Indians Confidential

While Jake Westbrook was awfully good, John Danks was just a bit better, and because of it the Chicago White Sox avoided a sweep in Cleveland as they eeked out a 2-1 win on Thursday afternoon. Westbrook (0-1) made two mistakes, both solo homer to Juan Uribe and Joe Crede, the 8th and 9th batters in the Sox order. Westbrook, who shined in the playoffs for the Tribe last season, lasted 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. The story though was Danks, who even getting the no decision pitched a whale of a game, holding the Indians without a hit for the first five innings. In 6.2 innings, he gave up just 1 earned run on two hits. The Sox pen then didn’t allow a hit as Crede’s 8th inning solo homer was the difference.

For the Indians, they struggled all day, getting just a handful of runners on, and then not being able to take advantage of it when they did get on. They left four men on base. Westbrook was able to sail through the Sox order with basic ease the first time around, not allowing a hit himself until the 5th. The problem was the bottom of the order, as both Uribe and Crede came back to haunt Jake after he fell behind in the count to put the ball out of the ballpark. The Indians only run came in the 7th to tie the game at one, when Ryan Garko doubled home Travis Hafner, who had walked, to make it 1-1.

The Indians board a plane and head out west, as their first road trip will be a 6-game west coast ride as they travel to Oakland to play the A’s and then three in Los Angeles. Tomorrow night their opener with the A’s is at 10:05 PM.