In a year chuck full of things to be disappointed about, Cliff Lee is one of the few bright spots of the 2008 Indians campaign.  Even a fifty seven minute rain delay could not keep him from being the first pitcher in the AL to 10 wins; the Tribe beating Detroit 8-2 and ending the four game series in a draw.

The Indians head home to Cleveland Tuesday evening for a three game series against the Minnesota Twins after closing out their ten game road trip 5-5.

Lee went five innings, giving up two runs on six hits, surrendering a pair of walks and striking out five.

The Cleveland offense staked him to an eight run lead early, scoring three runs in the first and five in the second. 

Dontrelle Willis took the loss for Detroit.  He went one and a third innings and was responsible for all eight of Cleveland’s runs before departing to a chorus of boos.

Walks cost him dearly.  In the first inning, he walked Ben Francisco and Victor Martinez, then gave up a three-run home run to Ryan Garko.

In the second, he walked Casey Blake and Shoppach took him deep on a two run homer.  After Barfield flied out, Franklin Gutierrez singled, and Francisco and Martinez each walked, loading the bases and finishing off Willis.

Bautista relieved, immediately plunked Garko, and Gutierrez walked home on the hit batsman.  Jhonny Peralta singled in Francisco, and Shin-Soo Choo hit a sac fly to score Martinez.  That ended the Indians scoring for the night.

Detroit got two runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth.  Guillen opened the frame with a free pass.  After a Brandon Inge line-out, Clevlen singled to left, putting runners on first and second.  Granderson flied out, but Renteria singled scoring Guillen, and Polonco double scoring Clevlen. 

Little else went on the rest of the game.  Perez, Betancourt and Kobayashi finished up the game for the Indians.  Betancourt issued a free pass and got a strike out in his one inning of work.  Kobayashi pitched the ninth without giving up a hit.

Detroit also used four pitchers total   After Willis, Bautista pitched 2.2 innings.  Rapada went 3, and Seay pitched two.  Each gave up one hit during their work on the mound.

Cleveland is 29-35 on the season.  C.C. Sabathia goes head-to-head against Minnesota’s Scott Baker.  Game time is 7:05.  Minnesota comes to Clevelandafter getting drubbed four games by the Chicago White Sox.  The Twins are 31-33 on the season.

This is the second meeting of the AL central foes this year.  The Twins won the hold a 2-1 season lead against the Indians.  They play each other eighteen times this season.

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