PAINFUL: In the Texas and Minnesota series, the Indians were a combined 3 for 42 (.071) with runners in scoring position.
IT AIN’T OVER ’TIL THE OTHER TEAM SCORES FIVE: Providing an easy guideline as to when to turn off the television, the Indians are now 3-15 when their opponent scores at least five runs.
OUTCLASSED: The Indians’ record this season against American League teams that made the playoffs last year now stands at 5-16.
IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST: Six of the 10 Indians’ playoff teams (1920, 1948, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001) lost five straight games at some point in their seasons, with the ’98 team (that finished 89-73) losing six in a row at one point and posting two other five-game losing streaks. The 1954, 1995, 1996, and 2007 teams all had losing streaks of four games.
ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against Texas dropped to 188-229, while their mark against Minnesota dropped to 361-346.
TANKING TOMLIN: Reflecting the struggles of the team as a whole, Josh Tomlin has been below average over his last three starts, in which he lost two games and posted an ERA of 8.00.
BLOWING IT: The three-run lead the Indians’ blew in the opener with Texas was the largest advantage they’ve squandered to lose a game all season.
STREAKY: After winning his first five games of the year, Justin Masterson has now not earned a victory in his last eight starts. Masterson lost four of those games and the Indians are 2-6 in those games.
GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT: When the Tribe lost to Texas in the series opener, it was only the second time this season that it was defeated in the first game of a home series. The only other time was the opening-day loss against the White Sox.
DISCONNECT FOUR: The Rangers had not completed a four-game sweep of the Tribe since August of 1978. The Indians had not been swept in a four-game series at home by any team since the White Sox did it in July of 2005.
SHAKY BACK END: In the first four innings of each game of the Texas series, the Indians allowed a combined four runs. In the final five innings of each game, they permitted 18.
THEY’VE GOT OUR NUMBER: The weekend thumping to Texas was the continuance of a trend established with the opening of Jacobs Field in 1994. The Rangers have enjoyed remarkable success over the Indians in Cleveland since then, now holding a record of 47-33, including 13 wins in their last 16 games.
DOUBLE GOOSE-EGG: The Indians hadn’t been shut out in consecutive games since Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2009 when they lost to the White Sox and Red Sox.
GETTING BATTERED: The Indians have allowed 10 runs or more in a game five times this season, three times since May 25. A year ago, it happened 11 times.
GETTING STYMIED: The Indians have now been shut out six times this season - four since May 18 - and been held to three runs or less in 27 of their 60 games.
DIVISIONAL MATTERS: The Indians’ record against the Central Division is now 12-10 - 10-2 against the Tigers and Royals, 2-8 against the White Sox and Twins.
ROUGH WEEKEND: Only in one series all season was the Tribe offense worse that it was against Texas, as it hit just .167 as a team over the four games. In the two-game set in Chicago in May, the Indians hit .164. The Indians’ worst offensive performance in a series of at least three games was in their first series with Boston, during which they hit just .193 (and somehow swept the series).
REALITY SETS IN: Following the comeback win over Boston on May 23, the Indians went on to lose 11 of their next 15 games. In that stretch, they hit .230 overall and .150 with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, Indians pitchers posted an ERA of 5.35.
DIFFERENCE IN THE CLUTCH: The Indians and Twins were evenly matched throughout their series, but the difference was dramatic with runners in scoring position. The Twins hit .346 (9 for 26), while the Indians were an abysmal 1 for 18 an .056 batting average. It was the Indians’ poorest performance with runners in scoring position in any series all season.
A SILVER LINING: Indians pitchers didn’t allow a home run in the Minnesota series and only walked one batter in 28 innings.
PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are averaging 4.6 runs per game and allowing 4.2. Their team batting average is .256 and team ERA is 3.89.
A YEAR AGO: After 60 games in 2010, the Indians stood at 24-36, last place in the AL Central, 11.5 games back of the first-place Twins.
TEXAS SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
The Rangers outscored the Indians, 24-6 - two of the Rangers’ runs were unearned. The Indians committed two errors and the Rangers committed one.
Overall Hitting
Texas 48 for 148 (.324), 10 walks
Cleveland 21 for 126 (.167), 7 walks
With Runners in Scoring Position
Texas 10 for 35 (.286), 21 left on base
Cleveland 2 for 24 (.083), 21 left on base
Extra-Base Hits
Texas 15 (6 HR)
Cleveland 5 (2 HR)
Overall Pitching
Texas 36 IP, 21 H, 7 BB, 32 SO, 5 ER, 1.25 ERA
Cleveland 36 IP, 48 H, 10 BB, 21 SO, 22 ER, 5.50 ERA
Staring Pitchers
Texas 3-0; 28.2 IP, 16 H, 5 BB, 21 SO, 4 ER, 1.26 ERA
Cleveland 0-3; 24.2 IP, 33 H, 7 BB, 13 SO, 15 ER, 5.47 ERA
Relief Pitchers
Texas 1-0, 2 saves; 7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 15 SO, 2 ER, 2.46 ERA
Cleveland 9.1 IP, 15 H, 3 BB, 8 SO, 7 ER, 6.75 ERA
MINNESOTA SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
The Twins outscored the Indians, 9-7 - two of the Indians’ runs were unearned. The Twins committed two errors while the Indians committed one.
Overall Hitting
Minnesota 24 for 102 (.235), 1 walk
Cleveland 23 for 98 (.235), 7 walks
With Runners in Scoring Position
Minnesota 9 for 26 (.346), 10 left on base
Cleveland 1 for 18 (.056), 19 left on base
Extra-Base Hits
Minnesota 7 (0 HR)
Cleveland 9 (4 HR)
Overall Pitching
Minnesota 27 IP, 23 H, 7 BB, 17 SO, 5 ER, 1.67 ERA
Cleveland 28 IP, 24 H, 1 BB, 15 SO, 9 ER, 2.89 ERA
Starting Pitchers
Minnesota 1-1; 19 IP, 19 H, 4 BB, 15 SO, 4 ER, 1.90 ERA
Cleveland 1-1; 22.1 IP, 21 H, 1 BB, 12 SO, 8 ER, 3.22 ERA
Relief Pitchers
Minnesota 1-0, 1 save; 13 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 SO, 1 ER, 0.69 ERA
Cleveland 0-1, 1 save; 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1 ER, 1.59 ERA
UP NEXT
at New York Yankees [33-26]
(Friday 7:05 p.m.; Saturday 1:05 p.m.; Sunday 1:05 p.m., Monday, 7:05 p.m.)
Probable Starters:
Carmona (3-7, 5.33 ERA); Talbot (2-2, 4.18 ERA); Tomlin (7-3, 3.71 ERA); Carrasco (5-3, 4.52)
Last year: Yankees won series, 6-2
at Detroit Tigers [34-28]
(Tuesday 7:05 p.m.; Wednesday 7:05 p.m.; Thursday 12:05 p.m.)
Probable Starters:
Masterson (5-4, 3.18 ERA); Carmona; Talbot
Last year: Series tied, 9-9
This year: Indians lead series, 3-0