Cleveland-Oakland: Indians Avoid Sweep With Win Over A's

Three days ago, the Cleveland Indians were hoping to sweep the Chicago White Sox. 

Today, the goal was avoiding the sweep against the Oakland A’s.  Neither sweep came to fruition; bad in the first case, but a relief for today. Cleveland wins 2-1 and leaves Oakland with a victory on the back of the strong pitching outing of Cliff Lee.  Lee earns his first victory of the season as a reward.

Lee gave up four hits and the one lone Oakland run in six and two thirds innings.  Perez, Betancount, and Borowski mopped up.  Betancourt records his first hold of the season, Borowski earns his second save.

The A’s got on the board first, scoring in the third.  Suzuki hit a one out single for Oakland, advanced to second on a past ball that should have gone as an error to the catcher Shoppach, Sweeney moved Suzuki to third on an infield single, and Buck sac-flied Suzuki home. 

It took until the seventh inning for the Indians to get to A’s pitcher Joe Blanton.  He gave up seven hits, four walks and two runs, recording the loss in a pretty nice outing. 

Marte started what proved to be the only inning either team would score again with a single to right.  The Indians sent in Carrol to pinch run.  Shoppach singled him over to second.  With runners on first and second, Sizemore walked, loading the bases.  Cabrera grounded out, but advanced all runners and scored Carrol, knotting the game at 1.  Travis Hafner was intentionally walked, bringing up the Garko. 

So far this year, Garko has hit safely in every game, didn’t register a hit in this one, but took a free pass, scoring Shoppach.  That chased starter Blanton.  Casilla came in and registered the strikeout to end the inning. 

Lee left in the seventh after a walk, yielding to Perez.  Perez got the first two outs in the eighth before Betancourt came on, getting Ellis to flyout to center.

The ninth saw Borowski walk the tying run to first with one out, before he got a flyout and a fielder’s choice, ending the game.

Peralta led the way for the tribe with two hits.  Sizemore, Hafner, Michaels, Marte, and Shoppach each had one.  The Indians only registered two runs on seven hits.  Sizemore leads all Indians hitters with a .348 batting average. 

The Indians take on the Anaheim Angels in Anaheim at 10:05 P.M. EST Monday evening.