Indians Confidential

The lack of big hits as well as the continued blunders on defense Saturday afternoon spelled defeat once again for a young Indians team that seems to be ready to throw in the towel on the 2010 season just a month and a week in. The latest effort, a 6-4 setback to Detroit, was complete with 15 strikeouts against Detroit pitching, a pair of defensive mistakes by Luis Valbuena, and the return of Kerry Wood, who gave up two runs and took the loss.

The offense put up 4 runs on 7 hits, but if it were not for Austin Kerarns, who clearly has earned a spot in this lineup right now, things would have been real ugly. Kearns had 3 of the teams four RBI, and is hitting the ball better than anyone in the 1 through 9 lineup right now.

Justin Verlander threw 9 strikeouts against the Tribe, and then two Tigers relievers completed the K fest with six more to equal 15 on the day. The two teams combined for 26 strikeouts, but give some of that to mother nature and the wind gusts and on and off rain throughout the afternoon for that as well.

Wood, who came off the DL on Friday, pitched well to start the 7th inning, getting two quick outs, but his downfall started with a walk to Johnny Damon, then one to Mags Ordonez. Then Miguel Cabrera, who was hitting .372 at the start of the day, rapped a two-run double to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead after the Indians had tied the game on Kearns’ two-run single in the 6th.

Valbuena once again goofed at short, first not able to backhand a ball earlier in the game, allowing Detroit to load the bases, then in the 8th with two on and two out, a routine ball was hit to him that Manny Acta said simply got tied up in his glove, and by the time he threw to second for what should have been a routine force, Ramon Santiago was safe and the Tigers led 6-3.

The Indians had runners on second and third with no outs in the 8th, and Kearns sac fly made it 6-4. Then though Jhonny Peralta and Valbuena went back to back with strikeouts, ending a final threat and putting the season into a microscope.

The series finale and the homestand ends Sunday at 1pm with a Mother’s day affair.