C.C. K's His Way To Shut Out

Score: Indians 2 Athletics 0


Turning Point: This game was over after Grady Sizemore led off the game with a home run. The way C.C. Sabathia pitched tonight, the Indians only needed one run even though they got two.


Analysis: Sabathia kept the string of outstanding starts going with his first complete game shut out of the 2008 season. He was never really in trouble all night, and only once did Oakland have two men on base at one time. Grady Sizemore led off tonight’s game with a home run. Ryan Garko hit a home run for the second consecutive night, to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. But the story was C.C. tonight. He kept the A’s hitters guessing, by mixing his fastball and change up regularly.


MVP: C.C. Sabathia
Continuing his return to form since a rocky start, Sabathia’s stuff was electric. C.C. went nine shut out innings, giving up only five hits, and striking out eleven batters. He has a 1.49 ERA over his last five starts.


Extras:

- The Indians offense has been saved by its great starting pitching. Grant it, Oakland is leading the league in pitching. But the Indians squandered a bases loaded opportunity in the fifth and left four runners in scoring position tonight.

- Grady Sizemore’s lead off home run is his third of the season and fourteenth of his career. He trails Kenny Lofton, who had eighteen lead off homers during his Indians career, for the most in franchise history.

- Indians starters now have now pitched 43 and 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. The last run a starter gave up was last Friday against Toronto.

- Jhonny Peralta broke out of a 0-15 slump tonight, going 2-4 with two doubles.


Next Up: The Indians look for a sweep tomorrow afternoon, when they take on Oakland again for their final meeting of the 2008 season. South-paw, Aaron Laffey, will take the hill for the Tribe. Laffey will be making his fourth start since being called up from Buffalo. Laffey got his first win of the season last time he pitched. Laffey is 1-2 with a 1.83 ERA. The Athletics will send Greg Smith out to face Cleveland. Smith has not faced Cleveland yet, but he has been a solid starter since he was called up April 10th from Sacramento. Smith is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA. Tomorrow’s matinee kicks off at 12:05 PM from Progressive Field.