Indians Confidential

(From Yahoo Sports!)

Right-fielder Ben Francisco misplayed a simple single into a costly error in the 10th inning, enabling Jarrod Saltalamacchia to score from first base and give the Texas Rangers a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

Saltalamacchia drew a two-out walk on the 10th pitch he saw from Masahide Kobayashi (2-2).

Former Indians utility infielder Ramon Vazquez, who struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth against Rafael Betancourt, then lined a routine single to right. Francisco knelt down to play it safely, but the ball bounced between his legs and rolled all the way to the wall. Saltalamacchia scored easily and Vazquez reached third on the error.

Jamey Wright (3-1) worked two scoreless innings for the win and C.J. Wilson pitched the 10th for his 10th save in 12 chances as Texas won two of three in the weekend series. Cleveland has lost eight of nine.

Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton was ejected after arguing a third strike in the sixth. He went 1-for-3, ending his streak of multihit games at eight, one shy of Rusty Greer’s team record set in 2000.

Hamilton tried to check his swing on a 2-2 pitch from Indians starter C.C. Sabathia. Third-base umpire Dale Scott ruled otherwise. Hamilton got back into the batter’s box and showed where he had stopped the bat, then waved at Scott— who waved back as plate umpire Bill Hohn tossed the .333 hitter whose 53 RBIs lead the majors.

Sabathia gave up one run over seven innings—Ian Kinsler’s sixth homer leading off the sixth that tied the score at 1. The 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner allowed seven hits, two walks and struck out five but once again got little offensive support. Cleveland has scored two or fewer runs in eight of the left-hander’s 11 starts.

Texas starter Doug Mathis gave up one run over six innings. The right-hander, filling a rotation spot while Kevin Millwood is on the disabled list with a strained groin, gave up seven hits and three walks, striking out one.

Francisco doubled with one out in the first, took third on a single to left by Travis Hafner and scored on a single to center by Victor Martinez.

Martinez was back in Cleveland’s lineup after missing two games with a torn nail on the middle finger of his left hand.

Poor baserunning by the Rangers twice helped Sabathia out of trouble.

In the third, Kinsler lifted a short fly ball that was caught by Francisco. German Duran, on first after a single, was halfway to second and easily doubled off for an inning-ending double play.

The next inning, Michael Young singled and went to third on a one-out double by Milton Bradley. David Murphy followed with a looping ball that was caught on the outfield grass by second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. This time, Bradley was easily doubled off second to end that threat.

David Dellucci twice grounded into double plays for Cleveland. Martinez also grounded into one and was robbed of extra bases by Murphy’s over-the-shoulder catch at the warning track in right with two on to end the seventh. Martinez, homerless in 145 at-bats this year, slammed his batting helmet to the ground in frustration as he reached first base.