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Athletics 5, Indians 2
Striking similarity to Tribe's troubles

Weakness in whiffing nearing league leaders

By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Jul 06, 2009

CLEVELAND: This game wasn't about Cliff Lee, even though he lost it, and it wasn't about the bullpen, even though the relievers were vulnerable, too.

Pitching wasn't a strong suit for the Indians, who succumbed to the Athletics 5-2 Sunday at Progressive Field, but it was superior to an attack that might have made better use of its bats by donating them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Teams have won lots of games when the starter gives up three runs and the relief corps, two. The problem for the Tribe was rooted in the club's maddening fascination with striking out.

It's difficult to imagine a roster full of hitters who enjoy striking out, but if Indians batsmen truly hated going down on strikes, would they do it so
often?

Going into Sunday's game, the Tribe and Tampa Bay Rays were locked in a death struggle for the American League's No. 2 spot in strikeouts with 625 apiece. The only team with more was the Rangers, who began the day with 631.

Against Oakland, the Tribe added 11 strikeouts to its total for 636, which gave the Rangers and Rays something to shoot for. Fortuitously, these teams were playing one another Sunday night on national television.

As the Indians entered their fray against the A's, they appeared to have a clear advantage, with Lee going against inexperienced Gio Gonzalez, who came into the game with an 0-2 record and 7.27 ERA.

But don't let that fool you. Gonzalez had a huge advantage: Not only is he left-handed, but he also throws lots of soft breaking pitches and changeups, which usually put Cleveland batters into a swing-and-miss mode. That's what happened on Sunday, as Gonzalez swept through six innings, allowing two runs and six hits while striking out a career-high eight.

''I felt like they pitched a good ballgame,'' manager Eric Wedge insisted, speaking of all three pitchers used by the A's. ''Their starter was outstanding; he had a great curveball.''

Ryan Garko wasn't quite as certain of the quality of Gonzalez's performance.

''He pitched well,'' said Garko, who singled twice off Gonzalez. ''We were hitting his fastball, so he went to his breaking ball. He did a good job with it; he'd throw five or six in a row. But if we face him again, it might be different.''

At least the Tribe saved several strikeouts for key situations.

For example, after Shin-Soo Choo led off the second inning with a bloop double, Jhonny Peralta whiffed. Garko followed with a single that sent Choo to third, but Ben Francisco and Chris Gimenez both struck out.

Then there was the third inning, when Grady Sizemore drove in Cleveland's first run with a two-out double but Choo struck out.

In the fifth, Asdrubal Cabrera singled with one out, and Jamey Carroll and Sizemore struck out.

That's the way it went all afternoon, yet the Tribe was unable to establish a new season high in strikeouts. So for now, 14 strikeouts — achieved in a 13-inning game against the Cubs and a nine-inning game against the Royals — will have to stand.

Lee (4-8, 3.45 ERA) had problems from the start, but he hung in for six innings, allowing eight hits and four walks.

''It definitely was one game that I had to battle,'' he said. ''It's never good to walk four guys. I have to do a better job with that.

''I didn't feel I had a problem with anything other than walking guys. But they fouled off a lot of pitches and made me work.''

Lee gave up a run in the first, but it took his best effort to keep it that way. With runners on first and third, one out and the run already home, he struck out Jack Cust and induced Mark Ellis to hit a pop fly to the shortstop.

Only once did Lee retire the side in order (the fourth inning), and three times he allowed the leadoff batter to reach base. But when he left before taking the mound in the seventh, the Indians trailed only 3-2.

Peralta accounted for the Tribe's second run by hitting his fifth home run of the season with one out in the sixth inning. After that, Gonzalez and relievers Michael Wuertz and Andrew Bailey retired 11 of the final 12 batters.

Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.

CLEVELAND: This game wasn't about Cliff Lee, even though he lost it, and it wasn't about the bullpen, even though the relievers were vulnerable, too.

Get the full article here.


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