The 2009 Major League Baseball season officially started on Monday, April 6th for the Cleveland Indians. As far as the citizens of Cleveland are concerned, the season started on Friday, April 10th.

The 16th home opener played at Jacobs…oops….Progressive Field marked the beginning of the latest “This is our year” talk around town. Everyone in attendance was ready to put the opening series the Indians played in Texas behind them. There was a sense of optimism and excitement in the air. It turns out that Mother Nature, along with the Indians’ pitching staff, had other plans in mind. Included in that was a rain delay of almost 4 hours.

With rain in the forecast and rather cool temperatures putting a chill on things, the Indians hurlers were about as miserable as the weather. Starter Scott Lewis started the game off well by getting through the Toronto order relatively easily. However, once he faced them a second time through, things changed quickly. Lewis’ final line was 4 1/3 innings, 4 runs (all earned), 3 strikeouts and one walk. Not terrible, but not too great either. Enter, the bullpen…

The combination of Rafael Betancourt, Joe Smith, Rafael Perez and Masa Kobayashi ended up allowing up 9 runs (all earned), with 4 walks and no strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Defensive misques by Jhonny Peralta and Shin-Soo Choo also helped throw gas on the fire.

The Tribe’s offense deserves some credit for trying to smash their way to a win, however. Travis Hafner went 2-4 with one home run, one double and 3 runs batted in. Hafner’s double just missed being a home run by a couple feet as it blasted off the wall of the visitor’s bullpen fence. Victor Martinez and Choo also added homers and Ryan Garko reached base 4 times with 3 walks and a base hit. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough offense.

Saturday’s afternoon game featured cool temperatures but an abundance of sunshine. If felt like a good day to win the first game of the season. Once again, however, it wasn’t meant to be.

Starter Cliff Lee continued the trend of the starters not getting out of the fifth inning by giving up 4 runs (all earned) and 4 walks, combined with 5 strikeouts. Lee’s record currently stands at 0-2 and his ERA actually DROPPED to 9.90. Yikes! Joe Smith and Vinnie Chulk helped keep Toronto’s hitters in check as the offense attempted a comeback.

The big offensive hit was provided by a struggling Mark DeRosa. With the bases loaded and 2 out in the 9th inning, DeRosa lined a pitch off the wall in left field that cleared the bases as he checked into second base with a double. It was his first extra-base hit and first RBI’s as an Indian. That would be as close as they would get though as Victor Martinez would eventually strike out to end the game, stranding DeRosa at second base.

Sunday’s game had a bit of a sense of urgency to it. Fans had been teased a few times in this young season already, feeling like the Indians we going to finally get a “W”. On top of that, they were already off to their worst start since 1985. Could this be the day it finally happens?

Starting pitcher Anthony Reyes, making his first start of 2009, gave the best performance of any starter to that point. He went six innings, allowing 4 runs (all earned) and 2 walks, while striking out 3 batters. Jesnen Lewis relieved Reyes and earned his first hold of the season and lowered his ERA to 4.91.

While all of this was going on, the offense was doing their part as well. Travis Hafner added his 3rd homer of the season, a 2-run shot, which was also his 150th career home run. Mark DeRosa added his first homer as an Indian, also a 2-run shot. The key hit, however, came off the bat of rookie Trevor Crowe. After striking out with the bases loaded and two out earlier in the game, he found himself in that same situation but this time, he ripped a double that short-hopped the wall in right center. By the time Crowe pulled into second base with his first major league hit, two runs had crossed the plate.

After all of this, closer Kerry Wood entered in a non-save situation since the score was 8-4. After starting with a 3-0 count to the lead-off hitter, Wood regrouped and preceeded to strike out the side in a dominating way. It was something Indians fans haven’t been able to enjoy since the days of Jose Mesa. And with that, it FINALLY happened! Kerry Wood and the Tribe wrapped up their first win of the season, now “improving” to 1-5 on the season.

And now all of North East Ohio can breathe a big sigh of relief…

Series Recap:

Overall Record: 1-5     Series Record: 0-2

The Good:

• Home Runs by Hafner (2,3), Choo (1), DeRosa (1), Martinez (2)
• Anthony Reyes gets first win by an Indians starter
• Kerry Wood stiking out the side to close out Sunday’s win
• Trevor Crowe and Mark DeRosa’s RBI doubles (2 RBI and 3 RBI, respectively)

The Bad:

• Starting pitching of Scott Lewis and Cliff Lee
• Bullpen performance on Friday’s home opener
• Scott Lewis placed on the DL with mild forearm strain
• The attendance on Saturday and Sunday

The Ugly:

• The weather on Friday, which featured a 3 hour and 47 minute rain delay

Next Up: After a brief homestand, the Indians travel to Kansas City to face the Royals (3-3) for a 3 game series. Monday and Tuesday’s games start at 8:10pm EST while Wednesday’s game will be at 2:10pm EST.

The Cleveland Indians played the Boston Red Sox tough but they fell just short on Wednesday night. A Mark Kotsay rbi double in the eighth inning provided the Red Sox with the winning run as they went onto beat the Indians by the score of 5-4.

Rafael Perez was the losing pitcher as he gave up the winning run for the Red Sox in the eighth inning. Perez allowed two hits and one run in his one inning of action. Fausto Carmona was the starting pitcher but he got rocked for five hits and four runs in just one inning of action.

All four of the Indians runs came via singles as Shin-Soo Choo, Jhonny Peralta, Victor Martinez, and Josh Barfield all had rbi singles.

The Indians will have a chance to get a split in the series as they take on the Red Sox once again on Thursday.

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The Cleveland Indians got two rbi’s each from Jhonny Peralta and Shin-Soo Choo as they beat the Minnesota Twins by the score of 6-4. The Indians are playing spoilers right now against the Twins as they just can’t get over the hump and catch the Chicago White Sox.

Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner each had one rbi each as well for the Indians.

On the mound it was Cliff Lee starting the game and throwing 6 1/3 innings. Lee was charged with ten hits and four runs as he wasn’t his usual self on Wednesday night. Lee walked three batters while striking out five and giving up one home run.

Edward Mujica ended up picking up the inning as he recorded the final two outs in the seventh inning. Jensen Lewis picked up his 10th save of the season in the ninth inning.

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The Cleveland Indians were attempting to sweep the Chicago White Sox in a three game series but they came up short on Wednesday afternoon as they lost 4-2. The pitching wasn’t too bad in the game, the Indians offense just couldn’t get anything going against White Sox starting pitcher Javier Vazquez.

The only two runs that the tribe were able to get off of the White Sox came in the sixth inning when Jhonny Peralta doubled to score Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore. Other then that double, the Indians struggled at the plate and when they did have a little rally going, they grounded into doubleplays.

Jeremy Sowers started the game off awesome but ran into trouble as he only pitched 5 1/3 innings. Sowers took the loss after being charged with all four runs that the White Sox scored. Three of the four runs the White Sox scored came via the home run ball as they took Sowers deep twice in the game.

The Indians will now be off on Thursday and will begin a weekend series with the Kansas City Royals.

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The Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night by the score of 9-7 as they finished off the Tigers in the three game series. The Indians didn’t have any problems finishing up the sweep as they scored in five different innings and outhit the Tigers 13-9.

Kelly Shoppach and Shin-Soo Choo both hit two run home runs to lead the Indians at the plate. Shoppach also added another rbi with a single that scored Choo. Grady Sizemore had another good game as he had a two run single to finish with two rbi. Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Garko finished up the scoring with an rbi each.

On the mound, Fausto Carmona tossed six innings and allowed seven hits and four runs.  Fausto threw the ball well enough to pick up the win and improve to 7-5. Rafael Perez gave up a run and then Rafael Betancourt and Jensen Lewis finished things up in the eighth and ninth innings. Lewis did have some problems however as he allowed two runs on a Magglio Ordonez home run.

Good series for the Indians! Indians Baseball

Once again it was the Cleveland Indians having no problems with the visiting Kansas City Royals. The Indians jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they beat the Royals 10-3. With the win on Thursday afternoon, the Indians finished up a three game sweep of the Royals.

Grady Sizemore had a huge day as he went 4-5 with seven rbi! Sizemore had a three run home run, three run triple, and a rbi single in the game. Talk about production with the bases loaded by Sizemore! Shin-Soo Choo added a two run home run and Jhonny Peralta added a solo home run to finish out the Indians scoring.

Cliff Lee improved to 18-2 on the season as he shut down the Royals offense for seven innings. Lee gave up six hits and three runs while striking out seven batters. Rafael Betancourt and Brendan Donnelly pitched the final two innings of the game to keep the Royals at three runs.

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Five runs in the eighth inning helped the Cleveland Indians come from behind and defeat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Wednesday night. Two home runs in the eighth really jacked up the tribe as they went onto win for the second time in the series. They will now be going for the three game series on Thursday afternoon.

Franklin Gutierrez hammered a three run shot in the eighth inning while Kelly Shoppach hit a solo home run. The fifth run of the big eighth inning came when Ryan Garko singled and Jhonny Peralta scored. Peralta and Shoppach also added home runs earlier in the game.

Zach Jackson ended up with a no decision after threw the first seven innings of the game. Jackson allowed seven hits and four runs while walking one and striking out four. It was too bad The Indians wouldn’t have scored more runs earlier in the game for Jackson to get the win. Juan Rincon who pitched the eighth inning ended up with the win and Jensen Lewis picked up the save which was his fourth save of the season.

The game will be an early one on Thursday and we will have a blog recap during the afternoon so check back! Indians Baseball Blog

The Cleveland Indians were defeated by the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night by the score of 8-5.  It was a bad loss for the Tigers as they fell to 46-59.  The Indians can’t throw in the towel yet and they need to keep going out there and competing at a high level.

On Tuesday night it was Matt Ginter who took the loss after only pitching four innings.  It was a bad start by Ginter as he gave up eight hits and four runs.  Ginter is now 1-2 on the season for the Tribe.  Juan Rincon allowed two runs as well did Rafael Betancourt.  Bad night but those three Indian pitchers.

David Dellucci, Jhonny Peralta, Shin-Soo Choo, and Ryan Garko all had one rbi each for the Tribe.  The other run was when Grady Sizemore scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning.  The offense wasn’t bad, the pitching staff just gave up too many rns.

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The Cleveland Indians dropped their game on Wednesday to the Los Angeles Angels by the score of 14-10.  In a high scoring game, the Angels were able to come out on top and take two out of three games against the Indians.  I blogged after the Indians took the first game of the series that I hoped they would win atleast one more but that sure didn’t happen.

The Indians sent Aaron Laffey out to start the game but he didn’t throw that good at all.  Laffey gave up 12 hits and eight runs in only four innings of action to take the loss.  Laffey was hit early and hard in the game and was never able to settle down.

The Indians bullpen wasn’t able to stop the bleeding as Tom Mastny gave up three hits and four runs and Jensen Lewis gave up four more hits and two runs.  Just a bad outing by the Indians pitching staff in the game.

Ryan Garko hit a two run home run and finished the game with four rbi to lead the Tribe at the plate.  Grady Sizemore stayed hot as he his his 25th home run of the season as well.  Shin-Soo Choo recorded two rbi while David Dellucci, Jhonny Peralta, Andy Marte, Sal Fasano, and Sizemore all finished the game with one rbi each.

All the blame has to go on the pitching straff in this game.  Anytime your offense puts ten runs up on the scoreboard you should be on the winning side of the game.  Indians Baseball Blog

The Cleveland Indians used three home runs to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 on Monday night.  It was a big win for the Indians as they beat one of the best teams in the league and improved their season record to 44-54.

Andy Marte and Jhonny Peralta both hit solo home runs while Casey Blake had a two run shot in the game.  Designated hitter David Dellucci got the Indians on the scoreboard first with a rbi sacrafice fly in the second inning that scored Peralta.  The Indians didn’t have any problems hitting off Angles starting pitcher Ervin Santana who took the loss and is now 11-4.

Paul Byrd pitched just enough to get the win as he only lasted 5 1/3 innings.  Byrd gave up nine hits but only allowed one run to score while striking out five and walking two batters.  Rafael Perez pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief after Byrd left the game and pitched pretty good despite giving up a solo home run to Howie Kendrick.  Masa Kobayashi picked up his sixth save of the year when he struckout the side in the ninth inning.

Let’s see if the Indians can take another game from the Angels out on the West coast as they will face off again Tuesday evening.

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