Another Great Start

This time it was Paul Byrd turning the trick against the A’s.

For the fourth straight game an Indians starter gives up zero runs (and C.C. allowed only one run on Friday). With the win the Indians moved one game over 500 on the season and are now only a half game out of first place. No other team in the division (and maybe the whole American League) has as deep or potentially as good a rotation as the Indians, if we could just get the bats out of their funk we would be a shoe to finish first.

A couple of those struggling bats had good nights in the win. Ryan Garko hit his third homerun of the season (first since April 30) in the eight to pad the lead and Travis Hafner went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored (raising his average to .223!). Without these two providing at least a little pop in the middle of the order, to take pressure off out starters (they won’t through shut outs every game), we are going to continue to have a very up and down season.

The other major note from this game was Masa Kobayashi getting his first career save. The former Japanese closer came in for a four out save, allowing one baserunner and striking out one. I haven’t seen the official word, but with the way Betancourt has pitch (most recently ruining a great start from Cliff Lee the night before) this may be your new closer in Cleveland. I am just hoping one of our relievers can take the role and run with it, so the Indians don’t even have to think about giving the ball back to Borowski when healthy.

C.C. goes tonight against the A's Joe Blanton.