Written by Jonathan Knight

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SWEEP CITY: The Indians have now collected five series sweeps on the season after completing four sweeps in all of 2010.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the Tigers improved to 1,025-1,051, while their record against Oakland moved to 217-249. They’ll play Detroit again June 14-16 in Motown and will host the Athletics Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

DOMINATING DETROIT: The Indians have now defeated the Tigers 11 straight times at Progressive Field. In their history, they’ve defeated Detroit more than any other team.

SATURDAY NIGHT CROWD: With the huge number of walk-up ticket sales, the attendance total for the second game of the Detroit series of 26,433 was the Indians’ second-best tally for the season behind only opening day. The series drew 56,265, also second-best for the season, just short of the opening series with Chicago (60,300).

COMING TO LaLIFE: Matt LaPorta’s bat came alive in the Detroit series, as he went 5 for 12 with a home run, three doubles, and four RBI. In those three games he raised his season batting average from .236 to .263.

DIVISIONAL MATTERS: After losing six of their first nine games against Central Division opponents, the Indians have improved to 9-6 in the division.

FINDING THE LIMIT: Chris Perez pitched an inning in each game of the Detroit series, and the extra work may have worn him down a bit in his final appearance. After dominating performances on Friday and Saturday (no runs, no hits, no walks, 4 strikeouts, 28 total pitches), he wavered a bit on Sunday (one run, two hits, a walk, no strikeouts, 19 pitches). After an off-day Monday, he was back to his usual dominance in Tuesday night’s save (no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout, 12 pitches), but then struggled again before closing the door on Thursday in Oakland (one run, two hits, one walk, no strikeouts, 27 pitches).

PEREZ’S PACE: Now with nine saves over the first 30 games, Chris Perez is slightly off Joe Borowski’s 2007 pace which saw him collect 11 saves in the first 30 games en route to a career-high 45. Though it’s important to note Borowski’s ERA after 30 games was a staggering 7.43, while Perez stands at 3.21. After 30 games in his remarkable 46-save season of 1995, Jose Mesa also had 11 saves.

TOUGH TOWN: Oakland has not been kind to the Indians in recent years. Over the past nine seasons, the Tribe had a record of just 8-23 going in against the Athletics on their home field. This marked the Indians’ first series victory in Oakland since July of 2002.

LATE-INNING MAGIC: The two wins in Oakland marked the Tribe’s fourth and fifth consecutive victories in which it scored the winning runs in its last at-bat. For the year, the Indians have now won seven games in their final at-bat after only winning 13 in their final turn in 2010.

SCORING THE HARD WAY: The Indians only managed two extra base hits in the entire Oakland series, neither a home run. Altogether, there were only six extra-base hits in the series and only two home runs, both by David DeJesus in the second game.

CLOSE ONES: The Tribe is now 5-4 in one-run games and 3-1 in extra innings.

BRINGING THEIR OWN “A” GAME: The Indians’ starting pitchers went toe-to-toe with Oakland’s red-hot rotation, posting a 1.71 ERA in the three-game set to the Athletics’ starters’ 1.61. Once again, the Indians’ bullpen proved to be the difference in the series, winning one game and saving two others while compiling a 2.25 ERA. Conversely, Oakland’s bullpen was smacked around, losing two games with a 5.87 ERA.

A SURPRISING REGRESSION: Not only are the Indians’ dead last in the American League in attendance (214,132), but adding insult to injury, they actually drew more fans in their first 15 home games a year ago (216,166). The Indians’ overall record after their 15th home game in 2010 was 15-23.

PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are averaging 5.2 runs per game and allowing 3.5. Their team batting average is .271 and team ERA is 3.31.

A YEAR AGO: After 30 games in 2010, the Indians stood at 12-18, fourth place in the AL Central, 7.5 games back of the first-place Twins.

 

DETROIT SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Tigers, 17-11 - one of the Tigers’ runs was unearned.

Overall Hitting

Detroit 34 for 119 (.286), 9 walks

Cleveland 29 for 108 (.269), 13 walks

With Runners in Scoring Position

Detroit 8 for 36 (.222), 31 left on base

Cleveland 6 for 22 (.273), 24 left on base

Extra-Base Hits

Detroit 9 (3 HR)

Cleveland 8 (5 HR)

Overall Pitching

Detroit 28.2 IP, 29 H, 13 BB, 31 SO, 17 ER, 5.34 ERA

Cleveland 31 IP, 34 H, 9 BB, 29 SO, 10 ER, 2.90 ERA

Staring Pitchers

Detroit 19.2 IP, 17 H, 8 BB, 18 SO, 9 ER, 4.12 ERA

Cleveland 18.2 IP, 23 H, 6 BB, 15 SO, 7 ER, 3.37 ERA

Relief Pitchers

Detroit 0-3; 9 IP, 12 H, 5 BB, 13 SO, 8 ER, 8.00 ERA

Cleveland 3-0, 1 save; 12.1 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 14 SO, 3 ER, 2.19 ERA

 

OAKLAND SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Athletics, 9-7 - one of Oakland’s runs was unearned.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 30 for 115 (.261), 8 walks

Oakland 20 for 105 (.191), 6 walks

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 8 for 27 (.296), 25 left on base

Oakland 5 for 18 (.278), 17 left on base

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 2 (0 HR)

Oakland 4 (2 HR)

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 29 IP, 20 H, 6 BB, 13 SO, 6 ER, 1.86 ERA

Oakland 30 IP, 30 H, 8 BB, 19 SO, 9 ER, 2.70 ERA

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-1; 21 IP, 14 H, 3 BB, 11 SO, 4 ER, 1.71 ERA

Oakland 22.1 IP, 20 H, 3 BB, 13 SO, 4 ER, 1.61 ERA

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 1-0, 2 saves; 8 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 SO, 2 ER, 2.25 ERA

Oakland 0-2, 1 save; 7.2 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 6 SO, 5 ER, 5.87 ERA

 

UP NEXT:

Los Angeles Angels [18-14]

(Friday 10:05 p.m.; Saturday 9:05 p.m., Sunday, 3:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

White (0-0, 3.00 ERA); Masterson (5-0, 2.25 ERA); Carmona (3-3, 4.43 ERA)

Last year: Indians won series, 5-4

This year: Angels lead series, 2-1

 

Tampa Bay Rays [17-14]

(Tuesday 7:05 p.m.; Wednesday 7:05 p.m.; Thursday 12:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Tomlin (4-1, 2.43 ERA); Gomez (0-1, 4.91 ERA); White (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Last year: Rays won series, 7-2