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C.C.'s stellar start, 11 hits by Tribe lead to shutout victory over Reds
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Jun 28, 2008
CLEVELAND: And the hits just keep on comin'.
Multiple choice: The above phrase refers to: (a) Mariah Carey's career, (b) Most of the ''guests'' on the Jerry Springer Show, (c) Shawn Chacon's first and last visit with his next general manager.
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the Indians' offense. At least most of the time. But Friday night at Progressive Field, the Tribe unleashed an 11-hit attack to vanquish the Cincinnati Reds 6-0.
C.C. Sabathia also had a lot to do with the win, but so seldom do the hitters make it easy for any of the Indians' starters, the focus automatically shifts to them when they do.
But giving credit to Sabathia, manager Eric Wedge said: ''C.C. was fantastic tonight. From the first pitch to his final pitch in the eighth, he was in control the whole way.''
Grady Sizemore hit his 18th home run of the season with one out and nobody on in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie, so the Reds' rookie starter, Daryl Thompson, was not under severe pressure until relatively late in the game.
But in the sixth, the Indians scored five times, batting around and forcing Reds manager Dusty Baker to wear a path from the visitors' dugout to the mound to change pitchers. It took three to get three outs, with Thompson failing to retire anyone.
''Getting us on the board was big,'' Wedge said.
Casey Blake exercised his specialty of hitting with runners in scoring position by driving in the first run of the inning with a single. Kelly Shoppach drove in the second with a
sacrifice fly, and Sizemore doubled to score two more.
Finally, Jamey Carroll, who is in danger of giving utility infielders a good name, singled home the fifth run to complete the rally. Carroll had three hits altogether to raise his average to .304.
Question: Is anyone else on the Indians' roster hitting above .300? Answer: Yes, Sabathia, but his .333 average is based on one hit in three at-bats.
''He's been very consistent both offensively and defensively,'' Wedge said. ''What I think has helped is that he's played every day before. He's also a smart player, very heady.''
Sabathia (6-8, 3.78 ERA) was the other part of the winning equation. It was only the sixth time he has received credit for a victory, but anyone who has watched him pitch would have a difficult time believing that.
Since scaring the daylights out of Wedge and General Manager Mark Shapiro by posting a 13.50 ERA in his first four starts of the season, Sabathia has settled down (to say the least) to compile a 1.96 ERA and a record of 6-5.
The record, of course, is more a reflection of the support he has received than the way he has performed.
''Obviously that was a tight game until the middle,'' Wedge said. ''And when we did get some runs, he got us right back in the dugout.''
For the fourth time this year, Sabathia refused to give up a run. It was the ninth time he has allowed two or fewer runs, though his record in those starts is only 5-2 with two no-decisions.
Friday night, he worked eight scoreless innings, allowed four hits and two walks. He struck out 11, which gives him 31 strikeouts in his past three starts (10, 10 in the other two).
''Early in the game, I was all over the place,'' Sabathia said. ''As the game went on, I was throwing the fastball for strikes. For me everything works off the fastball.''
Sizemore saved him some grief in the first inning by making a sensational leaping catch near the high wall in left-center. If Sizemore had mistimed his jump or lost the ball when he hit the fence, Adam Dunn would have reached second with a double.
''Grady electrified everybody with that catch,'' Wedge said. ''I don't think anybody thought he could get to it.''
There was only one out when Dunn walloped the drive, and as it happened, Ken Griffey Jr. followed by drawing a walk and Brandon Phillips singled. However, Sizemore did make the catch, and no harm ensued.
''I just told Grady that he saved the game with that catch,'' Sabathia said. ''It meant everything. He's an All-Star, one of the best in the league. I kind of expected him to catch that. Maybe I'm stupid, but I really did expect it.''
After Phillips' single, Sabathia retired 20 of the next 22 batters before issuing his second walk of the game with one out in the eighth.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: And the hits just keep on comin'.
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