Small ball kept Cleveland behind Detroit in the
standings.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie reliever Jensen Lewis failed to get an out on consecutive bunts by Texas and the Rangers took advantage with three runs in the 10th inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 9-6 Wednesday night.
The Indians' fourth straight loss and seventh in nine games kept Cleveland a game behind Detroit in the AL Central.
Cleveland had a chance to gain a share of first-place with Detroit in the AL Central for the first time since before games of July 8 The slumping Tigers have lost eight of 10.
Ramon Vazquez lined a single to center to open the 10th against Lewis (0-1), who then fielded a bunt by Frank Catalanotto and threw too late to second to get the lead runner.
After pitching coach Carl Willis visited the mound, Lewis grabbed another bunt by Ian Kinsler. The right-hander, in his eighth outing since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on July 13, stumbled as he went to throw to third, then fired the ball into the dirt at first for an error, letting Vazquez score to go-ahead run.
Key pass
Michael Young was intentionally walked and Jason Botts, recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma before the game, scored Catalanotto with a sacrifice fly. Marlon Byrd followed with an RBI single, finishing Lewis and making it 9-6.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, in his first game since being acquired from Atlanta on Tuesday for Mark Teixeira, started at first base for Texas and had a two-run single while going 1-for-5.
Joaquin Benoit (5-3) pitched 22/3 innings and C.J. Wilson ended the game by striking out Kenny Lofton with two runners on for his second save. The Texas bullpen held Cleveland to three hits over the final 52/3 innings.
Catalanotto's two-run double off Rafael Betancourt tied it at 6 for Texas in the seventh after both teams got some impressive relief work in the middle innings.
Cleveland broke a 4-all tie in the fifth on an RBI single by Casey Blake and run-scoring double by Travis Hafner off Rangers starter John Rheinecker.
With runners on second and third, however, right-hander Willie Eyre struck out Franklin Gutierrez and Jason Michaels to end the threat.
Perez on fire
Indians left-hander Rafael Perez was even better in the sixth. After the Rangers loaded the bases against starter Paul Byrd with one out, Perez struck out Botts and Marlon Byrd on six pitches.
Catalanotto opened the game with a double to start Texas on a three-run first inning. Young had an RBI single and Saltalamacchia followed with his first hit for his new team.
Michaels hit a solo homer and Blake a two-run shot in a four-run second inning that put Cleveland ahead 4-3.
An error by first baseman Ryan Garko, who misplayed a grounder hit by Vazquez, enabled Marlon Byrd to score from second in the third to tie it at 4.
Rheinecker allowed six runs and eight hits over 41/3 innings in his third appearance and second start since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on July 23.
Hafner going down
Hafner has analyzed his swing from every angle and comes to the same conclusion as anyone reading his numbers on the scoreboard — he's struggling.
"I just have not been as consistent as I need to be," said Hafner, who was moved down one spot in the Cleveland Indians' batting order to No. 5 by manager Eric Wedge.
Wedge said he hasn't lost confidence in his designated hitter but acknowledged that Hafner breaking out would do wonders to a Cleveland offense that had scored two or fewer runs in six of its previous eight games.
"He's had his struggles, but he's still a great hitter," Wedge said. "I don't think there is anybody he can't hit. But for us to go where we need to go, Travis has to be close to his normal self."
For the past three months, Hafner hasn't come close. Since a 4-for-4 performance on April 23 put his average at .390, he had hit only .230 (71-for-309) entering Wednesday for season totals of .255 with 17 homers and 68 RBIs. That's a far cry from the 34 homers, 111 RBIs and .308 average he put together over the previous three seasons.
"I don't care where I hit," Hafner said of his demotion. "I just want to hit the way I know I am capable. Shaking things up could help us."
Hafner said he has spent hours working on his swing and remains confident that a hot streak is just around the corner.
"I always feel like I am going to catch fire, but so far, I just have not been able to get into a groove," he said.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Small ball kept Cleveland behind Detroit in the
standings.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie reliever Jensen Lewis failed to get an out on consecutive bunts by Texas and the Rangers took advantage with three runs in the 10th inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 9-6 Wednesday night.
The Indians' fourth straight loss and seventh in nine games kept Cleveland a game behind Detroit in the AL Central.
Cleveland had a chance to gain a share of first-place with Detroit in the AL Central for the first time since before games of July 8 The slumping Tigers have lost eight of 10.
Ramon Vazquez lined a single to center to open the 10th against Lewis (0-1), who then fielded a bunt by Frank Catalanotto and threw too late to second to get the lead runner.
After pitching coach Carl Willis visited the mound, Lewis grabbed another bunt by Ian Kinsler. The right-hander, in his eighth outing since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on July 13, stumbled as he went to throw to third, then fired the ball into the dirt at first for an error, letting Vazquez score to go-ahead run.
Key pass
Michael Young was intentionally walked and Jason Botts, recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma before the game, scored Catalanotto with a sacrifice fly. Marlon Byrd followed with an RBI single, finishing Lewis and making it 9-6.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, in his first game since being acquired from Atlanta on Tuesday for Mark Teixeira, started at first base for Texas and had a two-run single while going 1-for-5.
Joaquin Benoit (5-3) pitched 22/3 innings and C.J. Wilson ended the game by striking out Kenny Lofton with two runners on for his second save. The Texas bullpen held Cleveland to three hits over the final 52/3 innings.
Catalanotto's two-run double off Rafael Betancourt tied it at 6 for Texas in the seventh after both teams got some impressive relief work in the middle innings.
Cleveland broke a 4-all tie in the fifth on an RBI single by Casey Blake and run-scoring double by Travis Hafner off Rangers starter John Rheinecker.
With runners on second and third, however, right-hander Willie Eyre struck out Franklin Gutierrez and Jason Michaels to end the threat.
Perez on fire
Indians left-hander Rafael Perez was even better in the sixth. After the Rangers loaded the bases against starter Paul Byrd with one out, Perez struck out Botts and Marlon Byrd on six pitches.
Catalanotto opened the game with a double to start Texas on a three-run first inning. Young had an RBI single and Saltalamacchia followed with his first hit for his new team.
Michaels hit a solo homer and Blake a two-run shot in a four-run second inning that put Cleveland ahead 4-3.
An error by first baseman Ryan Garko, who misplayed a grounder hit by Vazquez, enabled Marlon Byrd to score from second in the third to tie it at 4.
Rheinecker allowed six runs and eight hits over 41/3 innings in his third appearance and second start since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on July 23.
Hafner going down
Hafner has analyzed his swing from every angle and comes to the same conclusion as anyone reading his numbers on the scoreboard — he's struggling.
"I just have not been as consistent as I need to be," said Hafner, who was moved down one spot in the Cleveland Indians' batting order to No. 5 by manager Eric Wedge.
Wedge said he hasn't lost confidence in his designated hitter but acknowledged that Hafner breaking out would do wonders to a Cleveland offense that had scored two or fewer runs in six of its previous eight games.
"He's had his struggles, but he's still a great hitter," Wedge said. "I don't think there is anybody he can't hit. But for us to go where we need to go, Travis has to be close to his normal self."
For the past three months, Hafner hasn't come close. Since a 4-for-4 performance on April 23 put his average at .390, he had hit only .230 (71-for-309) entering Wednesday for season totals of .255 with 17 homers and 68 RBIs. That's a far cry from the 34 homers, 111 RBIs and .308 average he put together over the previous three seasons.
"I don't care where I hit," Hafner said of his demotion. "I just want to hit the way I know I am capable. Shaking things up could help us."
Hafner said he has spent hours working on his swing and remains confident that a hot streak is just around the corner.
"I always feel like I am going to catch fire, but so far, I just have not been able to get into a groove," he said.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Rookie reliever Jensen Lewis failed to get an out on consecutive bunts by Texas and the Rangers took advantage with...
