Indians Confidential

What exactly is going on with C.C. Sabathia?  Could it be the pressure of coming off of a season where he won the Cy Young?  Could weather (despite it being 64 degrees at first pitch tonight) be an issue?  Or maybe do the Oakland A’s, a team he grew up watching in his hometown, have his number?  Whatever it may be, Sabathia’s issues with Oakland continued on Friday night, as he’s now 2-7 lifetime vs the A’s after the Tribes 9-7 loss.

Sabathia was beat up bad, allowing nine runs in 3.1 innings, 12 hits, two walks and four strikeouts.  He is off to a terrible start, as his ERA has ballooned up to 11.57 in three starts that now sees him at 0-2.  The Indians offense took quite awhile to warm up, as they were able to finally put up six runs in the 8th, but by then down 9-1 it made it 9-7, only for them to eventually lose 9-7.

The offense struggled early, with Jhonny Peralta hitting a solo homer in the 2nd, then finally got Joe Blanton in the 8th, able to get a couple runs across.  The big hit of the inning was a Ryan Garko double to deep left that scored two runs to make it 9-6.  Another run came across on a passed ball to make it 9-7, before David Dellucci hit a flyout to center to end the frame.

Saturday night at 7:05, the teams battle again, as Fausto Carmona (1-0, 0.69 ERA) goes for the Tribe against Lenny Dinardo (0-0, 54.00) for Oakland.