Tribe Beat Up KC & Lee Wins #21

Well, I got to hurry up with this recap before I get trampled by the way more important (really) Browns recap. I also feel sorry for the OSU recap I'm pushing out of the way here but it wasn't too impressive, so I'm sure most OSU fans have already started thinking and worrying about next week's game.

Game 1 brought Anthony Reyes to the mound once more. This morning Terry Pluto wondered if Reyes was our Brandon Philips or Jeremy Guthrie. The good news is: yes I think he could be. The bad news is: he left this game after pitching three innings with a sore elbow. While sore elbow can sometimes be a horrible, horrible thing Reyes has been cleared of any major problem and his next start will be skipped (more on that later). Asking this bullpen to cover for a three-inning effort from the starter is usually asking a lot. Luckily, the bullpen has been strangely more effective recently and this is the Royals we're talking about. Mujica goes two scoreless and picks up the win. Following Mujica is Mastny, who also went two innings but was tagged for the sum of the Royals offensive output with three runs. Betancourt and Kobayashi close out the game with scoreless innings. Luckily for the Indians, the offense was still working and scored five runs off starter Brandon Duckworth, which would have been enough to win if that was all the Tribe had in them. The offense ended up with nine runs on 12 hits. Cabrera, Choo, Martinez and Carroll all had two hit games and the offense was supplied by almost everyone with Gutierrez being the only Indian without an RBI or an run scored. Tribe win 9-3.

Zach Jackson took the mound, looking to continue the Indians' 10 game road win streak. Unfortunately for Jackson, he faced off with Gil Meche, who the Tribe didn't figure out all night. Jackson, however, pitched an OK game himself going seven strong innings and only giving up three runs. That wasn't enough on this night against Meche, who ended the evening with seven innings of three hit baseball while only allowing one run and striking out 10 Indians. The lone Indians run came from a triple by Choo, who was then scored thanks to a sac fly by Garko. Tribe lose 1-3.

With Cliff Lee pitching against the Royals Sunday you had to expect good things, and today was no exception. Lee went 7.1 innings, scattering seven hits while allowing a run in a less-than-impressive sixth inning after hitting Jose Guillen and then giving up back-to-back singles to score the run. Lee did settle down and closed out the sixth and seventh without any real trouble after that. Offensively the Tribe did enough for Lee. With Choo reaching base three times and scoring two runs and Martinez knocking in all three Indian runs with a two-run single and a Choo scoring double. Perez, Betancourt, and Lewis closed out the game. Tribe win 3-1 and Cliff Lee wins number 21.

Back to the Reyes situation. If you haven't heard, the Indians recalled Scott Lewis to start for Reyes' Wednesday scheduled start. This will mark S. Lewis's major league debut. The 24 (late September birthday) year old Lewis went 6-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 13 starts for the Aeros this year, and 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts at Buffalo. With room already taken at the majors it was decided to send him to AA to allow him to participate in the Aeros playoff run. In Akron's 6-5 victory over Bowie, he took a no decision while allowing three runs in 5.2 innings.

Speaking of the Aeros playoff squad, Travis Hafner is doing what he can to help out the AA Tribe guys. Hafner, who will likely be recalled Tuesday, has hit a two-run homer in Saturday's contest and had a grand slam in Friday's match against Bowie. Saturday's win sent the Aeros to the Eastern League Finals.

Over at the Tribe Time Report they have some questioning of Wedge's lack of use of the September callups. Is Wedge too busy trying to win every game?

There is also been some rumbling about Laffey's shutdown and what it means for his free agent deadline. The other possible question is why the Tribe called up Lewis instead of Huff for the spot start Wednesday. Choo continues to impress and I look forward to seeing what he can do for an entire season.

Finally a sad thing will happen tomorrow when the Red Sox pass the 455 mark of consecutive sold out games. No one before the Indians had sold out an entire season and then the Indians go and do it for five seasons. I'll always happily remember those years and don't feel like the Red Sox passing it will diminish that at all.

The Tribe open a four game set against Baltimore tomorrow at Camden Yards.

Game 1: Fausto Carmona, RHP (8-5, 4.51) vs. Garrett Olson, LHP (8-7, 6.53)
Game 2: Jeremy Sowers, LHP (2-8, 5.97) vs. Jeremy Guthrie, RHP (10-11, 3.57)
Game 3: Scott Lewis, LHP (0-0, -.--) vs. Chris Waters, LHP (2-2, 5.40)
Game 4: Zach Jackson, LHP (0-2, 5.56) vs. Radhames Liz, RHP (5-4, 7.91)

Olson got lit up last outing, Guthrie's last start was skipped thanks to a case of dead arm, Waters has a hard time going six but last time out was betrayed by his pen, and Liz allowed nine runs in 3.1 innings at Fenway his last time out. I like the Indians' chances this series.

Go Tribe!

(AP Photo/Ed Zurga)