Cleveland Indians-Oakland A's: C.C. Sabathia Pitches a Complete Game Shutout

Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore won the game with a lead-off home run.  It just took nine innings to prove it.

C.C. Sabathia pitched a complete game shutout, extending the Indians starting pitching scoreless streak to forty three and one third innings.

Even more impressive, the Indians shut down an Oakland A’s team that shelled Cleveland pitching a few short weeks ago.

18,000 plus rowdy fans trudged down to Progressive Field on a cold rainy evening to root on another great starting pitcher effort.  

Sabathia struck out eleven, walked only two, and allowed five hits, lifting his record to 3-5 on the year with the win.

Ryan Garko homered in the fourth, rounding out the game scoring, on a towering shot to left center.  It was Garko’s fourth on the season and second in two games.

Incredible defense again preserved the Indians pitching scoreless string in the top of the sixth.  Sweeney singled.  After a Cust strikeout, Frank Thomas hit a grounder right down the third base line that looked like it might sneak through.  Casey Blake, playing almost on the grass, made the stop behind the bag and into foul territory, threw quickly to second, and Cabrera wheeled and threw to Garko to complete a double play.  YOW!

The Indians offense had a chance to really break the game open in the bottom of the fifth, on a double and two walks by Ben Francisco, Blake, and Sizemore, the Tribe could not push across a run.

Johnny Peralta, after getting a 3-1 count, chased a bad pitch and hit a comebacker to A’s pitcher Joe Stanton.  He threw home for out number one, and catcher Suzuki wheeled, throwing out Peralta at first.  David Dellucci grounded out, letting Stanton off the hook.  

The Indians had five hits on the evening, all extra bases.  Three doubles and two homers made a full house of hits.  Peralta had two of the doubles, but didn’t get the hit when he needed it during the bases-loaded debacle.