Indians-Yankees: New York Wins 5-2, Earns a Series Split

If defeat can be measured in terms of beauty, this loss would have to rank somewhere around butt ugly.

Cleveland was up two games to none in a four-game set, and they came away with a disappointing split, losing the last game 5-2. 

After giving up a lead-off walk, the Tribe defense allowed Alex Rodriguez to reach first on an error. Aaron Laffey settled into a 14 up, 14 down streak and carried a no-hitter into the sixth and game-deciding inning. He was also sporting a 2-0 lead.

The Indians put runners on base in every inning but the first against New York’s Mike Mussina, but could not break through on the scoreboard until the fifth.  Casey Blake led off with a single, and Gutierrez singled Blake over to third. 

Jason Michaels singled to right, bringing home Blake and moving Gutierrez to second.  David Dellucci singled, loading the bases.  It appeared that he could have scored, but third base coach Joel Skinner put on the stop sign, holding up Gutierrez. 

With nobody out, it was probably the right move. In a costly out that did not move up anyone, Jamey Carroll lined out to first baseman Jason Giambi.

Travis Hafner sac-flied, scoring Gutierrez, giving the Indians two for the inning but also registering their second out.  Victor Martinez walked to reload the bases for Johnny Peralta, and he hit a line drive.  Unfortunately it was straight at A-Rod, and that ended the threat.

Mussina was lucky to get out of this inning as unscathed as he did.

The top of the sixth was really a debacle for Cleveland.  Cabrera, Jeter, and Abreu all singled, breaking up Laffey’s no hitter.  Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, breaking up Laffey’s shutout by walking in Cabrera. Giambi grounded out, and Jeter scored.

Matsui grounded out, but brought in a run, scoring Abreu.  Jensen Lewis entered the game, Morgan Ensberg hit an infield single to third, scoring A-Rod.  Cano grounded into a double play to end the inning. 

That gave the Yankees four runs in a weird sixth; one run on a walk, two runs on groundouts, and the last run on an infield single.  Game over.

The Yankees added another run in the eighth, this one on a walk to pinch hitter Johnny Damon, and an eventual double by Matsui that scored Damon from first. 

The Yankees relievers shut down the Indians' bats.  They used four pitchers, including closer Mariano Rivera.  He got his second save in two nights, allowing the Yankees to earn a split. 

Prior to the four-game set, a split with the Yankees would be considered an okay series. But after Cleveland started with a two-game winning streak, losing the last two was disappointing. 

Grady Sizemore sat out his second game with a sprained right ankle.  He is still day-to-day.  Cleveland remains in second place in the AL Central, but dropped to three games back of the Chicago White Sox.

The Indians begin a three-game set against Seattle on Tuesday.  Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona pits his 3-1 record and a 2.89 ERA against Seattle’s 3-0, 2.83 Carlos Silva.  It should be another chilly night for offenses in Cleveland starting at 7:05.

This is the first meeting of the two clubs this season.  The Indians and Mariners are both 12-14 clubs trying to fight their way back to .500.