While We’re Waiting… LeBron 2010, Browns Fans, Game 7’s
May 16, 2009Indians vs. Rays Open Thread
May 16, 2009
Rays 8, Indians 7 BOX SCORE
The Indians were on the verge of their first three-game winning streak of the season. They were about to win four out of five, and possibly move within four games of first place in the central division. With the help of solid pitching and clutch hitting, the Cleveland Indians looked amazing for a while last night… And then disaster struck.
Through three and a half innings, Cleveland was up 7-0 on the Rays. Through these first few frames, the Indians had 10 hits while starter Anthony Reyes had retired the first nine batters he faced. Everything looked great for the Tribe as even the announcers and good ol’ Al Pawlowski were comparing this rout to the show the Blue Jays put on against the White Sox last night…. And then disaster struck again for the Indians, in the latest event of what is turning out to be a very disappointing year as their record stands at 14-23 through the first 37 games.
During the rest of the game, the Indians managed only one more hit, including going only 2-14 with two walks after the top of the fourth inning. Of those two hits, one was an infield single on a bunt by Sizemore, while the other one came from Shin Soo-Choo who was eventually stranded at second to end the ninth. Meanwhile, here is how the defending AL champions came back and caught up with the Tribe:
Bottom of the Fourth vs. Reyes: three hits, three runs
Bottom of the Sixth vs. Reyes/Sipp/Lewis: two hits, two runs
Bottom of the Seventh vs. Lewis/Betancourt: three hits, one run
Bottom of the Eighth vs. Betancourt: one hit, one run
Bottom of the Ninth vs. Vizcaino: one hit, one run
The bullpen struck again as newcomer Luis Vizcaino could not solve things out in the ninth, and a walk-off home run by BJ Upton gave Tampa Bay the victory. The Indians relievers combined to allow five hits, three runs and a pair of walks over just 2.2 innings while the Rays pen combined to shut out the Indians and allow just one hit in 5.2 innings of work.
The Indians are really not that far back out of the pennant race. Talking with my brother last night, it was shocking to see how bad the AL Central is this year, and how close the Indians still are to playoff contention. A few more wins and the Tribe will be right back in the thick of things. Until that point however, this loss is going to sting for a while as the Indians will just be shaking their heads at allowing the biggest Tampa Bay comeback in their franchise history.
8 Comments
Unreal. Was that uptons first jack of the year? I know he can’t have many.
Props to Wedge for calling out his staff. He’s “sick of watching Lewis throw the ball.”. He isn’t alone.
Upton was hitting somewhere in the .160s or so (no HRs) coming into last night. Nothing like the Tribe ‘pen to get a guy going.
I was all set to take a “Fire Wedge” sign to the game today, but he gets a one-game reprieve for getting after the throwing staff. Downside is now I have to come up with something else: might have to borrow the “bullpen option” idea.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Anthony Reyes is a liability on this team, as he cannot last more than 5-6 innings, and our bullpen is simply not reliable. I’d call up Huff and let Reyes rest his tender elbow or whatever he needs to do to get to the point where he can actually make it to the 7th inning every now and then.
Why not make Reyes the long inning bullpen guy? As LM said, he clearly can’t pitch more than 5 innings, so don’t give him a chance. He almost always starts out good, so let’s see what he can do for 3 innings here and there.
Lyon, you’re pretty brilliant. Then we can stick Laffey back in the rotation. Then again, we might just leave him in the bullpen, since it’s not as if we have a surplus of reliable options there.
Did you guys read Wedge’s comments in the PD this morning? Wow, he’s never gone off like that before. But I’m glad to see it. He’s always been a little too reserved and “corporate.” Nice to see him get mad.
Stunner?
i would have been more stunned if the relief guys came in and closed it out scoreless.
See what happens when the Indians try to play without the leadership and guidance of Eric Wedge…they were up 7-0 and then Wedgie got tossed…they were lost without him! Or, maybe it was just another disappointing, stunner of a tribe game…and you’re right, that one stings.