Indians Confidential

For those that don’t like Interleague play, the one benefit of it is seeing players that for the most part you never see. Indians fans can say on Saturday that they saw one of, if not the best player in baseball in the Cardinals first basemen Albert Pujlos.

All the monster did was slam two homers and a double, and put the Cardinals offense on his back as St.Louis topped a game effort from Indians pitcher Tomo Ohka in a Cards 3-1 win. Ohka was very good for a guy that didn’t look like he’d put up much of a fight for a St.Louis team that came in four games over .500.

He went seven innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits. He didn’t allow a walk, and struck out two and gave the Indians a chance to win the game vs fellow thrower Brad Thompson. The Cardinals pitcher, who entered the game 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA, was equally as good. He allowed just one run on three hits over three innings.

The homers for Pujols were numbers 21 and 22, and the second one was a no doubter, 451 feet. They came in the 4th and 6th innings. The Cards other run came in the 8th vs Rafael Perez when Jared Schumaker scored on a wild pitch.

The only Tribe run came in the bottom of the 4th when Victor Martinez drove in his 45th run of the season with a single that scored Jamey Carroll. Other than that, the Indians did get some baserunners, but really were overmatched by Thompson and ever were able to mount a real rally late.

The Sunday night game should be a classic. Cliff Lee (3-6, 3.17) goes up against Chris Carpenter (4-0, 1.23). The Indians are now 28-36 on the season.