Should non-EST Indians games have a sleep disclaimer?
Posted June 19th, 2008 by Dave Wiley
The legend of Coors field and the ability to generate tons of offense in the high altitude is definitely lost on Cleveland and its fans. In more of a pitchers duel, if Indians fans stayed up late, it wasn’t to watch Cleveland’s offense.
Jeff Francis pitched six strong innings against a weak Indians hitting corps, giving up five hits, one run and striking out two, besting lefty counter-part Aaron Laffey, who also went six, giving up eight hits, three earned runs, three walks and a strikeout. Both starters were the pitchers of record, Francis with the win, Laffey with the loss as Colorado can sweep the series Thursday evening with a win.
Colorado opened up a 2-0 lead through five, then matched the Indians runs each inning, holding their margin of victory through the rest of the game.
Jason Grilli and Taylor Buchholz each earned a hold, and Brian Fuentez rang up his twelfth save of the year for Colorado.
Rafael Betancourt pitched two innings in relief for the Indians, surrendering the insurance run when the game was 3-2 Colorado.
The Rockies first run came on a pair of doubles. The first two-bagger came off the bat of Jeff Baker. After Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch, Omar Quintanilla scored Baker with a double of his own.
In the forth, Baker crossed the plate again, this time on his own accord, homering to left on a 2-2 count.
The Indians opened up the top of the sixth with the automatic out to pitcher Aaron Laffey. Grady Sizemore was hit by a pitch, and Jamey Carroll doubled scoring Sizemore all the way from first, drawing the Tribe to within one. Ben Francisco flied out, moving Carroll to third. Ryan Garko, the second batter to get hit in the inning, went to first. With a golden opportunity to tie it up, Jhonny Peralta flied out, ending the inning.
That darn Baker guy ended up crossing the plate for a third time after he was safe at first on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and was singled home by Quintanilla.
The Indians brought it back to a one run affair in the top of the seventh. Casey Blake led off the inning with a single. Dellucci came on to pinch hit for Gutierrez and struck out. Kelly Shoppach walked, and Shin-Soo Choo pinch-hit for Laffey. On a past ball, Blake and Shoppach moved up a base, so with one out, the Indians were poised again for a big hit to tie up the game. Coo did sac-fly Blake home, and Sizemore was intentionally walked. Carroll struck out, yet another opportunity blown.
The Rockies took the lead right back to two on a Taveras infield single, a stolen base, a throwing error on the play that moved Taveras to third, and a sac-fly by Spilborghs. Although Betancourt gave up a run, he pitch well and the run should not have plated.
That ended the scoring on the night. Rockies win the second of three.
The finale is Thursday night. Jeremy Sowers versus Jorge De La Rosa. Game time is 9:05.
De La Rosa is coming off his best start of the year but still sports a 6.89 ERA on the season and a 1-3 record. Sowers is 0-1 with a 7.23 ERA. For the second night in a row, it will be Lefty against Lefty.
