Tribe Drops Finale, Splits Series With Yankees

Score: Yankees 5 Indians 2


Turning Point: Aaron Laffey had dominated up until the top of the sixth inning. He had a no hitter going. Then, Laffey gave up two infield hits, and then hit Alex Rodriguez on a 1-2 pitch. At the end of the inning, Laffey had lost his two run lead, and he was on the bench. The Yankees were up 4-2.


Analysis: The Tribe had plenty of scoring opportunities. After already scoring a run, the Indians had the bases loaded with nobody out in the fifth, and were only able to muster one run across on a Travis Hafner sacrifice fly. Again the Indians’ offense is either feast of famine in this short season, and the lineup looks feeble against the Yankee bullpen. On the hill Aaron Laffey was tremendous. He was victim to two infield singles, and that was all the powerful Yankee lineup needed to get rolling. Jensen Lewis was less then stellar in his two innings of relief. Jorge Julio pitched and inning and a third of shutout ball.


MVP: Jason Michaels
Michaels was 2-3 with an RBI in this game. His at bat to drive in the run was fantastic. He also made a spectacular diving catch on a Derek Jeter line drive.


Extras:

- Grady Sizemore was held out of the lineup for the second night in a row. Sizemore, who twisted his ankle on Saturday, was held out for precautionary reasons. David Dellucci led off for the second game in a row. He went 1-5 with two strikeouts.

- Travis Hafner continues to struggle at the plate, especially in two strike situations. He now leads the team in strikeouts with twenty eight. He continues to watch pitchers locate fastballs on the outer half of the plate, and he does not offer at them. Hafner needs to learn to go the other way to left field, or his average will continue to flounder.

- Ryan Garko is in the midst of an 0-23 slump. Garko’s average his dropped from .314 on April 16 to .227 tonight.


Next Up: The Indians will welcome the Seattle Mariners to Progressive Field tomorrow night for a three game series. The Indians will send out sinker baller, Fausto Carmona. Carmona is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA. The Mariners will start former Minnesota Twin, Carlos Silva. Silva is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA. This should be a great pitchers duel. First pitch will be at 7:05 PM.