Indians-Yankees: Tribe Wins in Alex Rodriguez's Return

By Dave Wiley

The Yankees rolled into Cleveland on Friday in the first of a four game set.  While the bugs of last year didn’t show, the Indians proved they could be pests all by themselves, coming from behind to beat New York 6-4.  Rafael Betancourt earned his second save in as many nights.  Paul Byrd registered his first win of the season.

Four days ago, the Cleveland Indians languished alone in last place in the American Central.  Now they sit in second.  Four wins in four days moves them to within one game of .500 with an 11-12 record, two games back of the 12-9 Chicago White Sox. 

The Tribe gave the crowd of 31,476 something to cheer about early, getting to Andy Pettite in the bottom of the first.  Grady Sizemore led off the inning safe at first on a Jason Giambi error.  He was erased the next batter when Jamey Carroll grounded into a fielders choice.  Carroll swiped second, and moved to third on a Travis Hafner groundout.  Victor Martinez walked, bringing up Johnny Peralta.  He singled Carroll home.  With runners on first and second, Franklin Gutierrez walked, loading the bases.  Unfortunately, Casey Blake, the Indians leader in RBI’s this season, did not deliver the clutch hit, and grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. 

The Yankees came right back with one of their own in the top of the second.  Jason Giambi homered with two out, knotting the game at one a piece.

In the fourth, Giambi went yard again, this time with Jorge Pasada on first, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

Clevelandgot into the homerun derby in the bottom of the fifth.  After one out back-to-back singles by Martinezand Hafner, Peralta took a 3-1 offering deep to left for a three run dinger.  Gutierrez hit his 3-1 pitch out to left as well; the back-tp-back jacks giving the Indians a 5-3 lead.  Andy Pettite struck out Casey Blake to end the inning.  Pettite’s evening was over, and he absorbed the loss because of the four run fifth.

In the top of the sixth, the Yankees got their last run of the evening when Hideki Matsui homered to right.  That ended Paul Byrd’s night.  Rafael Perez came on to get Jorge Posada to ground out and end that inning.  Perez ended up earning a hold in this one, handing off the game to Betancourt in the ninth after not giving up a hit in two and a third. 

The Indians tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth after Grady Sizemore walked, stole second, and scored on a Jamey Carroll single.  Carroll also turned around and stole second, giving the Tribe three swipes on the night between the two speed demons.

Betancourt pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, robbing fans of their usual edge-of-the-seat-closer-finishes they are accustomed to when Joe Borowski comes in.  They didn’t seem to mind a bit. 

Taking the first of four from the Yankees in their only series at Progressive field in Cleveland this year, Cleveland plays the mighty Yanks only seven times total.  All seven games will be over by May 8^th.  After they wrap up this four game series, the two teams meet in New York May 6^th for a three set grouping.  The Indians ended an eight game regular season losing streak to the Yankees with the victory.

The two teams play a 3:55 start on Saturday with Jeremy Sowers taking the hill for the first time this year for Cleveland versus an 0-2 Ian Kennedy for the Yanks. 

Sowers was called up for the start because of Jake Westbrook’s left lower back muscle strain and subsequent trip to the DL.  Westbrook is expected to be re-evaluated sometime this weekend.  His injury occurred Wednesday in a start against the Twins.