Offensive Outburst Makes Francona Homecoming Easy; Indians 12, Red Sox 3

Homecoming games are usually easy victories for the home team. However, this homecoming was easy for the visiting team.

The Indians struck early and often and used a six-run sixth inning to pace themselves to a 12-3 victory, taking the first game of a four game series in Boston. The win was the first for Indians manager Terry Francona since his eight year tenure as skipper of the Red Sox ended two years ago. Zach McAllister turned in another solid start, controlling Boston with the exception of one pitch.

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Series Preview #17: Cleveland Indians (26-19) at Boston Red Sox (28-19)

Terry Francona returns to another city he once called home as his Cleveland Indians head to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox.

The first-place Indians (26-19) lost their first series, during the week to the Tigers, since the last time they met up with the Red Sox. They maintain a one-half game lead over Detroit in the American League Central. They are 15-6 in the month of May.

The Red Sox (28-19) fell on some hard times after their previous meeting with the Indians. After finishing the month of April at 18-8, they are a game under in the month of May at 10-11. They have lost four series this month – in Texas, versus Minnesota and Toronto at home, and in Chicago against the White Sox in their last series. After charging out of the gate in first place in the AL East, they have fallen as far as three games back and are currently in second place, one-half game back of the New York Yankees.

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Tribe Defense Boosts the Rotation

The Cleveland Indians started the season with high hopes. They added several key offensive players and looked to have a lineup ready to contend. The biggest question mark going into the year, and the one that changed the least from last season was the pitching; more specifically the starting pitching. With Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson coming off the worst seasons of their careers, a rookie pitcher that had ups and downs in Zach McAllister, a newly added starter turned reliever turned starter Brett Myers, and a plethora of young uncertain arms to fill the five hole, the rotation looked like a potential mess.

Through 44 games the Indians rotation has been okay. Masterson and McAllister have had strong starts, Jimenez was shaky, and then seemed to string a few good starts together, and Bauer has shown control issues but pitched well. The pitchers deserve a lot of credit for what they have done so far, but the defense behind them deserves some too. Read More

Series Preview #16: Detroit Tigers (23-19) at Cleveland Indians (26-17)

The attention of the baseball world returns to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario in downtown Cleveland as the blazing hot Indians welcome the Detroit Tigers in for a short two-game set this week.

The Tigers (23-19) come to Cleveland a week and a half after dropping two of three against the Indians at Comerica Park. They relinquished their longest lead in the American League Central over the weekend to the Indians after losing their series against the Texas Rangers. They are 10-12 on the road this season and have a 17-18 record against all teams not named the Houston Astros.

The Indians (26-17) pushed their lead in the AL Central to two and a half games after sweeping the Seattle Mariners in a four-game series over the weekend. They have not lost a series since a sweep by Boston from April 16th to 18th. They have now won 18 of their last 22 games (since game two of the doubleheader in Kansas City) and are 21-8 since that sweep by Boston.

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This Indians Team Has the Look of a Contender

The Indians are in first place in May. We’ve heard this before.

This afternoon the Indians go for a four game sweep of the Seattle Mariners and their fifth straight win. Heading in to the game, the Indians have a two game lead on the Detroit Tigers, whose starting pitching is starting to become a question mark of their own. Instead, the Indians seem to be hitting on all cylinders as they are winners of 17 of their last 21 games. While Detroit seems to be stalling at the quarter mark, the Tribe seems to be hitting the gas and starting to speed ahead. Read More

Reynolds Saves Game with Second Straight Walkoff Win; Indians 5, Mariners 4

Walk-off victories are kind of becoming a thing again at Progressive Field.

Saturday afternoon the Tribe squandered an early 4-0 lead and strong pitching performance from Zach McAllister to blow the lead in the top of the ninth and walk off with another bottom of the ninth inning victory, winning 5-4. It was the second victory in as many days in the Tribe’s final at bat.

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Kipnis 10th Inning Walkoff Lifts Tribe; Indians 6, Mariners 3

Dollar dog night. Fireworks. A walk-off home run. Tribe fans had a lot to celebrate Friday night at Progressive Field as Jason Kipnis hit a walk-off three-run home run in the 10th inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners … Read More

Series Preview #15: Seattle Mariners (20-21) at Cleveland Indians (22-17)

The Seattle Mariners continue their cross-country tour with their lone stop to the shores of Lake Erie this weekend as they take on the Cleveland Indians in a four-game set.

The Mariners (20-21) pulled into second place in the American League West after a series win over the New York Yankees. They have won or split each of their last six series (five wins, one split). They still trail the division-leading Texas Rangers by seven games.

The Indians (22-17) got a much needed day off on Thursday, their last of the month, but were still able to move back into a first place tie in the AL Central, courtesy of a Detroit loss to Texas. During a 14-games-in-13-days span, the Indians were 10-4. They now begin a stretch of 20 straight games before their next day off.

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Tribe Runs Away to Day Time Split of Series; Indians 10, Phillies 4

After a couple games in a row where the Indians pitching staff has pitched well with no help from the offense, the bats finally woke up one Wednesday. The Indians were able to win the game 10-4 with the help of three home runs, a solo shot from Mike Aviles, a two run home run from Nick Swisher and a three run blast to extend the lead off the bat of Jason Kipnis. The pitching was also strong to keep the Phillies bats in check with Corey Kluber going six innings, giving up six hits, three runs but no walks and striking out five.

The first and second innings were quiet from both teams, as no runs were scored despite the Tribe getting Ryan Raburn and Mike Aviles on base with two outs. Kluber flied out on a very strong at bat for a pitcher, making Cole Hamels throw eight pitches.

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Series Preview #14: Cleveland Indians (21-16) at Philadelphia Phillies (18-21)

The Cleveland Indians make the rare trip to Citizens Bank Park as they conclude their short interleague season series with the Philadelphia Phillies this week. The Indians were swept in June of 2010 in the team’s only ever trip to Philadelphia to play the Phillies.

The Indians (21-16) remain one of the hottest teams in baseball. After beating up on one of the best in the West in the Oakland Athletics during the week, they took two of three from the Tigers in Detroit and split a doubleheader with the AL East-leading New York Yankees. They have won 13 of their last 16 games, including two against Philadelphia during this span. They are 6-0 in one-run games during this stretch and 10-3 on the season. They are a perfect 3-0 in extra inning games.

The Phillies (18-21) have played at both ends of the spectrum this season. They have won no more than three games in a row this season and have lost as many as four in a row once. In day games, they are batting a National League-best .281; in night games, they are hitting .232, third-worst in all of baseball. Despite the slower start than they may have expected, they have pulled within four games of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

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Masterson Splendid in Shutting Out Yankees; Indians 1, Yankees 0

A first inning solo home run off the bat of Jason Kipnis was the only run the Indians would score in Game 1 of their doubleheader with the New York Yankees. The one tally was the only score the Tribe would need as ace Justin Masterson carved up the visitors for a complete game shutout.

Masterson struck out nine Yankee hitters while walking just three en route to a 1-0 Indians win. Cleveland improved to 21-15 and is now a half game ahead of Detroit in the American League Central Division. Read More

Jimenez Outshines Verlander, Tribe Survives Late Rally; Indians 7, Tigers 6

The Indians are beyond making a habit of defeating former Cy Young winners. It is officially a trend.

Saturday evening the Indians beat their sixth former Cy Young winner of the season when the took down Justin Verlander and Detroit Tigers by a score of 7-6. The Tribe was able to strike Verlander early and push up his pitch count, limiting him to only a five inning outing. Meanwhile, it was Ubaldo Jimenez who looked more like he was hardware worthy, logging his third consecutive quality start while the Indians’ bullpen survived through the final nine outs.

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