Game Previews

Game #120: Cleveland Indians (54-65) at Oakland Athletics (63-55)

By Mike Brandyberry

Friday evening the Indians jumped out to a 4-0 lead when Shelley Duncan hit a grand slam, but it was the only jolt of offense the Tribe could muster and the pitching staff could not hold the lead. Oakland was able to scratch back against Zach McAllister and take the lead from Joe Smith, issuing the Wahoos a 6-4 defeat. The loss marks the Indians’ 16^th defeat in their last 20 games.

Meanwhile, the victory gets the scrappy Athletics to within five games of the first place Texas Rangers. The young and scrappy Athletics are just a half game out of the final wild card spot in the standings. A season thought to be a rebuilding year has become one that will battle test the young Oakland squad regardless of their final finish.

Tonight the Tribe sends Corey Kluber (0-1, 8.56) to the mound for his fourth start of the season in the big leagues. Kluber has been shellacked in two of his three starts, including allowing six runs in three and one-third innings last Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. Teams are hitting .355 against Kluber since he reached the bigs. Indians Manager Manny Acta continues to stress that Kluber must use his, “strikeout slider,” to mix his pitches and keep hitters off balance. To date, Kluber has not mixed those pitches well, but Acta has seemed to indicate that the team will continue to give him opportunity.

Oakland will counter with a familiar foe and one of their few veterans in Bartolo Colon (9-9, 3.55 ERA). Colon, who originally broke into baseball with the Indians, has continued to drink from the fountain of youth, and keeping the Athletics rotation with a stable, veteran presence. He did allow five runs in five and two-third innings last Sunday in a defeat to the Chicago White Sox. Colon has a 1.86 ERA at home since the beginning of June.

The most dedicated and bleary-eyed fans will get a little break on the west coast trip this evening. Tonight’s game begins at 9:05 pm ET and can be heard on the Indians Radio Network and seen on SportsTime Ohio. The hour earlier start will give fans a chance to see more of the game before hitting the witching hour.

Cleveland Indians Starting Lineup
1. Jason Kipnis, 2B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
3. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
4. Carlos Santana, C
5. Michael Brantley, CF
6. Shelley Duncan, DH
7. Casey Kotchman, 1B
8. Jack Hannahan, 3B
9. Ezequiel Carrera, LF