Written by Jonathan Knight

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CONTRAST: Oakland collected 23 extra-base hits in this week's series, compared to the Indians' 27 total hits.

DROUGHT: Thursday’s home run was Jason Kipnis’ second in his last 58 games. He hit 10 in his first 65 games this season.

STILL SHRINKING: Monday night’s crowd of 13,018 was the smallest to attend an Indians’ home game since 12,894 saw them play Seattle on May 17.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the Yankees dropped to 850-1,080 and their mark versus Oakland fell to 222-258.

SINKING FAST: The Indians have failed to win 14 of their last 15 series.

PITIFUL: After posting a 2.70 ERA against New York, in the Oakland series, Indians’ starting pitchers compiled an ERA of 10.26.

SEVEN-DOWN: Thursday afternoon’s seven-run explosion was the Indians’ highest single-game total since plating eight in the 10-inning loss in Detroit on on Aug. 5. The last time they scored seven in a nine-inning game was July 18 in Tampa - 40 games ago.

EVEN VINNIE HITS THE SKIDS: After going 19 straight appearances without allowing a run, Vinnie Pestano has struggled of late, allowing six runs over his last five appearances. Over his previous 51 appearances this season, he’d only allowed seven runs.

EVEN WORSE: In games started by the new additions to the Indians’ pitching rotation - Corey Kluber, Chris Seddon, and Roberto Hernandez - the Tribe is 0-11.

DOUBLE ZEROES: This week marked the first time the Indians were shut out in back-to-back games since June 4-5 of last season when the Rangers beat them 4-0 and 2-0. Though that scoreless string only lasted 19 innings, compared to this one’s 24.1.

EVEN MORE PITIFUL: Going into Thursday’s finale, Indians’ batters were 0-for-24 with runners in scoring position in the series. They finished the series at 3-for-38 and are 5-for-60 on the homestand.

GOOSE-EGGED AGAIN: Tuesday night marked the eighth time this season the Indians have been shut out - all occurring since June 9.

SMALL DRAW: The Indians have drawn less than 15,000 fans for 20 of their 66 home games this season.

BIG DAY: Jason Kipnis’ three stolen bases on Sunday were all the more impressive considering he’d only stolen a total of three bases over his previous 40 games.

BAD UBALDO: Ubaldo Jimenez has now matched his 2011 defeat total of 13, a career high. With the Indians over the past two years, he’s 13-17 with a 5.43 ERA.

MORE OFFENSIVE OFFENSE: After scoring four or more in five straight on their last west-coast trip, the Indians scored three runs or less in nine consecutive games through Tuesday.

THE RARE BIG DRAW: Saturday was the Indians’ fourth home crowd of more than 34,000 this season. The others were opening day against Toronto, July 21 against Baltimore, and July 26 against Detroit.

DOMINATING HIS OLD MATES: Since the Indians traded him in 2008, C.C. Sabathia has faced the Tribe six times, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.70 ERA.

THE TREND CONTINUES: The Indians have either been shut out or scored only one run 26 times this season - once every five games.

THE DIVIDING LINE: When the Indians allow more than three runs in a game this year, they’re 11-67. The last time they won a game in which their opponent scored more than three runs was their 10-6 triumph in Tampa on July 18.

A YEAR AGO: After 131 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 66-65, third place in the AL Central, 5.5 games behind Detroit.

 

PROGRESS REPORT: 

The Indians are averaging 4.06 runs per game and allowing 5.22.

Batting average: .249 (9th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .386 (12th in AL)

On-base percentage: .321 (7th in AL)

Walks: 438 (2nd in AL)

Stolen bases: 87 (8th in AL)

Strikeouts: 861 (3rd-fewest in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .230 (253 for 1,100)

 

Team ERA: 4.84 (14th in AL)

Walks allowed: 450 (2nd-fewest in AL)

Strikeouts: 871 (2nd-fewest in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .290 (345 for 1,189)

Errors: 75 (5th-fewest in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

41-63, 5.19 ERA

(752.1 IP, 434 ER)

 

RELIEF PITCHERS:

14-13, 35 saves, 7 blown saves, 4.08 ERA

(401.1 IP, 182 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Masterson 13-15 (16 quality starts)

Jimenez 11-15 (12 quality starts)

Lowe 9-12 (13 quality starts)

McAllister 8-8 (8 quality starts)

Tomlin 8-8 (7 quality starts)

Gomez 6-7 (4 quality starts)

Kluber 0-6 (2 quality starts)

Seddon 0-2 (1 quality start)

Hernandez 0-3 (0 quality starts)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN GETTING QUALITY START: 44-19

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN NOT GETTING QUALITY START: 11-57

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 17-17

Blue Script “Indians”: 19-22

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 11-23

Creamy white home alternate: 8-14

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 35-39

Block C Blue Cap: 11-23

Block C Red Cap: 7-14

Red, White & Blue Block C Red Cap: 1-0

Silver Chief Wahoo Cap: 1-0

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY DAY OF THE WEEK:

Sunday: 6-15

Monday: 8-6

Tuesday: 8-11

Wednesday: 8-12

Thursday: 9-7

Friday: 9-11

Saturday: 7-14

 

ATTENDANCE WATCH: The Indians are averaging 20,664 fans per home game - 12th in the AL

 

NEW YORK SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Yankees outscored the Indians, 8-6. The Indians committed three errors and the Yankees committed one. All of the runs scored in the series were earned.

 

Overall Hitting

New York 27 for 102 (.265), 7 walks, 1 HBP (.318 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 17 for 94 (.181), 6 walks, 4 HBP (.260 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

New York 6 for 24 (.250), 23 left on base

Cleveland 2 for 22 (.091), 20 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

New York 8 (2 HR)

Cleveland 5 (2 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

New York 0 (1 caught stealing)

Cleveland 3 (1 caught stealing, 1 pickoff)

 

Overall Pitching

New York 26 IP, 17 H, 6 BB, 27 SO, 6 ER, 2.08 ERA

Cleveland 27 IP, 27 H, 7 BB, 24 SO, 8 ER, 2.67 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

New York 1-1; 20 IP, 12 H, 5 BB, 21 SO, 6 ER, 2.70 ERA

Cleveland 1-1; 16.2 IP, 21 H, 5 BB, 16 SO, 5 ER, 2.70 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

New York 1-0, 2 saves; 6 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA 

Cleveland 0-1, 1 save; 10.1 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 SO, 3 ER, 2.61 ERA

 

OAKLAND SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Athletics outscored the Indians, 30-11. Each team committed four errors. Three of Oakland’s runs and two of the Indians’ were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Oakland 46 for 153 (.301), 11 walks, 3 SF (.341 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 27 for 134 (.201), 14 walks, 1 SF, 2 HBP (.285 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Oakland 13 for 50 (.260), 29 left on base 

Cleveland 3 for 38 (.079), 32 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Oakland 23 (8 HR)

Cleveland 10 (2 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Oakland 2

Cleveland 2

 

Overall Pitching

Oakland 36 IP, 27 H, 14 BB, 29 SO, 9 ER, 2.25 ERA

Cleveland 36 IP, 46 H, 11 BB, 35 SO, 27 ER, 6.75 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Oakland 4-0; 23.2 IP, 20 H, 8 BB, 18 SO, 7 ER, 2.66 ERA

Cleveland 0-4; 16.2 IP, 29 H, 6 BB, 16 SO, 19 ER, 10.26 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Oakland 2 saves; 12.1 IP, 7 H, 6 BB, 11 SO, 2 ER, 1.46 ERA 

Cleveland 19.1 IP, 17 H, 5 BB, 19 SO, 8 ER, 3.72 ERA

 

UP NEXT: 

Texas Rangers [77-53]

(Friday 7:05 p.m.; Saturday 7:05 p.m.; Sunday 1:05 p.m.)

Last year: Rangers won season series, 9-1

This year: Indians lead season series, 2-1

 

at Detroit Tigers [69-61]

(Monday 1:05 p.m.; Tuesday 7:05 p.m.; Wednesday 7:05 p.m.)

Last year: Tigers won season series, 12-6

This year: Indians lead season series, 7-5

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