Garko helps Indians win again vs. Tampa Bay
Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram
CLEVELAND — A visit from Tampa Bay appeared to be a death sentence for the Indians, who entered a four-game series against the major league-leading Rays riding their longest losing streak — 10 games — since 1979.
If anything, it’s breathed life into them.
Finding a strange cure to its losing ills, last-place Cleveland is a win away from completing a sweep of first-place Tampa Bay after an 8-4 victory in front of 35,706 fans at Progressive Field on Saturday night.
“The Rays are a real good team,” said first baseman Ryan Garko, who returned to the lineup in a big way, driving in five of his team’s runs in a 2-for-4 performance that featured his seventh home run. “I think we need to remember that every night we go out there we’re just as good as anyone we play.”
The Indians used another impressive offensive performance and a small-but-effective dose of starting pitcher Matt Ginter to win their third straight over Tampa Bay and their 12th consecutive over the Rays in Cleveland. Tampa has lost a season-high six straight games, entering the night leading Boston by 1 1/2 games in the AL East.
Called up from Triple-A Buffalo to make his first start of the season and his first appearance in the big leagues since Sept. 15, 2005 — as a member of the Tigers — Ginter tossed five shutout innings, allowing five hits, while striking out five to get his first major league victory since 2004.
“I wasn’t too nervous,” said Ginter, who equaled a career-high with the five strikeouts. “I kind of got that out of the way. I told myself, ‘It’s been three years. There’s nothing to be nervous about.’”
The right-hander allowed hits in four of the five innings he worked, but was unscathed by any of them, retiring seven of the last eight hitters he faced, with the lone baserunner reaching on an infield single.
“You saw a guy that did a good job of using the plate and mixing his pitches,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge. “It was just a great effort for somebody that hasn’t been here all year.”
Cleveland had little problem solving Rays right-hander Matt Garza, who entered his 17th start with a respectable 7-4 record and 3.51 ERA.
After going scoreless in the first, the Indians scored seven runs over the next two innings, stringing together eight straight hits over the span. Cleveland hitters went a whopping 11-for-18 off Garza through the first three innings.
A pair of two-run homers from Garko and Grady Sizemore put the Indians in front 4-0 in the second, with Garko returning to the lineup after a two-game absence to homer to left field on the first pitch he saw of the night.
It was the first extra-base hit for Garko since June 10, a span of 24 games.
“I’m not too worried about that,” said Garko, who was moved to the eighth spot in the order, batting .240 on the season. “The numbers will be there in the end. I just have to keep believing that. I really don’t have any confidence issues.”
“He has some real good swings tonight,” said Wedge of Garko, who added a bases-clearing double to put Cleveland up 7-0 in the third. “He really stepped up for us.”
Sizemore hit his league-leading 23rd homer, while Ben Francisco also contributed to the offense, reaching base in all five of his trips to the plate (three walks).
All of Cleveland’s runs in the second inning came with two outs, a situation the Indians have flourished in during this series, going 19-for-43, while driving in 15 runs.
The Indians sport the AL’s worst offense, but have performed as one of the best against Tampa Bay, which entered the series as one of the league’s top pitching staffs. Cleveland has outscored the Rays 26-6 in the three games.
“I think we’re doing a better job in hitter’s counts,” Wedge said. “I still feel like there’s a lot of improvement to be made, but it’s been a lot better the last three days.”
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram July 13th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 8% |
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