Written by Jonathan Knight

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SWEEPING THE SOX: The sweep of Boston was the Indians’ first of the Red Sox since August of 2001. Their last three-game sweep of the Sox at Fenway Park came in 1975.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: With the three wins over Boston, the Indians’ lead in the all-time series increased to 1,018-954. The Tribe also now leads its 34-year series with Seattle, 199-154.

SAFE AT SAFECO: The Indians have played well at Safeco Field in recent years, notching a record of 23-10 in Seattle since being swept there in April of 2003.

LOTS OF GREEN SEATS: The 29,142 who attended the three Indians-Red Sox games last week marked the smallest total for a three-day, three-game series in Cleveland since Sept. 28-30, 1992, when the Indians drew a total of just 19,862 for three games with the Yankees at Municipal Stadium.

A GOOD OMEN?: By knocking off Seattle on Friday night, the Indians won their first road game of the season for the first time since 2007.

DUBIOUS HISTORY: In each the four games following the opener, the Indians drew less than 10,000 fans - something that had never happened before in the 17-year history of Jacobs/Progressive Field.

REALLY?: Dating back to last season, the Indians have now won 14 of their last 18 games - bookended by seven-game winning streaks. All four losses in the string were to the White Sox.

THE CHRIS AND RAFFY SHOW: Rafael Perez and Chris Perez were a huge part of the Tribe’s sweep over Boston, combining to pitch four shutout innings in relief. In both of Raffy’s appearances, he came in with a runner in scoring position and got out of the inning. Even better, in his two innings against the Red Sox, Rafael Perez didn’t allow a hit or a walk. The “Flying Perezes” continued the trend in Seattle, combining to pitch three more scoreless innings.

THE ASDRUBAL AND ORLANDO SHOW: Mirroring the like-named relief pitchers, Asdrubal Cabrera and Orlando Cabrera have created a formidable one-two punch in the Cleveland lineup. In the Seattle series, they combined for 12 hits and five RBI, including Asdrubal’s two homers to open the scoring on Friday and Sunday.

THE BIG INNING: Friday night’s 10-run offensive fireworks show in Seattle marked the Tribe’s first double-digit run-scoring inning since it lit up the Yankees for 14 during the opening weekend at the new Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2009.

TAKING COMMAND: The Indians have not trailed in their last five games.

A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME: After nine games in 2010, the Indians stood at 3-6.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?: The crowd at Seattle’s second home game of the season on Saturday night (30,309) was larger than the combined attendance at the Indians’ three home games following their home opener. And keep in mind the Mariners are coming off a 100-loss season.

ENDURING & ENDEARING: Indians’ starting pitchers have lasted at least six innings in four straight games and in eight of their last nine.

EMERALD CITY MAGIC: The Indians’ last sweep of the Mariners in Seattle came in July of 2009. Prior to that, they hadn’t pulled off a sweep in Seattle since 1998 in the Kingdome. The Tribe last swept the Mariners in Cleveland in August of the frantic wild-card chase of 2000.

TAKING A SIPP: Tony Sipp is beginning to emerge as a go-to guy in the Tribe bullpen, illustrated by his two clutch scoreless eighth innings against Seattle on Saturday and Sunday. Sipp has now pitched five scoreless innings for the season.

PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are hitting .285 as a team and averaging 5.8 runs scored per game while tallying a team ERA of 4.00.

BOSTON SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Red Sox, 12-5, and every run scored in the series was earned.

Overall Hitting

Boston:  15 for 93 (.161), 11 walks

Cleveland: 16 for 83 (.193), 14 walks

With Runners in Scoring Position

Boston:  2 for 16 (.125), 19 left on base

Cleveland: 4 for 21 (.191), 19 left on base

Extra-Base Hits

Boston:  3 (1 HR)

Cleveland: 7 (3 HR)

Overall Pitching

Boston:  24 IP, 16 H, 14 BB, 12 ER, 4.50 ERA

Cleveland: 27 IP, 15 H, 11 BB, 5 ER, 1.67 ERA

Starting Pitchers

Boston:  0-2; 17 IP, 14 H, 10 BB, 6 ER, 3.18 ERA

Cleveland: 1-0; 18.1 IP, 10 H, 8 BB, 3 ER, 1.48 ERA

Relief Pitchers

Boston:  0-1; 7 IP, 2 H, 4 BB. 6 ER, 7.71 ERA

Cleveland: 1-0, 2 saves; 8.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 2.08 ERA

 

SEATTLE SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Mariners, 20-8 - two of the Indians’ runs and two of the Mariners’ were earned.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland: 35 for 109 (.321), 7 walks

Seattle:  17 for 96 (.177), 11 walks

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland: 9 for 28 (.321), 17 left on base

Seattle:  2 for 20 (.100), 20 left on base

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland: 12 (4 HR)

Seattle:  6 (2 HR)

Overall Pitching

Cleveland: 27 IP, 17 H, 11 BB, 7 ER, 2.33 ERA

Seattle:  27 IP, 35 H, 7 BB, 18 ER, 6.00 ERA

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland: 3-0; 19 IP, 11 H, 7 BB, 5 ER, 2.37 ERA

Seattle:  0-3, 13.1 IP, 25 H, 3 BB, 14 ER, 9.45 ERA

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland: 2 saves; 8 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 2 ER, 2.25 ERA

Seattle:  13.2 IP, 10 H, 4 BB, 4 ER, 2.63 ERA

 UP NEXT:

at Los Angeles Angels [5-4]

 (Monday 10:05 p.m.; Tuesday 10:05 p.m., Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Mitch Talbot (0-0, 4.15 ERA); Fausto Carmona (0-1, 9.00 ERA); Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 5.68 ERA)

Last year: Indians won season series, 5-4

Baltimore Orioles [6-3]

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

Probable Starters:

Justin Masterson (2-0, 1.35 ERA); Josh Tomlin (2-0, 2.63 ERA); Mitch Talbot (0-0, 4.15 ERA)

Last year: Tied season series, 3-3