Indians Confidential

It’s just too bad that Paul Byrd couldn’t pitch every game vs the Tigers. For whatever reason, Byrd has the Tigers number, and Monday night at Progressive Field he was at it again against the Motor City Kitties, shutting them out for 7.2 innings as the Indians won the first of a four-game set vs Detroit, shutting them out 5-0.

Byrd was helped out by an offense that used the long ball, with Kelly Shoppach hitting his 9th homer of the year and that being followed up by a two-run shot by Asdrubal Cabrera, who hit his second of the year. Both shots came off of losing pitcher Kenny Rogers, who allowed all five Indians runs on 9 hits in 5.2 innings.

There’s been talk about the Indians moving Byrd, who is in the last year of his deal. If last night was any indication, he would have some value on the market. He threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes. He raised his record to 5-10 on the season, and the big improvement was not giving up the long ball, which has been his issue all season. Pitching inside as well as he has all season, the veteran had the Tigers tied up all night.

The win puts the Indians back to 12 games under .500 at 46-58. The Tigers were lucky in that the White Sox lost, keeping them at 53-52, 6.5 back of Chicago in the Central. If they are not careful, they could find themselves 8-9 out by the time they leave town early Thursday evening.

The Indians will continue their series with the Tigers tonight. Matt Ginter, who’s 1-and-1 with a 2.45 ERA, will start for the Indians. The Tigers will send out Armando Galarraga, who’s 8-and-4 with a 3.27 ERA. First pitch at Progressive Field is set for 7:05 p.m.