Sunday July 20, 2008
Indians 6, Mariners 2
American League All-star starter Cliff Lee picked up where he left off in the first half with his 13th victory of the season over the Mariners 6-2. Lee gave up a season high eleven hits, but “controlled” the lineup with consistency, needing only 109 pitches for the complete game victory. The big lefty was in control staying ahead in the count all afternoon and didn’t walk a single batter all game. It was his fifth career complete game.
Mariners starter Carlos Silva had to leave the game in the fourth inning with back tightness. Some might think (booing Mariner fans) that Silva just plain got yanked after he allowed a three-run home-run to Kelly Shoppach. Either way, he is not living up to his lofty free agent contract. Silva himself will be the first to tell you he is embarrassed with his pitching this season.
Roy Corcoran took over for SIlva and didn’t fare much better. Corcoran allowed a double by Grady Sizemore, an RBI single by Casey Blake and a Shoppach RBI single to widen the Tribe lead to 6-1 in the fifth.
Jose Vidro and Miguel Cairo both had solid days at the plate against Lee as they both went 3-for-4 with one RBI for the M’s. Cairo hit his first triple of the season in the 7th scoring Jose Lopez to make it 6-2.
The seventh inning marked the return of J.J. Putz back to the pitching staff and he didn’t disappoint. “Thunderstruck” retired the Indians side in order finishing with a Shin Soo Choo strikeout on some 96 mph heat. That type of velocity alone is an improvement as Putz was barely above 90 mph before he went on the DL.
The Mariners will stay at home for a three game series against Boston. Jarrod Washburn (4-8) will face Jon Lester (7-3) at 7:10 PT. The Mariners have played the Red Sox tough in two series this season, winning the first series in May and losing a series in June for a 3-3 record.
