Indians Confidential

In a season not filled with many memorable innings, or big innings for that matter, the Indians finally put one together Friday night, as a 6-run 7th paved the way for a 6-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field. That seventh inning saw things we have not seen much of this season - big hits with runners on base, some patience at the plate with walks, and sac flies when we needed them. All in all, six runs on four hits. It’s the kind of inning the team has waited for most of the first month and a half of the season.

The big hit of the inning came from Casey Blake, who started the run fest with a double that scored a pair of runs to make it 2-1. Then pinch-hitter Ben Francisco hit a clutch double to deep left that scored two more runs to make it 4-1. A wild pitch then scored Franklin Gutierrez to make it 5-1, and a sac fly by Jhonny Peralta bought in the the run of the frame to end the inning. For once, the offense was fun to watch.

On the pitching side, C.C. Sabathia had great stuff in putting the Jays down most of the night, allowing just one run on six hits in 7 innings. He walked two and struck out nine in improving to 2-5 on the season. Sabathia was 0-4 at home heading into Friday night, but finally found his stride by staying ahead of hitters all night and not getting into jams like his other home starts. He improves to 7-3 lifetime vs the Blue Jays.

It was a good way to kick off an important homestand, as the team looks to finally get over that hump and jump over the .500 mark. At now 17-18, the first step is to get to .500, and they can do that Saturday night again at home vs Toronto. Aaron Laffey (0-2, 2.84) goes for the Indians vs Dustin McGowan (2-2, 2.95) at 7:05pm.