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The Cleveland Indians were running hot for a while there to start the season, with a lead in the AL Central division on the back of multiple victories over the Detroit Tigers, but they've cooled off in recent weeks. They're sitting at No. 2 in the division behind the Chicago White Sox, but they're only 1.5 games back at this point ant remain a game and a half up on Detroit, who they failed to even bother last season.
As it stands, they're sitting on a two-game losing streak and they're losers in five of their last six outings. Their lone victory was a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 15 to kick off that three-game set, which they lost with poor outings in games two and three. Prior to that series, they lost three-straight games in a sweep to the Cincinnati Reds.
Well, they'll be able to try and get revenge in that one sooner rather than later. Before heading out on a long road trip, the Tribe will host Cincinnati for three games starting on Monday. Game 1 will see Derek Lowe take on Mat Latos, in what should be interesting on and off the mound, given Lowe's history with Reds manager Dusty Baker.
That history culminated in an incident on Wednesday, when Lowe took exception to an inside pitch from Latos. Lowe immediately motioned toward Baker as though he called for it, and then Lowe hit Brandon Phillips with a pitch in the bottom of that inning. After the game, Lowe suggested again that the pitch was on order from Baker, who responded in kind with some colorful narrative about Lowe being a drunk.
So this one should be fun. Game one is set for 7:05 p.m. eastern at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.