The Indians' losing streak reached six games Friday ng a 12-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins. But it was what happened before the game that was more significant for the Indians than the game itself.
The Indians designated for assignment struggling closer Joe Borowski, and with no obvious replacement on the roster, Indians officials are effectively conceding that their chances of contending for a division title this season have ended.
Crippled by a run of injuries to several key players and with some others underachieving, the last-place Indians have decided to begin pointing toward the 2009 season.
For now, manager Eric Wedge said Masa Kobayashi will get the bulk of the save situations in the bullpen, but Wedge added that he might use other relievers in the...
Delmon Young and Nick Punto are starting to get comfortable in their roles. Young hit a three-run home run and had a season-high four RBIs, Punto homered and also had four RBIs, and the surging Minnesota Twins beat the free-falling Cleveland Indians 12-3 on Friday night. Young got off to a slow start after coming over in a trade from Tampa Bay, and Punto has battled injuries and hasn't been able to...
No stranger to drama, A.J. Pierzynski found himself at the center of it again. This time, he didn't mind. Pierzynski led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the game and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-5 Wednesday night for their seventh straight win. "Ozzie was yelling at me to not try to be a hero and hit a single," Pierzynski said.
Alexei Ramirez's soaring fly ball was either going to land in the glove of Cleveland left fielder Ben Francisco to end the game or clear the fence and tie it up with two outs in the 10th. The way things have been going for the Chicago White Sox lately, it was the latter. Ramirez's high fly was a game-tying homer off Indians closer Joe Borowski.
Nick Swisher knows this much: It's almost as difficult trying to explain how he's overcome his slow start with the Chicago White Sox as it has been to actually do it. "I wish I had the answers to it. I don't think in my mind I feel like I'm really doing anything differently now than I was at the beginning of the season.
Bronson Arroyo pitched worse and somehow got much better results. The Cincinnati Reds' right-hander bounced back from the worst start of his career and Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer in a 9-5 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. Arroyo (5-7) struck out six and gave up two runs over six innings for the Reds, who took five of six from their interleague and intrastate rivals this season.
Johnny Cueto added a few wrinkles and changes to go with his crackling fastball. The rookie right-hander won for the first time in four starts for Cincinnati, combining with four Reds relievers to shut out the Cleveland Indians 5-0 on Saturday night. "I've been working on my changeup and slider," Cueto said through an interpreter.
