Indians Confidential

Fautso Carmona didn’t have his best stuff on Wednesday night, but thanks to a bunch of double plays, and some timely hitting by Grady Sizemore, it was more than enough to help the Indians beat Chicago 7-2 at the Prog.  Carmona, trying to put the nightmare of last years playoff disasters behind him, went 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, one run, walking four and striking out four.  He was helped out by three double plays that killed the Sox on a cold night in Cleveland.

Unlike opening day when it was near 60 degrees and it was a sellout, Progressive Field was a ghost town on this chilly night - 34 degrees at first pitch, and despite an announced crowd of 17,645, it was more like 10,000, and by the 8th inning, about 6,500.  Sizemore did more than enough on offense for the Tribe, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.  He was also hit by a pitch.

The Indians jumped on Sox starter Javier Vazquez for a pair of runs in the second when Sizemore hit a two-run single with two outs.  Chicago seemed to be just trying to stay warm, and finally did get on the board with a run in the 5th on a Joe Crede single to make it 2-1.  After that though, the Tribe took the game over and put it away in a hurry.

Asdrubal Cabrera singled in a run to make it 3-1, and then some patience at the plate paid off for Franklin Gutierrez, as he drew a bases loaded walk to make it 4-1.  The next inning against relief stiff Mike MacDougal, the Tribe jumped on the board for two more, with Sizemore and Cabrera both getting singles to make it 6-1.  Ryan Garko got a cheap RBI single in the 8th to make it 7-2 with two outs.

One late note was the MLB debut of pitcher Masa Kobayashi, who lasted a whole three batters, allowing two singles  before being lifted for Rafel Perez, who struck out Jim Thome to the loudest ovation of the night.  Jorge Julio allowed a 9th inning homer to A.J. Pierzynski to make it a 7-2 final.

A short turnaround for the two teams in the finale tomorrow afternoon at 12:05.  Jake Westbrook (6-9 last year) goes for the Indians against lefty John Danks, who was 6-13 last season.