Montario Hardesty Injured, James Davis Steps Up in Preseason Finale
September 3, 2010Clincher! Clippers and Huff Put 8-0 Smack Down on Toledo, Punch Ticket to Postseason
September 3, 2010I would love to get my hands on STO’s ratings from last night. There couldn’t possibly have been more than 700 people tops tuning into to see two last place teams play a 10:05 EST start on the same night the Buckeyes opened their college football season and the Browns were playing their final preseason game.
Don’t forget that Jersey Shore on MTV also starts at 10 PM on Thursday nights.
Yes, I am one of the very few who were fortunate (or dumb) enough to watch the Tribe’s 6-3 victory over the hapless Mariners who came into the season as the favorites to win the AL West. Instead, they are wallowing in the cellar and playing Russell Branyan everyday. Did I mention their payroll of over $100 million?
Ironically on the same day our own Jon printed a story discussing Shin-Soo Choo’s power outage, the Indians best player hit a two-run homer that capped a five RBI night. I guess this means Jon should post a piece on someone new every day and how they are struggling.
Josh Tomlin took the ball for the Tribe with a couple of extra days rest. He wasn’t exactly sharp, but once again found his way through six innings, giving up all three of his runs in the third.
“He continues to help himself with the fact that he throws strikes,” Acta said after the victory. “And that’s something that we’re trying to do here. We’re trying to get back to where we were a couple of years ago, where our pitching staff was among the top strike-throwers. … So he fits that mold.”
Two of his three runs came on Branyan’s tape-measure blast off the right-field foul pole. It looked as though it was headed into the upper deck. Ever the majestic one, Russ watched the ball from the batters box as it headed deep into the Seattle night. “Most of the balls I hit like that hook foul on me,” Branyan said. “I just wanted to make sure it was fair before I left the batter’s box. In no way, shape or form was I trying to show anybody up.”
As bad as he was here in Cleveland, the guy still has 21 homers on the year.
As for the offense, they gave Tomlin all he would need to record his third win of the season in the sixth. Trailing 3-0 with one out and Luis Valbuena on first, Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera hit back to back singles to load the bases against Seattle starter Doug Fister. Up stepped Choo who laced a bases clearing double to tie the game at three.
“Choo is unbelievable,” said Cabrera. “We work well together. I’m seeing more fastballs because pitchers don’t want to walk me with Choo behind me. It makes me have better at bats, too.”
Travis Hafner then untied the game by singling in Choo. Meanwhile Tomlin was cruising. He retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced (Jayson Nix’s error was the only issue), including a 1-2-3 sixth after the Wahoos had just grabbed the lead. Very impressive stuff for the 25-year old rookie.
“He continues to help himself with the fact that he throws strikes,” Acta said.
Tony Sipp came in and pitched two perfect innings of set up relief, striking out four of the six batters he faced. It was Pure Rage time in the ninth, but Choo wanted to make sure Chris Perez had some more breathing room.
The Tribe right-fielder showed off his power stroke with a big two-run blast off of former Indian Jamey Wright giving his team some much welcomed insurance. “Choo is a stud,” said Acta. “He’s a legit five-tool player.”
Perez closed out the Mariners with ease in a perfect ninth to notch his 17th save of the year.
Tonight the Tribe goes for two straight with Fausto Carmona (11-13, 4.19 ERA) looking to get back to his winning ways. He will be opposed by Luke French (3-4, 4.13 ERA).
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)
2 Comments
I’m like a baseball sherpa: next up, I’m going to write that Carlos Santana and Grady Sizemore can’t possibly come back healthy next season and that Fausto will implode.
Then, sit back and watch it all come false!
Choo’s line in September: .500/.500/1.000. I think the power-outage may be…ehem…over.
I guess I’m one of the 700. Watched the game in Los Angeles.
May go to an Indians game against the Angels next week in Anaheim.
They’re selling tickets on stubhub for less than a dollar.
Wooohoo!