SB Nation Cleveland - Shelley Duncan Homers Twice, Drives In 5; Indians Reach 70 Wins With 9-6 Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2011-09-04T17:17:37-05:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21647172011-09-04T17:17:37-05:002011-09-04T17:17:37-05:00Indians Vs. Royals Final: Shelley Duncan Plays Hero In 9-6 Tribe Win
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<p><span>Shelley Duncan</span> homered twice and drove in five runs, <span>Jeanmar Gomez</span> picked up his second straight win, and <span>Chris Perez</span> converted an unexpected save opportunity, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a> 9-6 this afternoon to win the series two-games-to-one and, more importantly, stay no worse than 6.5 games behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> in advance of a three-game series with Detroit beginning on Monday afternoon at Progressive Field.</p>
<p>Duncan hit a three-run blast in the sixth inning, when the Indians expanded their lead to 7-1, and added a two-run jack in the eighth, after Kansas City had crept to within four at 7-3.</p>
<p>Then, in the ninth inning, <span>Frank Herrmann</span>, in a strictly mop-up role, failed to seal the deal, forcing Chris Perez to come on and retire the final two hitters of the game on pop-ups to nail down his 32nd save of the season.</p>
<p>Gomez worked into the sixth inning to even his record at 2-2. Jeanmar gave up just one run on six hits, He was relieved in the sixth by <span>Rafael Perez</span>, but when Raffy got into trouble in the seventh, <span>Tony Sipp</span> had to come on to close the inning before <span>Joe Smith</span> pitched a scoreless eighth.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Francis</span> fell to 5-15 on the year, allowing four runs in five innings, while Duncan teed off both times against Royals’ reliever <span>Jesse Chavez</span> to reach six homers on the season.</p>
<p>Cleveland banged out 13 hits, and went 5-of-13 with men in scoring position, to bounce back nicely from a lackluster effort on Saturday night. <span>Lou Marson</span> collected three hits, while Duncan, <span>Jason Donald</span> and <span>Jack Hannahan</span> each provided two.</p>
<p>Hannahan had to leave the game with soreness in his leg after his second hit of the afternoon in the top of the third.</p>
<p>The Tribe scored in the first inning when Donald singled with two outs and the bases loaded, scoring <span>Kosuke Fukudome</span>, but <span>Carlos Santana</span> was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. </p>
<p>Cleveland scored three more in the second when Hannahan led off with a double and moved to third on a single from Marson. Jerad Head then doubled for his first career RBI to make it 2-0. After the next two hitters were retired, <span>Asdrubal Cabrera</span> pounded out the third double of the inning, scoring Marson and Head and increasing the advantage to 4-0.</p>
<p>Duncan then took over, driving in the final five runs of the game for The Good Guys.</p>
<p>The Tribe totaled seven extra-base hits, adding five doubles to the two homers from Duncan. Cabrera returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game, coming back strong after fouling a pitch off of his knee on Friday night.</p>
<p>With the win the Indians reached 70 wins for the first time since 2008. Not bad for a team that has just been ravaged by injury in 2011.</p>
<p>Now the Tigers come to town, but not before they play the final game of a series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> in Detroit on Sunday night. Should Chicago bounce back from a brutal loss on Saturday and win tonight, Cleveland would be within 5.5 games heading into action tomorrow afternoon.</p>
<p>Go Tribe!</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/9/4/2404929/tribe-kc-recap-9-4-indians-vs-royals-final-shelley-duncan-plays-hero-in-9-6-tribe-winAncientMariner2011-09-04T08:54:48-05:002011-09-04T08:54:48-05:00Indians Try Again For 70th Win On Sunday Vs. Royals
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<p>It would be helpful for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> if shortstop <span>Asdrubal Cabrera</span> could be in the lineup Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>. <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110903&content_id=24162278&notebook_id=24167718&vkey=notebook_cle&c_id=cle">According to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian</a>, the injury to Cabrera's left knee isn't serious and Cabrera plans to be back today.</p>
<p>Manager Manny Acta also seems optimistic.</p>
<p>"He's limping around a little bit," Acta said. "So, I think it would've been too much to put him out there the way he is right now. But I'm very confident that he'll be able to play [on Sunday]."</p>
<p>One thing is certain. The Tribe needs Cabrera, as was evidenced on Saturday when the team managed only three hits against <span>Luke Hochevar</span> and <span>Greg Holland</span> and lost 5-1 to fall 6.5 games behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a>, with a huge series starting vs. Detroit on Monday in Cleveland.</p>
<p>Another thing that is certain is that the Indians could use another good outing from <span>Jeanmar Gomez</span>.</p>
<p>Jeanmar held Oakland to one unearned run in his last start on Tuesday, working six innings and allowing six hits in a game won by the Tribe 6-2.</p>
<p>Gomez has faced the Royals once this year, and was the losing pitcher on April 19 in Kansas City when he went 4.1 frames and surrendered nine hits and five runs.</p>
<p>For his career Jeanmar is 1-2 vs, Kansas City in four starts.</p>
<p>The Royals will send <span>Jeff Francis</span> on Sunday in the last meeting of the season between these two clubs. Francis (5-14, 4.64 ERA) was terrific the last time he faced Cleveland, going eight shutout innings and allowing only four hits in a 12-0 Royals win back on July 29 in Cleveland. That win improved Francis to 2-2 in his career vs. the Indians.</p>
<p>Cleveland leads the season-series 11-6, but the Royals have held their own, splitting the last eight games with the Tribe.</p>
<p>Tomorrow will take care of tomorrow. Let's get this one today, and maybe (hopefully) the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> can do us a favor on Sunday and bounce back themselves against the Tigers.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/9/4/2404067/indians-try-again-for-70th-win-on-sunday-vs-royalsAncientMariner2011-09-03T21:06:32-05:002011-09-03T21:06:32-05:00Indians Vs. Royals Final: After Bitter Pill Of A Tigers' Comeback, Tribe Loses To Royals 5-1
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<p>Without getting overly melodramatic, if one day in a pennant race can be said to have been a dagger day, it was today.</p>
<p>First, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a>, after trailing 8-1, rallied to beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a> 9-8, dropping Chicago 7.5 games behind in the American League Central.</p>
<p>Sure, it is possible that the ChiSox could bounce back and get back into the race, but possible and probable are two words that can be very far apart.</p>
<p>Then the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a>, probably (although they would surely not admit it) deflated by the news on the scoreboard from Detroit, let <span>Luke Hochevar</span> (10-10, 4.76 <span class="caps">ERA</span>) look like Cy Young with eight innings of three-hit, one-run ball (the run being unearned), and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a> got to <span>David Huff</span> with four separate scoring innings on their way to a 5-1 win that dropped Cleveland 6.5 games behind the Tigers and reduced Detroit’s magic number to 19.</p>
<p>Cleveland drew first blood in the first inning on a <span>Carlos Santana</span> sacrifice fly, but the Royals countered with two in their half on a double by <span>Jeff Francoeur</span>.</p>
<p><span>Alex Gordon</span>’s fielder’s choice grounder made it 3-1 in the second, and the Royals tacked on another run in the fifth on a <span>Billy Butler</span> double, and made it 5-1 in the sixth on Johnny Giovatella’s 2nd homer of the year.</p>
<p>Huff’s night ended after allowing five runs — four earned — in six innings. In dropping to 2-3 on the season, Huff’s <span class="caps">ERA</span> rose to 2.81.</p>
<p>Hochevar, who had allowed 12 runs to the Tribe in 12.1 innings of work this season, shut down the Indians’ bats when Cleveland needed them most, adding more elevation to the hill the Indians must climb to catch Detroit. Although still only five back in the loss column, as it stands right now, even a sweep of the remaining six games with the Tigers leaves the Tribe — all other things being equal — a half-game back of the Kitties from the Motor City.</p>
<p>And of course, <span>Justin Verlander</span> awaits on Wednesday when the Indians and Tigers wrap up their three-game series at Progressive Field.</p>
<p>But hey, the good news for the Tribe was that two of their three hits off of Hochevar were doubles. Not that any runs scored in the innings in which the doubled occurred.</p>
<p><span>Josh Judy</span> and Chad Durbin each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Huff, while <span>Greg Holland</span> finished up for the Royals with a perfect ninth.</p>
<p>The Indians will try to earn a victory in the series when they face the Royals for the last time this season on Sunday at 2:10, with <span>Jeanmar Gomez</span> facing <span>Jeff Francis</span>.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/9/3/2403565/tribe-kc-recap-9-3-indians-vs-royals-final-after-bitter-pill-of-a-tigers-comeback-tribeAncientMariner2011-09-03T12:53:45-05:002011-09-03T12:53:45-05:00Indians Will Probably Know How Detroit Fared By The Time They Face Kansas City Saturday
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<p>With the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> taking on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> about three hours earlier than the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> take the field on Saturday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>, the Tribe will probably know — or have a pretty good idea — by the time their 7:10 game begins if they will need to win to keep pace with Detroit or be in a position to pick up a game and move within 4.5 games of first place.</p>
<p>Regardless of how Detroit does though, Cleveland can use a victory over Kansas City. Not only would a win be the Indians’ 70th of the season (more than they have had since 2008), it would also give them a guaranteed series win over the Royals going into the series finale on Sunday at 2:10.</p>
<p><span>David Huff</span> will get the call for the Tribe in Saturday’s game. Huff (2-2, 2.08 <span class="caps">ERA</span>) has been superb in all but one of his appearances for the Indians in 2011, and won in his last start, when he went six innings and surrendered only three hits and no runs in a 2-1 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a>.</p>
<p>Huff has not faced the Royals this season, and in his career is 2-1 with a high 5.60 <span class="caps">ERA</span>, but in just 17.2 innings of work.</p>
<p>Kansas City will counter with <span>Luke Hochevar</span> (9-10, 4.97 <span class="caps">ERA</span>). Hochevar has made two appearances this year vs. The Good Guys: way back on April 20 in KC, in a game in which he went six innings and gave up six runs in what eventually became a 7-5 Cleveland win; and on April 26 in Cleveland, when he put up a near mirror-image, going 6.1 frames and allowing six runs.</p>
<p>Hochevar is 3-7 vs. the Tribe in 10 career starts, having worked 57.2 innings against Cleveland, with a 5.93 <span class="caps">ERA</span>.</p>
<p>Hochevar won his last time out, defeating the Tigers in Detroit on August 29. In that game Hochevar allowed five runs in seven innings, but was aided strongly by his offense in a 9-5 Kansas City win.</p>
<p>As noted above, this series will conclude on Sunday at 2:10, when <span>Jeanmar Gomez</span> faces the Royals’ <span>Jeff Francis</span>.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/9/3/2402689/tribe-kc-preview-9-3-indians-will-probably-know-how-detroit-fared-by-the-time-they-faceAncientMariner2011-09-02T22:22:55-05:002011-09-02T22:22:55-05:00Indians Vs. Royals Final: Tribe Holds Off Scrappy Kansas City 5-4
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<ul>
<li>Recap via SB Nation and Sports Network <b>*</b>
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</ul>
<p>Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/4340/asdrubal-cabrera">Asdrubal Cabrera</a> hit a two-run homer and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31527/jason-donald">Jason Donald</a> added a solo shot, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/cleveland-indians">Cleveland Indians</a> downed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/kansas-city-royals">Kansas City Royals</a>, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33392/justin-masterson">Justin Masterson</a> (11-8) allowed four runs over seven innings to earn the win and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/32970/chris-perez">Chris Perez</a> tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to secure his 31st save of the season.</p>
<p>"His stuff was better than it was the last time we faced him," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Masterson.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34040/carlos-santana">Carlos Santana</a> added an RBI double for the Indians, who moved into sole possession of second place in the AL Central. They remain 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/detroit-tigers">Tigers</a>, who defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/chicago-white-sox">White Sox</a> on Friday.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/147/bruce-chen">Bruce Chen</a> (10-6) lasted six innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits to halt his win streak at five games.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/261/alex-gordon">Alex Gordon</a> hit a two-run homer for the Royals, losers in three of their last four.</p>
<p>In the opening frame, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31253/kosuke-fukudome">Kosuke Fukudome</a> reached with a single and scored on Santana's two-out double to right-center. Jim Thome's subsequent base hit made it a 2-0 game.</p>
<p>Fukudome again got the Indians started in the third, preceding Cabrera's homer to left with a leadoff single. Prior to the home run -- his 22nd of the season -- Cabrera fouled a ball off of his left kneecap. He would leave the game a half-inning later.</p>
<p>Donald put Cleveland on top, 5-0, with a leadoff shot in the fourth, but the Royals finally got to Masterson in the fifth, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/129118/salvador-perez">Salvador Perez</a> singled with two down, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Alcides Escobar's single.</p>
<p>An inning later, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/597/melky-cabrera">Melky Cabrera</a> led off with a double, moved to third on Billy Butler's base hit and scored on Eric Hosmer's sac fly.</p>
<p>Masterson hit Perez with one down in the seventh. Escobar advanced the runner with a sac bunt, but was removed from the game when he landed awkwardly on first base. Gordon followed with a homer to center to make it a 5-4 game.</p>
<p>"It was good," Masterson said of his outing. "We were winning and I still felt fine, but I was a little erratic."</p>
<p>The Royals would get no closer, however, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/122650/vinnie-pestano">Vinnie Pestano</a> faced the minimum in the eighth before handing the ball to Perez.</p>
<p>"When Masterson gets you through seven, they have Pestano and Perez to come, it's a tall order," said Yost.</p>
<p>Asdrubal Cabrera was initially diagnosed with a left knee contusion...Prior to the game, the Indians recalled pitcher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/70939/josh-judy">Josh Judy</a> from Columbus...Escobar is listed as day-to-day with a left ankle sprain...<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/106700/mike-moustakas">Mike Moustakas</a> saw his 15-game hit streak, which matched a Royals rookie record, come to an end.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/9/2/2401866/tribe-kc-recap-9-2-indians-vs-royals-final-tribe-holds-off-scrappy-kansas-city-5-4AncientMariner2011-09-02T12:44:46-05:002011-09-02T12:44:46-05:00Justin Masterson Hopes For Revenge On Bruce Chen Friday Night In Kansas City
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<p>Every series is big, especially when facing a spoiler team like Kansas City</p> <p>There will be a lot of scoreboard watching going on this weekend in Kansas City as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> invade Missouri for a three-game set vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> while the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> square off for three games in Detroit.</p>
<p>Chicago is at present tied with Cleveland at 68-66, and both teams trail Detroit by 5.5 games in the American League Central with less than four weeks to go.</p>
<p>The Indians have to be pulling hard for the ChiSox this weekend, even at the risk of not shaking them away from the Tribe, and Chicago has a tough opponent tonight in 20-game winner <span>Justin Verlander</span>.</p>
<p>Speaking of tough opponents: <span>Justin Masterson</span> will have a rematch with the Royals' <span>Bruce Chen</span> in Friday's opener of the series at 8:10. Chen got the better of Masterson last Sunday in Cleveland as Kansas City avoided a sweep with a 2-1 win. In that game Chen went 7.1 innings and allowed just five hits and a run to win his fifth start in a row.</p>
<p>Chen improved to 5-2 lifetime vs. The Good Guys with that win and lowered his career ERA to 4.44 when facing Cleveland. Chen (10-5) has not lost in exactly a month, last being defeated by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a> on August 2.</p>
<p>Masterson (10-8) still has an excellent ERA of 2.83 after allowing two runs in six innings in the loss to the Royals last weekend. For his career Justin is now 3-3 in 57 frames of work with a 3.79 ERA vs. KC.</p>
<p>This series will continue on Saturday at 7:10 before wrapping up on Sunday at 2:10.</p>
<p>Though the Indians are 10-5 against the Royals in 2011, it hasn't been easy, and the two teams have split the last six games that they have played.</p>
<p>After this short road-trip the Tribe will come home for a huge series against the Tigers beginning on Monday afternoon. But we cannot think much about that until this weekend with the pesky Royals is done.</p>
<p>But we can scoreboard-watch.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/9/2/2400635/justin-masterson-hopes-for-revenge-on-bruce-chen-friday-night-inAncientMariner