Indians Can't Avoid Split of Twin Bill

Score: Toronto 3 Indians 0


Turning Point: Rafael Betancourt could not hold a scoreless tie in check. After loading the bases with one out, Betancourt gave up a sacrifice fly that made it a 1-0 Blue Jays lead. Next a single from Aaron Hill drove in two more runs to make it 3-0.


Analysis: Cleveland got its own terrific start from Cliff Lee. Lee scattered hits all night, and he had some fantastic defense behind him. In the fifth, Asdrubal Cabrera turned an unassisted triple play to end the inning. Franklin Gutierrez made a gorgeous catch in right field in the ninth with two runners on to preserve the shut out. But the offense never could get it going, only scratching out three hits. Justin Marcum fooled the Indians hitters all night.


MVP: Cliff Lee
Lee now has a new scoreless inning streak at sixteen. He went nine shutout innings tonight, giving up seven hits, and striking out five. Combined with last week’s start against New York, Lee has not given up a run in his past two outings. Lee has only given up four runs in 62 and 2/3 innings this season.


Extras:

- Cabrera’s triple play is the second triple play in less than a year for Cleveland. It was only the fourteenth unassisted triple play turned in Major League Baseball history. It also was the third triple play turned in the history of Cleveland Indians baseball.

- All three of the Indians hits were doubles. Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, and Franklin Gutierrez all had two baggers for Cleveland.

- Both starters combined to pitch eighteen shut out innings of baseball for the Indians. Fausto Carmona pitched a complete game shutout in game one of the doubleheader.


Next Up: The Indians welcome the Oakland Athletics into town, who are tied for the best record in the American League with Boston. Oakland is 4-2 against Cleveland so far this season. The Indians will look to Paul Byrd. Byrd struggled to keep the ball in the park during his last start against the Yankees. Byrd is 1-3 with a 4.28 ERA. The A’s will send Justin Duchscherer to the mound. Duchscherer is 1-0 against the Tribe with a 1.80 ERA this year. He has only allowed three earned runs in his last two starts, since returning from the disabled list. Duchscherer is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA. First pitch is 7:05 PM from Progressive Field.