An interesting series with Toronto to say the least. The Indians managed to fall behind in all three games which, with the way they ended April hitting, would make you think would lead to impending doom.
C. C. Sabathia gave up three home runs in the first inning of Game 1 but after a 30 minute rain delay came back a changed man, striking out 9, as the Tribe romped the Jays 12-3. Jhonny Peralta stayed red hot with 5 RBI including a 3 run jack. Pronk and Trot Nixon also added home runs as the Indians out-muscled the opposition despite being down 3-0 after a half of an inning.
Game 2 saw the Tribe win 7-6 in 11 innings on a dying quail off the bat of Travis Hafner that rolled into short left field where no one was withing 150 feet of it. But a very disheartening game despite the win. Jake Westbrook injured a rib cage muscle and looks destined for the DL. Eric Wedge the proceed to burn out the bullpen by pitching every single reliever. Jason Davis didn't do him any favors by pitching like crap and lasting 1/3 of an inning in game where he needed to eat innings, but I can't justify Wedge using every member of the bullpen and only using two of them for more than 1 1/3 innings (Cabrera 2 2/3, Betancourt 2). It moves like this that make me ponder what Eric Wedge is thinking sometimes. He redeemed himself by sending Dellucci on a 3-2 pitch that let Pronk do what Pronk do and win the game but still the handling of the 'Pen is unforgivable. We'll see how it affect the long road trip the Tribe is about to embark on.
Tonight's game saw the return of Cliff Lee to the tune of a 5 run, 6 inning performance. Not too good, not too bad. Start number two will be a better measuring stick. The Tribe got down 4-0 but came back to take a 5-4 lead before the Jays tied it a 5. The benches cleared briefly after Josh Barfield was thrown out at home plate and Jays' catcher Jason Philips had some choice words for him. Kudos to David Dellucci for getting in Philips' face and showing a little fire. We need a little attitude and this team and it was nice to see. And in the end Grady Sizemore doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the 8th on a ground rule double and Joe Borowski pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his league leading 10th save and a 6-5 Tribe win as the Indians finished the home stand at 7-1.
The first 3 game sweep for the Indians this season but we anxiously await the news on Jake Westbrook and see if the depleted bullpen will come back to bite them on the 10 game raod trip they are about to embark on.
Off to Baltiwhore for a 4 game wrap-around series with the O's
C. C. Sabathia gave up three home runs in the first inning of Game 1 but after a 30 minute rain delay came back a changed man, striking out 9, as the Tribe romped the Jays 12-3. Jhonny Peralta stayed red hot with 5 RBI including a 3 run jack. Pronk and Trot Nixon also added home runs as the Indians out-muscled the opposition despite being down 3-0 after a half of an inning.
Game 2 saw the Tribe win 7-6 in 11 innings on a dying quail off the bat of Travis Hafner that rolled into short left field where no one was withing 150 feet of it. But a very disheartening game despite the win. Jake Westbrook injured a rib cage muscle and looks destined for the DL. Eric Wedge the proceed to burn out the bullpen by pitching every single reliever. Jason Davis didn't do him any favors by pitching like crap and lasting 1/3 of an inning in game where he needed to eat innings, but I can't justify Wedge using every member of the bullpen and only using two of them for more than 1 1/3 innings (Cabrera 2 2/3, Betancourt 2). It moves like this that make me ponder what Eric Wedge is thinking sometimes. He redeemed himself by sending Dellucci on a 3-2 pitch that let Pronk do what Pronk do and win the game but still the handling of the 'Pen is unforgivable. We'll see how it affect the long road trip the Tribe is about to embark on.
Tonight's game saw the return of Cliff Lee to the tune of a 5 run, 6 inning performance. Not too good, not too bad. Start number two will be a better measuring stick. The Tribe got down 4-0 but came back to take a 5-4 lead before the Jays tied it a 5. The benches cleared briefly after Josh Barfield was thrown out at home plate and Jays' catcher Jason Philips had some choice words for him. Kudos to David Dellucci for getting in Philips' face and showing a little fire. We need a little attitude and this team and it was nice to see. And in the end Grady Sizemore doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the 8th on a ground rule double and Joe Borowski pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his league leading 10th save and a 6-5 Tribe win as the Indians finished the home stand at 7-1.
The first 3 game sweep for the Indians this season but we anxiously await the news on Jake Westbrook and see if the depleted bullpen will come back to bite them on the 10 game raod trip they are about to embark on.
Off to Baltiwhore for a 4 game wrap-around series with the O's
