Indians Confidential

In a game that started with what seemed like 1500 fans in the stands at Progressive Field, those that couldn’t make it for game one of two Monday afternoon missed a heck of a pitching gem from Fausto Carmona, as the Tribe hurler threw a complete game shutout, stopping the Jays 3-0.  Carmona allowed five hits, walking four and striking out three.  He threw 108 pitches, 69 strikes, and as manager Eric Wedge pointed out, seemed to get better as the day went on.

Carmona improves to 4-1 on the season, with an ERA of 2.40.  The Indians pitching staff as a whole has been outstanding as of late, as they have thrown three shutouts in their last five games, with the only setback being the home run derby game that Paul Byrd allowed on Thursday afternoon in the Bronx vs the Yankees.

The offense didn’t do a whole lot off of Jays starter A.J. Burnett, but did enough to squeak out three runs.  The first came when David Dellucci came through with a huge two out single to right center that scored Grady Sizemore in the sixth that made it 1-0.  Dellucci was 2-for-4 and now has 14 RBI on the season.  The following inning the Tribe ended any doubt as Asdrubal Cabrera, playing short stop, hit a two-run homer that made it 3-0.

It was the first homer of the season for Cabrera, who went 1-for-3 and raised his rather ugly average to .198.  The story though was Carmona, who got a nice ovation from the crowd that grew by the ninth inning.  The last two innings Carmona got three ground outs, a fly out, and strike out, and a key double play.  Carmona is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last three starts.

It was a good way to start the first of two vs a Jays team that is looking more like the Indians of about 10 days ago when it comes to hitting.  The Indians improve to 19-18 on the year, and will look to take two and sweep the four-game set in the nightcap with Cliff Lee looking to go 7-0.