A bittersweet sweep: Indians end ugly first half on high note
Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram
CLEVELAND — Positive hasn’t been something the Indians have done well through the first half of the season.
But, for a change, the woeful Wahoos wake up today with reason to feel good about themselves, hitting the break on the heels of a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, which was completed Sunday at Progressive Field via a 5-2 victory.
The sweep accounts for the second-longest winning streak of the season for Cleveland, which entered the series riding its longest losing skid since 1979 — 10 games.
“We played some pretty good baseball the last four days,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge of his last-place club that took the wood to the first-place Rays, outscoring them 31-8 over the four games. “It was great to see. I think it was more typical of what you expect to see from us.”
Tampa Bay picked the wrong time to come to Cleveland. The four losses contribute to a season-high seven-game losing streak for the Rays, who entered the trip with the majors’ best record, but leave town having lost their top spot in the American League East thanks to their 13th consecutive loss in Cleveland. The Red Sox beat the Orioles 2-1 Sunday to take a half-game lead on the Rays.
“We played poorly here,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. “They outplayed us in everything. Give them credit. They did a good job.”
As they did for much of the series, the Indians used an effective outing from their starting pitcher, impenetrable bullpen work and substantial offense to finish off the sweep.
Jeremy Sowers didn’t figure in the decision, lasting just four innings in a strange outing, but still contributed to the win.
The left-hander, who is without a victory in 10 starts — 0-5 with a 7.51 ERA — allowed two runs on just three hits, while reaching career highs in walks (seven) and strikeouts (eight). His line also included a balk.
Of the 22 batters he faced, Sowers either walked or struck out 15 of them. In the second inning, he walked four and allowed a run, while striking out the side.
“It was pretty bizarre, especially walking four guys in one inning,” Sowers said. “That’s not something I’m proud of, but when you only give up two runs, I guess that’s something to feel good about.” “His stuff was as good as I’ve ever seen it,” Wedge said of Sowers’ crisp fastball and sharp curve. “I know he threw a lot of pitches, but he struck out eight guys in four innings. He is most definitely getting better.”
Sowers’ short stint left the game in the hands of Cleveland’s struggling bullpen, which came through against the Rays again, with a foursome of relievers — Tom Mastny, Edward Mujica, Rafael Perez and Masa Kobayashi — working five perfect innings to finish things off.
“I think guys down in the bullpen know we’re looking for people to step up,” Wedge said.
Indians pitchers allowed just three hits, striking out 14 and retiring the last 17 they faced.
Cleveland hitters beat another quality Tampa Bay starter in all-star Scott Kazmir, who allowed five runs on eight hits through six innings.
Shaking off a two-run deficit, the Indians scored twice off Kazmir in the third on a hit from Ben Francisco, followed by a sacrifice fly from Jhonny Peralta.
Peralta supplied two more RBIs with his 16th home run of the year, while third baseman Andy Marte also went deep in the sixth to provide the final count with his first homer of the season and first since the season-opening series in Chicago last year.
Peralta hits the break as the Indians’ hottest hitter, batting .353 (36-for-102) with five homers and 23 RBIs over his last 25 games since June 15. He has multiple hits in four of his last five games, homers in five of his last 12.
“He’s been as consistent as we’ve ever seen him,” Wedge said.
The same can’t be said of the Indians’ first-half performance, which leaves them facing a substantial deficit in the Central Division standings, a year removed from winning the division and advancing to the postseason for the first time since 2001.
Cleveland is 41-53 after posting a 52-36 record prior to the break last year.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
NEXT UP
WHO: Cleveland at Seattle
TIME: Friday, 10:10 p.m.
WHERE: Safeco Field
PITCHERS: Laffey (5-5, 3.45 ERA) vs. Hernandez (6-6, 2.95)
TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM
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Filed by Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram July 14th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 7% |
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