Cleveland-Seattle: Indians Win 8-3; Cliff Lee Moves to 5-0

Cliff Lee went yet another five scoreless innings before giving up three runs to Seattle in the seventh, and he improved to his pitching record on the year to 5-0 with a 8-3 Indians victory. 

His ERA jumped to .96 (GASP!). But hey, a win is a win. 

The Indians got to Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn early, opening up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Grady Sizemore led off the inning with a 1-1 count homerun, his third of the year. 

Jamey Carroll singled and went to third on a Victor Martinez single.  Ryan Garko hit a sacrifice fly for the first out, but scored Carroll from third. 

That ended the threat though, as Washburn buckled down and struck out Casey Blake and Franklin Gutierrez.

Lee was pretty much untouchable through six.  He really only had trouble in the top of the fifth, putting runners on the corners with two out before inducing Ichiro Suzuki to pop out and end the inning.

Tribe bats were silent until the fourth, when they extended their lead to 3-0.  Garko walked.  Blake was safe on a fielder's choice and an error moved Garko to third. 

Gutierrez singled in Garko.  Shoppach singled, but Blake was thrown out at the plate by Suzuki.  Jason Michaels fouled out, leaving the Indians with a disappointing one.

In the bottom of the fifth, Cleveland’s offense put up a five spot, giving the Indians an 8-0 breathing cushion.  Sizemore walked, and Martinez doubled him home. 

Garko was hit by a pitch, and that sent Washburn to the washroom.  Baek replaced Washburn at pitcher, and Blake doubled home Martinez. 

With Garko on third and Blake on second, Gutierrez delivered a two RBI singles.  Shoppach doubled, moving Gutierrez to third.  Michaels scored Gutierrez on a sac fly.  Cabrera flied out, but five had crossed.

The seventh broke Cliff Lee’s scoreless inning streak at 27 innings.  He gave up a single to Jose Vidro, then Richie Sexson. That brought up Balentien to the plate with nobody out. 

Balentien took Lee yard on a 2-0 count for a three-run homer.  That ended Lee’s night.

Jenson Lewis took over with nobody on and nobody out, and squelched the Mariners rally on two fly outs and a groundout.  Lewis pitched a 1-2-3 eighth as well, before yielding to Julio in the ninth. 

Julio gave up one hit, but held Seattle scoreless to close out the contest.  Indians win 8-3 and break a three game losing streak. 

All told, the Indians scored eight runs on eleven hits.  Sizemore, Gutierrez, Martinez, and Shoppach each got two hits a piece for the Indians. 

Wladimir Balentien was the thorn in the Indians side for Seattle with two hits, one of them being the three-run homer that chased Lee. 

Fifteen thousand plus went on a cold damp evening to witness the Indians break their skid.  They close out the three-game stand Thursday night, hoping for a series win. 

Fausto Carmona goes against Brett Tomko at 7:05.  The Indians have one more home series against Kansas City before they travel to New York to rematch the Yankees.