Laffey Leads Indians To Sweep Over Athletics

Score: Indians 4 Athletics 2


Turning Point: With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and one out, Masa Kobayashi came into relieve Rafael Betancourt. After a run scoring wild pitch, Kobayashi got Mike Sweeney and Ryan Sweeney to strike out for his second save.


Analysis: Well the sweep is official. The tormented have become the tormentors. The Indians struggled early in the season against Oakland, but they were finally able to get the monkey off their collective backs. Aaron Laffey was lights out again with another stellar outing. The scoreless inning streak is over, but it was his only hiccup all game. The offense was alright again. They scored just enough to win, and that’s about all you can ask for against the AL’s leading pitching staff. The team had eleven strike outs today and eight men left on base.


MVP: Jhonny Peralta
Peralta was a key bat in the line up today. Peralta was 2-3 with a home run and scored three of the Indians four runs. He also had a stolen base.


Extras:

- Ben Francisco had a great day at the plate. He was 3-4 at the dish and he drove in a run in the second inning. His average jumped from .286 to .344 which is a fifty eight point jump.

- Travis Hafner had another productive day at the plate. Hafner was 1-2 with an RBI single in the third, two walks, and a rare stolen base. It looks like he might be emerging from his slump.

- The Indians finished off their home stand at 6-1. The Indians starting pitchers had a 6-0 record over the past two series. The rotations stats are 55 and 1/3 innings pitched, with a 0.16 ERA. The starters struck out forty three batters and only walked eleven.


Next Up: The Indians hit the road to start a three game set in the Queen City. The Indians will send lefty, Jeremy Sowers, out to the hill. This is Sowers second spot start of the season. He last pitched on April 26th against the Yankees. He went 5 and 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out three. Sowers is 0-0 with a 5.06 ERA. The Cincinnati Reds scheduled starter is fire baller, Johnny Cueto. Cueto had a tremendous debut but has struggled since then. Cueto is 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA. The Battle of Ohio kicks off at 7:10 PM from Great American Ball Park.