I have to admit when Casey Blake grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice to end the first, I worried that Andy Pettite would get dialed in and that would be all she wrote.
But the Tribe used the formula that made them successful in 2007 to notch their fourth consecutive victory, a 6-4 win over the New York Yankees.
That formula includes clutch two-out hitting, a solid yet unspectacular effort from their starter, a couple of timely home runs and bullpen domination.
The Indians scored all their runs with two outs. That in itself is phenomenal.
Now, I don't recommend this as the only way to score, but we'll take just scoring with two outs as long as it equals a win.
Jhonny Peralta came through twice with an RBI single in the first and the three-run jack in the fifth to make it 4-3.
Franklin Gutierrez followed with another homer to make it 5-3, and Jamey Carroll delivered the ever-important insurance run with a broken-bat bloop in the sixth.
Now Paul Byrd got the win, but many will say he had a bad outing for attempting to start Yankees Homer-Palooza 2008. My retort to that is this: IT'S PAUL F'N BYRD!
He gives up lots of hits and homers but can hunker down and give you a solid effort and keep you in the game. Anything more is a bonus.
This has been Byrd's M.O. since he's been here. He didn't walk anybody, didn't strike out anybody and gave up three home runs. THIS SHOULD NOT SURPRISE YOU! This is why he's the fourth starter.
The one thing I like is that Uncle Eric has been playing it safe and pulling him a little too early rather than a little too late. I think this is sound strategery for the Byrd-man. Yes, I said strategery.
Perez and Betancourt gave the Tribe 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in only 32 pitches. This is a good formula.
My only concern, just like last year, is that if these guys pitch in 80-plus games. Then their arms are going to fall off and we will be screwed for the fall stretch run.
Jenny Lewis needs to gets sorted out, and I know they are trying to work Masa K. into the back end.
But where has Craig Breslow been? What did he do? He has been solid, yet unspectacular, but they need to get him some work so Perez's arm doesn't break.
The Indians get the national TV games on Fox today and on TBS tomorrow, so let's see how they handle their recent success.
The 2007 formula for success seems to have been reinstated, which is a good thing. It won them 96 games last year. Keep that in mind, gentlemen.
It's Tribe Time Now.
Believeland.
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5 months ago
Yeah I do wonder where Craig Breslow is.. I guess Wedge doesn't feel comfortable using him yet.. But I don't think the wearing down is going to happen this year. They brought in Kobayashi so that will take some stress off the pen.
5 months ago
I like how Wedge is stretching the bullpen out in multiple inings. Last night was Perez/Betancourt, today J-Lew/Kobayashi. The roles are starting to form and I like Perez and Masa setting up Betancourt.
Isn't it great to have a guy close and get through an inning without any runners?!
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