SB Nation Cleveland - A Cleveland Haunting: Josh Bard, Russell Branyan Homer As Seattle Rocks The Indianshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2010-08-14T21:34:05-05:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13875262010-08-14T21:34:05-05:002010-08-14T21:34:05-05:00Josh Bard's First Career Slam Is Catalyst In Mariners' Thumping Of Indians
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<p>Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Josh Bard’s first career grand slam capped a five-run fifth inning, helping the Seattle Mariners pummel the Cleveland Indians, 9-3, in the second of three games at Progressive Field.</p>
<p>Bard had a season-high four hits, scoring twice for the Mariners, who won their first road series since June 29-July 1 against the Yankees. They had lost their last four series away from Safeco Field.</p>
<p>Russell Branyan and Casey Kotchman also homered, as Seattle recorded its highest offensive output since scoring 15 runs on May 21. Jason Vargas (9-5) lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning four.</p>
<p>Jayson Nix homered and drove in two runs for the Indians, who have lost six of seven. Asdrubal Cabrera added two hits and a run scored in defeat.</p>
<p>Mitch Talbot (8-10), who was activated off the disabled list earlier Saturday, gave up six runs — four earned — on eight hits and three walks in four-plus innings to receive the loss.</p>
<p>The Indians scored twice in the fourth to tie the game, but the Mariners answered with five in the fifth with help from a pair of big swings.</p>
<p>Branyan put Seattle back in front right away, hammering a Talbot offering over the wall in left-center. Jose Lopez followed with a single, and the next two batters both reached on errors by the third baseman Andy Marte, loading the bases.</p>
<p>Hector Ambriz came in from the bullpen to relieve Talbot and immediately gave up a grand slam to Bard, which put Seattle ahead, 7-2.</p>
<p>Kotchman increased the Mariners’ lead in the sixth with a two-run shot off Ambriz.</p>
<p>Nix’s solo shot in the bottom of the sixth accounted for the final margin.</p>
<p>Ichiro Suzuki singled leading off the game, moved to third on a Chone Figgins base hit and scored when Branyan grounded into a double play, giving Seattle an early lead.</p>
<p>The Mariners added to their lead in the fourth. Talbot retired the first two hitters, but a double, walk and single loaded the bases for Suzuki, who walked in an 11-pitch at-bat to force in a run for a 2-0 advantage.</p>
<p>The Indians, though, answered with two in the home half. With a runner on second and two outs, Nix sent an <span class="caps">RBI</span> double to left. Two batters later, a single from Marte plated Nix for a 2-2 game.</p>
<p>Talbot had been out since July 30 with a back strain…The Mariners improved to 4-1 under new manager Daren Brown…Bard’s career-high in hits is five, done once…Vargas has won three consecutive starts.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/8/14/1623691/josh-bards-first-career-slam-isAncientMariner2010-08-14T17:54:49-05:002010-08-14T17:54:49-05:00Mitch Talbot Returns To Rotation Tonight As Tribe Looks To Square Series With Seattle
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<p>(Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31352/Mitch_Talbot">Mitch Talbot</a> will take the hill this evening for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/cleveland-indians">Cleveland Indians</a> in the second contest of a three-game set against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/seattle-mariners">Seattle Mariners</a> at Progressive Field.</p>
<p>Talbot is making his first start since straining his back against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a> back on July 29. The rookie lasted until the third inning before being removed from the game.</p>
<p>In his last start before the injury, Talbot worked just 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on July 24. The right-hander surrendered five runs in the setback, but did finish with nine strikeouts.</p>
<p>This will be the first start for Talbot against the Mariners in his career.</p>
<p>As for the Mariners, they will turn to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/914/Jason_Vargas">Jason Vargas</a>, who is going for his third straight win. The last time the southpaw was on the hill, he held Kansas City to just one run on four hits in six innings of work this past Sunday.</p>
<p>Vargas has eight wins on the season, but he has struggled away from Safeco Field, having posted a 1-3 mark with a 4.50 earned run average in nine road starts.</p>
<p>This will be just the second start for Vargas against the Indians in his career. The only other matchup led to a loss for the 27-year-old, who allowed six runs on seven hits in just four innings of work.</p>
<p>In Friday's series opener, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31322/David_Pauley">David Pauley</a> notched his first career win with six solid innings and the Mariners snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Indians.</p>
<p>Pauley (1-4) allowed just two runs and seven hits while fanning five without walking a batter for the Mariners, who are 3-1 under new manager Daren Brown. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/817/David_Aardsma">David Aardsma</a> locked down his 23rd save with a flawless ninth.</p>
<p>Pauley had been 0-7 in 18 career games coming into Friday.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/851/Ichiro_Suzuki">Ichiro Suzuki</a> had two hits and scored once for the Mariners, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/210/Russell_Branyan">Russell Branyan</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/640/Casey_Kotchman">Casey Kotchman</a> each drove in a run in the win, Seattle's fourth in five contests.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/113/Shin_Soo_Choo">Shin-Soo Choo</a> went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Indians, losers in five of six. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31815/Chris_Gimenez">Chris Gimenez</a> also drove in a run and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/4340/Asdrubal_Cabrera">Asdrubal Cabrera</a> added a pair of hits.</p>
<p>Tribe starter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/117/Fausto_Carmona">Fausto Carmona</a> (11-10) pitched well but was dealt the loss after yielding three runs -- two earned -- on nine hits and a walk in six-plus innings.</p>
<p>Last night's meeting was the first between the teams this season. Cleveland won six of 10 against Seattle last year.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/8/14/2319352/mitch-talbot-returns-to-rotation-tonight-as-tribe-looks-to-squareAncientMariner