C. C. Sabathia Roughed Up for Nine Runs; Mother Nature Kills Indians' Rally

C.C. Sabathia’s numbers read more like a supporting role in a basketball game than those of a starting pitcher.  Three and a third innings, nine earned runs given up on twelve hits on 91 pitches.  The Indians lost the first of the three-game home series against Oakland at Progressive Field by a score of 9-7. 

Ninety one pitches is enough for a complete game, not a three -nning outing. 

Sabathia has gone to the mound three times this season.  He has yet to earn a win.  He also has yet to demonstrate why any club will bid the big bucks for him when this season ends. 

So far this year, Fausto Carmona’s new contract looks like a bargain basement genius move in the left-handed-pitcher signings for 2008.

After C.C. gave up six runs in the first two innings, one has to wonder why he was still in the game in the first place.  On a cold, rain-threatening night, I would have seen enough to pull Sabathia.  Eric Wedge thought differently, though, and he allowed Sabathia another one-and-a-third innings. Three more runs scored before Wedge gave C.C. the hook.

The good news for Indians' fans is that Oakland was finished scoring for the evening.  The rest of the night, they watched the Tribe offense struggle, that is, until the eighth. 

The eighth inning was one for the ages.  Down 9-1, the offense mounted a whirlwind comeback.  David Dellucci started it all off with a double to center.  He scored on a Jason Michaels single to left.  9-2. 

Casey Blake grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning.  Sizemore flied out to right, and with two outs, the eighth looked grim.  Cabrera singled, Hafner drove in Blake with a single, moving Cabrera to third. 

On an Oakland error, Travis Hafner moved up to second.  Hernandez took over the pitching duties for the A’s, drilling Kelly Shoppach and loading the bases.  Jhonny Peralta caught a walk, bringing home Cabrera.  Bye-bye Hernandez. 

Casilla came on to pitch.  Garko doubled, driving in Hafner and and Shoppach.  Peralta went to third.  Casilla was replaced by Huston Street.  His wild pitch scored Peralta, and Garko moved to third.  Dellucci saw a couple pitches before Mother Nature intervened and halted the Tribe momentum.  Fifty nine minutes later, Dellucci flied out, ending the Indians’ rally. 

The ninth was a 1-2-3 inning on both sides of the ball, Betancourt for the Tribe, Street for the A’s, and Oakland and weather beat the Indians 9-7. 

The Indians got seven runs on nine hits, giving up nine runs on fifteen hits.  Both teams registered an error. Cabrera and Peralta had two hits apiece.  17,859 brave souls went down on a cold wet evening.  Most of them didn’t see the end of the game. 

These two go at it again Saturday at 7:05.  Carmona is slated as Cleveland’s starter, while Dinardo goes for the A’s.