inning in which Baltimore put three runners on without hitting the ball hard -- which might have unnerved the 25-year-old lefty and led to a big inning when he struggled in July.
Matos reached when his grounder went off shortstop Peralta's glove for an error. One out later, Matos took off for second, but Sabathia stepped off the mound and ran directly at the runner to start a textbook rundown sequence that emptied the bases.
Roberts walked, stole second, and went to third when Byrnes beat out a grounder to Peralta for the Orioles' first hit. Sabathia, however, got Melvin Mora to line to left to end the threat.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Hafner hit .353 (12-for-34) with 10 RBIs, six doubles and one homer during a nine-game homestand. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard returned after missing two games with a sore neck, the result of a collision with umpire Eric Cooper on Thursday. ... Orioles 1B-DH Rafael Palmeiro sat out his fifth straight game with a sprained right ankle. ... Crisp, who stranded eight runners Saturday night, struck out with the bases loaded to end the second and hit into a double play to end the fifth. ... Byrnes has hit .081 (3-for-37) over his last 10 games.
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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Right-Hander Brown Relieved To Get Call
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>
Andrew Brown: "I'm just happy to be here."
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Aug 21, 2005
Andrew Brown always dreamed of starting a major-league ballgame. He should soon get his chance to pitch in the big time -- as a reliever.
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The hard-throwing right-hander was called up by the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, Aug. 20, when outfielder Jason Dubois was sent back to Class AAA Buffalo.
"The first thing I did was call my family to let them know," said Brown, 24, who was born in the Cleveland suburb of Chardon, but grew up in Florida.
"It's just an incredibly exciting experience to be told you're going to the majors," Brown continued. "I haven't really had any time to reflect on what it means. I'm just happy to be here and want to help the Indians in any way I can."
That could be as a reliever similar to Eric Plunk, who was one of the most reliable right-handed setup men in the game in the mid-90s when Cleveland was the dominant team in the American League.
Brown had only pitched in relief three times in five previous minor-league seasons in the Braves, Dodgers and Indians organizations before being told last winter by Cleveland farm director John Farrell that the club wanted to move him to the bullpen.
"They explained it to me and I saw it as an opportunity," said Brown. "It got me here. Now I have to get the job done to stay here."
In 45 games, all in relief, at Buffalo, the 6-foot-6 Brown went 4-2 with four saves and a 3.57 ERA. More impressive were his secondary ratios. In 63 innings, he allowed only 49 hits and 17 walks while striking out 76.
Brown has always had overpowering stuff, despite twice having surgery on his right elbow.
Drafted by Atlanta in the sixth round in 1999, he went 1-1 with a 2.34 ERA, striking out 57 in 42 1/3 innings in his first season of pro ball.
He then had elbow surgery and missed all of 2000 before coming back the next year to go 3-4 with a 3.92 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings of Class A ball before being traded to Los Angeles with two others in a deal that sent slugger Gary Sheffield to the Braves.
He had a decent year (10-10, 4.11 ERA) in 2002 at Class A Vero Beach, but made only one start in 2003 before reinjuring his elbow. He came back in 2004, made eight starts for Double-A Jacksonville, then was sent to the Indians to complete the trade in which the Dodgers sent outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to Cleveland for outfielder Milton Bradley.
Brown was inconsistent in 17 starts at Double-A Akron after the trade. A perfect example of his up-and-down season came in a midseason start last summer in which he had a no-hitter after five innings, but didn't make it through the sixth inning or get the win.
He started slowly at Buffalo this year before getting acclimated to his new role in which he limited International League hitters to a .209 (49-for-235) average against including only .193 (16-for-83) with runners on base. Over his last 20 appearances since June 23 he went 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA, striking out 29 and allowing 10 hits in 27 1/3 innings.
The Andrew Brown file.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>
Andrew Brown: "I'm just happy to be here."
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Aug 21, 2005
Andrew Brown always dreamed of starting a major-league ballgame. He should soon get his chance to pitch in the big time -- as a reliever.
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>
The hard-throwing right-hander was called up by the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, Aug. 20, when outfielder Jason Dubois was sent back to Class AAA Buffalo.
"The first thing I did was call my family to let them know," said Brown, 24, who was born in the Cleveland suburb of Chardon, but grew up in Florida.
"It's just an incredibly exciting experience to be told you're going to the majors," Brown continued. "I haven't really had any time to reflect on what it means. I'm just happy to be here and want to help the Indians in any way I can."
That could be as a reliever similar to Eric Plunk, who was one of the most reliable right-handed setup men in the game in the mid-90s when Cleveland was the dominant team in the American League.
Brown had only pitched in relief three times in five previous minor-league seasons in the Braves, Dodgers and Indians organizations before being told last winter by Cleveland farm director John Farrell that the club wanted to move him to the bullpen.
"They explained it to me and I saw it as an opportunity," said Brown. "It got me here. Now I have to get the job done to stay here."
In 45 games, all in relief, at Buffalo, the 6-foot-6 Brown went 4-2 with four saves and a 3.57 ERA. More impressive were his secondary ratios. In 63 innings, he allowed only 49 hits and 17 walks while striking out 76.
Brown has always had overpowering stuff, despite twice having surgery on his right elbow.
Drafted by Atlanta in the sixth round in 1999, he went 1-1 with a 2.34 ERA, striking out 57 in 42 1/3 innings in his first season of pro ball.
He then had elbow surgery and missed all of 2000 before coming back the next year to go 3-4 with a 3.92 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings of Class A ball before being traded to Los Angeles with two others in a deal that sent slugger Gary Sheffield to the Braves.
He had a decent year (10-10, 4.11 ERA) in 2002 at Class A Vero Beach, but made only one start in 2003 before reinjuring his elbow. He came back in 2004, made eight starts for Double-A Jacksonville, then was sent to the Indians to complete the trade in which the Dodgers sent outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to Cleveland for outfielder Milton Bradley.
Brown was inconsistent in 17 starts at Double-A Akron after the trade. A perfect example of his up-and-down season came in a midseason start last summer in which he had a no-hitter after five innings, but didn't make it through the sixth inning or get the win.
He started slowly at Buffalo this year before getting acclimated to his new role in which he limited International League hitters to a .209 (49-for-235) average against including only .193 (16-for-83) with runners on base. Over his last 20 appearances since June 23 he went 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA, striking out 29 and allowing 10 hits in 27 1/3 innings.
The Andrew Brown file.
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