Score: Indians 2 Royals 0Turning Point: Cliff Lee escaped the fifth inning, after Jose Guillen doubled off the left field wall. It was the first real scoring opportunity either team had in the game. Lee regained his composure, and calmly struck out the side.
Analysis: This was a pitcher’s duel tonight. Two of the American League’s hottest pitchers matched up, and the Indians were finally able to get to Brian Bannister. In the seventh, David Dellucci took a first pitch fastball and launched it into the right field bullpen. Asdrubal Cabrera drove in Travis Hafner for an insurance run, and with the way Cliff Lee was pitching, that’s all the runs the team would need.
MVP: Cliff Lee
What more can you say? Lee is pitching the best that he ever has in his career. He pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine and only giving up three hits. He now has pitched twenty one consecutive scoreless innings. His ERA dropped to a league leading 0.20.
Extras:
- While the first game was a marathon, the second game was a sprint. The game took a little over two hours to complete.
- This is the Indians’ first series win since the opening series against the White Sox. It is also their first sweep of the year.
- An interesting side note, the Indians played in their blue tops and gray pants in game one of tonight’s double header. The second game saw a change in tops, when the Indians took the field in their road grays. A total of twenty five minutes elapsed before the start of the second game.
- The Indians finish the road trip with a record of 4-2.
Next Up: The Tribe head home to take on the Bronx Bombers for four games. First pitch is tomorrow night from Progressive field at 7:05 PM. The Indians will hand the ball to Paul Byrd, who has pitched really well in his last two outings. Byrd is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA. The Yankees will pitch southpaw and Tribe nemesis, Andy Pettitte, who has been sharp so far this season. Pettitte is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA.
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