Indians 7, Cubs 8 – A tale of two bullpens

The good: the Indians got a seven-inning, three run start from Cliff Lee.  They put up seven runs in the first three innings.  They got some great defensive stops from Shin-Soo Choo and Jamey Carroll.  The game was streamed live in video to my iPhone for the first time ever.

Everything looked dandy for the Tribe in the first seven-ninths of the game.  But, at the top of the eighth it became apparent that Cliff couldn’t throw the whole game.  That’s right: the bullpen would be involved.  And I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the Tribe bullpen hasn’t been tossing gems this season.

At the start of the eighth, the Indians were up 7-2.  By the end of the eighth, the following things happened: Tribe goes down 1-2-3.  Joe Smith threw to four batters.  One got out.  The other three got hits.  Raffy Left came in and Jhhhhhony gives up a run on an error.  Then Raffy gives up an earned run.  Theriot flies out to center, inning over.  Cubs score 4 runs, get momentum, and in case you missed it the Indians were up 7-6 and that feeling of inevitability started to creep in.

The Tribe got two on with two out in the ninth, which was nicely followed up by a timely strikeout.  In comes Kerry Wood for the save.  Against his former team.  Oh, how we were all ready for this one.  Right?  Wood came in, and got a great stop at third by Jhhhhonny.  Then Wood got taken yard by Derreck Lee.  Two flyouts later, the game is going to extras, but the damage was done.

In the top of the tenth the Tribe offense got rolling.  Choo hit a leadoff single, then was thrown out at second on a single by Jhonny.  Then, Kelly Shoppach hits a routine popup foul along the first base line.  Derreck Lee inexplicably drops it, and the Tribe feel new life (at least I did).  Then, Shoppach hits a long fly ball to left field.  Hearts sink.  Alfonso Soriano muffs the catch.  Hearts soar.  Tribe have two on, one out.  Then Luis Valbuena strikes out (he of a three-run shot earlier in the game).  Up comes Benny Francisco.  He gets hit by a pitch and the bases are loaded.  Hearts soar.  Up to the plate comes Ryan Garko.  He gets good contact but hits the ball within range of Cubs CF.  Hearts sink.  Then, Fukodome has to readjust – the wind caught the ball and is pushing it left!!! Hearts soar!!!  And, he makes the adjustment and the catch.  Hearts sink.

In comes Luis Vizcaino to face his former team.  I have proof – look at the head shots of the winning and losing pitchers.  Oh, how I wish the Cubs got both the win and the loss.  After getting two outs, he gave up a single to Soriano.  After Soriano stole second, Ryan Theriot hits a spinner off the end of his bat.  It should be a routine one-hopper to Vic the Stick, but takes a funky hop and dribbles into right field.  Soriano scores from second.  Hearts sink.

The difference in this game?  The Indians bullpen came in and stunk.  The Cubs bullpen threw six straight shutout innings.  This is as bad a loss as we’ve seen this year.