Indians Confidential

On a day when C.C. Sabathia was very good, Yankees starter Chein-Ming Wang was just a bit better. The Yankees righty, who the Indians beat up last year in the playoffs, was on as the Yankees finally took a game from the Indians in this four-game set, topping them 1-0 at Progressive Field. The only run of the game came in the 5th inning, when Yanks CF Melky Cabrera hit a solo homer off of Sabathia that traveled into the home run porch. Other than that, it seemed like a National League game, with each team trying to do whatever it could to put runners on.

Both teams were held to just four hits, and the Indians left just six men on base. Each time they seemed to get a runner on, it either came with two outs, or it was a deal where they were not able to get that runner over, with Wang shutting them down at every turn. It was a day where they team really seemed to miss leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore, who missed the game due to an ankle injury that he suffered Saturday in the ninth inning. It’s the first time that Sizemore has sat for a full-game in 382 games, breaking the longest streak in the Majors. He will be updated tomorrow.

Credit has to go to Wang, who had five good pitches going on Sunday, keeping the Indians off balance with his slider most of the day. He struck out nine batters, and again, never really allowed the Indians to get into a groove. He’s now 5-0 on the season, the first AL pitcher to get five wins in 2008. For Sabathia, it was a hard luck loss, as he did his part in keeping the Yankees shut down for most of the day, other than Cabrera’s 347 foot homer that counted for the only run.

Monday the teams conclude the wrap-around four-game set. Aaron Laffey will get the call to pitch for the Indians, while the Yankees will counter with Mike Mussina (2-3, 4.94) at 7:05.