Lee is Lights Out Against Athletics

Score: Indians 7 Athletics 1


Turning Point: Travis Hafner lined a single into center field with two runners on and two outs, in the third inning. It was the first they have converted a two out base hit. The Indians were 0-6 last night. But once Hafner drove in his runs, Cleveland never looked back.


Analysis: Last night it was noted in the recap that poor pitching and poor hitting do not win ball games. Well clutch hitting and great pitching do win games. Cleveland came through at the plate in two out situations. The Indians were 4-6 with runners in scoring position and drove in six runs. But the story of the game was the second consecutive dominant start against the A's for Cliff Lee. Lee pitched eight innings, allowed one run on two hits, and struck out eight batters.


MVP: Cliff Lee
As stated above, Lee was lights out. He had streaks of retiring nine and thirteen batters in a row. Lee continuously pounded the strike zone early in the count, making it difficult for Oakland to have solid at bats. Lee allowed his first earned run in 14 and 2/3 innings. Lee is now 2-0 with a 0.61 ERA.


Extras:

- Grady Sizemore, David Dellucci, and Travis Hafner came up clutch with two outs. Their two out base hits were crucial in the win today. Sizemore had two base hits with two outs and runners in scoring position. Grady drove in three runs, and both Hafner and Dellucci drove in two. Hafner and Sizemore are now tied for the team lead in RBIs with eight.

- Jamey Carroll may not have had a two out base hit, but he was part of the table setting. Carroll reached base every time he stepped up to the plate. He was 1-1 with three walks and three runs scored.

- Oakland pitched Chad Gaudin hit Jamey Carroll with a pitch in the Indians half of the third, and it is becoming a familiar thing for Cleveland on the young season. The Tribe is the leader in hit batsmen with ten.

- Progressive Field was an ice box on Sunday afternoon. Temperature hovered in the high 30’s and the fans experienced snow flurries throughout the game. The game was originally delayed 48 minutes due to ominous clouds, yet a drop of rain did not fall during the delay.


Next Up: The Indians welcome the Boston Red Sox to Progressive Field tomorrow evening. This is the first match up between the two clubs since last year’s ALCS. The Indians will start Jake Westbrook, who is 1-1 2.76 ERA. The Red Sox will send Jon Lester to the hill. Lester is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA. First pitch is from the corner of Carnegie and Ontario at 7:05 PM.