Indians Confidential

While the white flag has not officially been raised, let’s just says it’s on the pole and in position. The Indians have reached a point in the 2008 season many thought they would never get to - last place in the division, and basically ready to call it quits and get ready for a fire sale to start building for the 2009 campaign. Last night at Progressive Field, the team lost their 6th game out of their last 8, making Barry Zito look like the Barry Zito of old, falling to the Giants 4-1.

Coming in with a mark of 2-11, Zito threw one-run ball over 6.2 innings, making the Indians batters look more like a Double A club, because calling them a Triple A club at this point would be too generous. Yes, many agreed that Zito had his best stuff Wednesday night, commanding the plate and throwing well to both sides of the plate, but again, this is Barry Zito - a pitcher that has been back and forth from starter to bullpen, and a pitcher that was 2-11 coming in.

While Zito controlled the Indians at the plate, Jeremy Sowers did what he could to keep the Indians in the game. He ran into trouble right away in the first, allowing two quick runs, but settled down from there. His main enemy at the plate was Jose Castillo, who was a triple away from the cycle, hitting a double, homer and single in four at-bats. His solo homer in the third put the Giants up 3-0, and with the Indians offense going quietly in the night, that was more than enough for Zito.

The offense finally broke through with their only run of the game in the 7th, when Shin-Soo Choo singled in Kelly Shoppach to make it 3-1. It was all the offense the team would show vs Zito, and four Giants relief pitchers. The team put up 6 hits, and against Zito, a pitcher who averages three walks per outing, they never got a free pass the entire night.

The loss puts them at 35-43, and with the Royals beating the Rockies, a team the Indians were swept by over the weekend, the team is now in last place in the division by .5 game. They are 7.5 back of the White Sox, who lost on Wednesday night. Tonight is the finale of the set, with Cliff Lee at 10-and-1 with a 2.45 ERA going for the Indians. The Giants will send out Matt Cain, who’s 4-and-5 with a 4.31 ERA. First pitch at Progressive Field is set for 7:05 p.m.