Indians Confidential

Grady Sizemore thought it was gone. The Indians dugout thought it was gone. The fans thought it was gone.

About the only person that didn’t think it was gone was Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson, who robbed Sizemore of what would have been a game-winning two-run homer in the 9th inning off of Justin Verlander as the Tigers gave the Indians yet another setback, 1-0 at Progressive Field.

It was a cruel way to start a homestand that could mark the end of the Indians having any sort of shot to compete in the AL Central. The loss puts them at 11-19, and with the Royals coming up with an unexpected winning streak (6 heading into Friday night), the Tribe is already 7.5 games out. It could easily be double digits by the time the six-game homestand ends on Wednesday.

This game was another ride of frustration for a club that has no consistency at all. They were only able to manage two hits off of Verlander, who again did a great job of shutting down the Indians lineup. Detroit though was matched up with Cliff Lee, who pitched a whale of game, only to be betrayed by his defense in the 8th inning.

The only run of the contest scored when recent call-up Luis Valbuena double clutched a slow roller to second with two outs and Curtis Granderson at third. The runner going to first was Clete Thomas, and it was a bang-bang play that saw Thomas beat the throw, allowing the only run to score.

Lee slammed his mitt in the dugout after the inning, and Valbuena was so distraught at his game-costing mistake that he sat at his locker in the clubhouse with his head down after the game for quite awhile, and then did what he could to avoid speaking to any of the reporters that were looking for a quote.

All that could have been forgotten if Granderson wouldn’t have made the outstanding catch to save the day for Detroit in the 9th. Sizemore slammed a pitch that looked as if it would clear the wall in center. Granderson timed it perfectly, and made a leaping catch at the center-field wall to preserve the win.

“It was out of the park and he brought it back,” Lee said. “I felt like I did everything I could to help my team win, but some things are out of my control.”

The Indians have lost 5 of 7, and the bleeding appears to be getting worse each day. Saturday they will have another shot to get back in the win column as Fausto Carmona goes against Edwin Jackson.