Carmona, Cabrera Outstanding In Game 1

Scott will be by later with game 2 breakdown… (can you tell who drew the long straw?)

Fausto Carmona needed only 108 pitches to dispose of the Blue Jays in the day part of the day-night double dip. The Tribe righty improved his mark to 4-1, and picked up the second shut-out of his career. He had plenty of defensive help in this one. Seventeen ground ball outs and two double-plays worth of help, including one of the best plays we’ve ever seen from a SS wearing number 13. (Video available here.)

Cabrera’s defense has to causing Wedge and Shapiro to seriously consider shaking things up a bit. I don’t know if Peralta can play third. I don’t know if the regular season is the right time to let him try, but Cabrera IS the SS of the future for the Indians. Coming up we knew that Peralta’s defense wasn’t his strong point. We knew that he was touted as an offensive minded SS, and that his defense would improve. Neither is happening. With the ground ball pitchers that the Tribe has, defense is at a premium. Cabrera would also provide the offense in this one, hitting his first homer of the season, a two run shot that put the Tribe in front 3-0, more than enough for Fausto.

Ben Francisco made a great play in this one as well, nailing Scott Rolen at third base with a laser throw that got to Casey Blake on one hop from his right field position. The play helped ensure the shutout, Cleveland’s second consecutive against the Blue Jays. In fact, the Indians held the Jays to 1 run through the first three games of the series. A trend that would continue for a while in the second game…