Twins Two-Run Ninth Ruins Sowers Strong Outing 4-2
Even on a day when the teams starting pitcher took a perfect game into the 6th inning, the Indians were, as usual this season, looking up at another loss by the time the stands cleared at Progressive Field Sunday. A Justin Morneau double with two outs in the 9th inning off Rafael Perez was the difference, as the Twins escaped a great outing by Jeremy Sowers to top the Indians 4-2 in front of 31,562.
Sowers had his best stuff of the season, throwing to and retiring the first 15 batters the Twins sent up to the plate. His fastball was on, had great command, and was able to use both sides of the plate. Not until Craig Monroe hit a bloop double to start the 6th did Sowers allow a hit. From there a huge Nick Punto bunt single that Sowers and Andy Marte at third miscommunicated on opened the door as the Twins scored twice to go up 2-1.
The Indians scrapped a run in the 8th off of Twins relief pitcher Denys Reyes. Asdrubal Cabrera singled, went to third on a Grady Sizemore single, then scored on a sac to center by David Dellucci. It was the play by CF Denard Span, who crashed into the wall in the Tribe’s win Friday night that was the play of the game though. It looked as if Dellucci’s ball would get down, and if it would have, Sizemore would have easily scored and the Tribe would have been up 3-2. But Span made a huge catch, saving the game for the Twins.
Perez came in to start the 9th, and allowed a one-out double to Alexi Casilla that bounced into the seats in left. Then after getting Mike Redmond to K, Eric Wedge let Perez pitch to Morneau, citing his success against lefties. With a 3-1 count, Perez left a pitch up, and Morneau hammered it to left center, scoring the winning run. Delmon Young singled in an insurance run to make it 4-2.
The loss drops the Indians to 45-58 on the season. The Tigers come to Progressive Field for the first of four starting on Monday at 7:05pm. Paul Byrd, (4-10, 5.28) who may be the next Indian to get traded before the deadline, goes for the Tribe vs Kenny Rogers (8-6, 4.48).
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
