Cleveland Indians: Offense Is Existant, Afterall

Finally, some offense! 

Every single Indians player had a hit during the 11-1 rout of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. That earned the Tribe a split in the short two-game series, pushing Detroit back into the cellar of the American League Central and, at least for the moment, kept Cleveland from assuming sole possession of last place.

Fausto Carmona pitched six and two-thirds innings of seven-hit ball, giving up only one run. He regained his form after his previous game’s sub-par performance and sits at 2-1 on the year. By the time Detroit got to him in the seventh, the Indians were already up 5-1.

Really they didn’t get to Carmona as much as he got to himself.

Hitting two batters in a row, a mistake to the foot of Santiago, and a fastball that appeared intentional to Sheffield prompting a warning from the umpire. The only legitimate hit to this point in the inning was the single by Ordonez that loaded the bases. Cabrera hit a sac fly, advancing all runners and bringing in Santiago. Guillen singled and Michaels threw a strike from left field that got Gary Sheffield at home.  Renteria grounded into the inning-ending fielder’s choice. 

In the seventh, Carmona was on a short leash because of a high pitch count, but he got two outs before giving up a double to Thomas. He left after 105 pitches, bringing on pitcher Jensen Lewis for Cleveland. Lewis walked two batters prior to recording the third out, a pop up to Casey Blake at third. 

Kobayashi and Betancourt each went one inning a piece to close out the game. 

The Indians offense scored three in the second, two in the fifth, five in the sixth, and one in the seventh, finally breaking out of the team-wide batting slump.

Ryan Garko started the second by getting hit by a pitch, which, by the way, got a bit out-of-hand during this game although no pitchers were suspended. Jason Verlander was the instigator, Carmona the 'retaliator.'

Gutierrez doubled Garko to third. Michaels drove Garko home and Gutierrez to third on a sac-fly. Blake doubled, plating Gutierrez. He moved to third on a Sizemore flyout, Carroll got an infield single that scored Blake. After a Travis Hafner walk, Victor Martinez grounded out to end the inning.

The fifth brought two more Indians runs. Martinez singled and Garko homered rounding out the scoring for the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Indians really broke the game open, doubling their scoring output by adding five more. Miner entered as the Tigers reliever and immediately gave up a double to Grady Sizemore. Carroll tripled, plating Sizemore.  Hafner homered, giving the Tribe three runs and nobody out. 

Miner finally recorded an out on a Victor Martinez ground out. Peralta singled, Garko walked, and Gutierrez registered the second out on a ground out, but advanced both runners. Michaels singled, scoring Peralta and Garko. Casey Blake grounded out for the third out.

In the seventh, Sizemore was hit-by-a-pitch, Carroll got on first on a fielder’s choice that erased Sizemore and Martinez doubled Carroll home. That ended the scoring for the evening.

The Indians had 13 hits. Michaels had two clutch hits, and Carroll, Hafner, Garko had two a piece. Hafner and Garko each had two run homers. The defense did not register an error. Just like that, summer is looking up in Cleveland.