Written by Jonathan Knight

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STRIVE FOR FIVE, PART ONE: The Indians are now 3-18 when their opponent scores at least five runs and 23-3 when they score five runs themselves. The loss in the opener of the Yankee series was the first time the Indians had lost a game in which they’d scored at least five runs since May 8.

STRIVE FOR FIVE, PART TWO: The Indians have only scored that magical number of five runs five times in their past 23 games. Over that same stretch, their opponents have scored five runs or more on 11 occasions.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against New York dropped to 847-1,074, while their mark against Detroit dropped to 1,026-1,053.

OUTCLASSED: The Tribe’s record this season against American League teams that made the playoffs last year now stands at 6-19.

RISING STAR: Carlos Carrasco hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 15.2 innings. His last two immaculate starts lowered his season ERA from 5.18 to 4.09, and - amazingly - it’s now lower than Josh Tomlin’s (4.14). Further cementing his rising stock in the rotation, Carrasco now has more wins than Justin Masterson and as many as Fausto Carmona and Mitch Talbot combined.

TOUGH LUCK: Though he boasts the best ERA of any of the Indians’ starters (3.16), Justin Masterson has now not won a game in nine straight decisions. Adding insult to injury, six of those nine were “quality starts” (at least 6 IP, no more than 3 ER).

FRUSTRATED WITH FAUSTO?: Fausto Carmona leads the league in losses and earned runs allowed. Finally winning a game on Wednesday for the first time since May 3. he went seven starts between victories with a record of 0-5 and an ERA of 7.07. For what it’s worth, Carmona now has a career record of 50-59 with an ERA of 4.58. Since 2007, he’s 30-41 with a 5.06 ERA.

GETTING BATTERED: The Indians have allowed 10 runs or more in a game six times this season, four times since May 25. They’re on pace to top their tally from a year ago, when it happened 11 times.

BEATEN BY OLD FRIENDS: Former Indians Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez combined to hit 6 for 18 against the Indians this week with a home run, two doubles, and three RBI.

GOOSE-EGGED AGAIN: Tuesday marked the eighth time this season the Indians have been shut out - the sixth since May 27 and seventh since May 18.

DIVISIONAL MATTERS: The Indians’ record against the Central Division is now 13-12 - 11-4 against the Tigers and Royals, 2-8 against the White Sox and Twins.

LIKE SUDDEN-DEATH: Until Wednesday, the Indians’ hadn’t come from behind to win a game since May 23, nor in that stretch had they blown a lead in a game they eventually lost. In other words, whoever scored first in 20 straight games also won the game.

LEBRONNING IT IN THE CLUTCH: In their last 14 games, the Indians are hitting an incredible .120 (11 for 92) with runners in scoring position.

DON’T BLAME THE BULLPEN: The Indians’ relief pitchers did not allow a run in 9.2 innings in the Detroit series and now have not allowed a run in 12.1 consecutive innings.

TOMLIN’S TROUBLES: Since a brilliant outing against the Reds on May 21, Josh Tomlin is 1-3 with an 8.61 ERA. In his first nine starts of the year, he never allowed more than three earned runs. In his last four, he’s allowed six earned runs three times. His five-inning outing on Sunday was the first time he hadn’t gone at least six innings in 12 straight starts.

THE .200 CLUB: The New York series marked the fourth time this year the Indians have batted below .200 as a team for a series.

FALLING STARS: Over this colossally frustrating slide, the entire offense has been anemic, but some have slumped more than others. Here’s a rundown of the Indians’ primary hitters and how far their season batting averages have dropped since May 23:

Michael Brantley: .294 to .281

Asdrubal Cabrera: .312 to .295

Shin-Soo Choo: .244 to .237

Matt LaPorta: .256 to .244

Orlando Cabrera: .267 to .251

Jack Hannahan: .242 to .231

Austin Kearns: .210 to .195

Lou Marson: .244 to .239

As horrible as the overall hitting has been, Carlos Santana actually raised his average from a dismal .207 to a pathetic .216.

PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are averaging 4.4 runs per game and allowing 4.3 - they’ve now scored only one more run than their opponents (292-291). Their team batting average is .250 (eighth in the AL) and team ERA is 4.03 (sixth in the AL).

A YEAR AGO: After 67 games in 2010, the Indians stood at 26-41, last place in the AL Central, 12.5 games back of the first-place Twins.

 

NEW YORK SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Yankees outscored the Indians, 24-9 - one of the Yankees’ runs was unearned. The Indians committed four errors and the Yankees committed one.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 27 for 137 (.197), 14 walks

New York 45 for 134 (.336), 16 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 4 for 43 (.093), 34 left on base

New York 12 for 38 (.316), 32 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 8 (1 HR)

New York 15 (4 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 33 IP, 45 H, 16 BB, 26 SO, 23 ER, 6.27 ERA

New York 36 IP, 27 H, 14 BB, 36 SO, 9 ER, 2.25 ERA

 

Staring Pitchers

Cleveland 1-3; 21.2 IP, 29 H, 9 BB, 15 SO, 14 ER, 5.82 ERA

New York 3-1; 28 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 26 SO, 4 ER, 1.29 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 12.1 IP, 16 H, 7 BB, 11 SO, 9 ER, 6.57 ERA

New York 8 IP, 9 H, 7 BB, 10 SO, 5 ER, 5.63 ERA

 

DETROIT SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Tigers outscored the Indians, 14-8 - two of the Tigers’ runs were unearned, as was one of the Indians’. The Tigers committed three errors and the Indians committed one.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 20 for 96 (.208), 7 walks

Detroit 32 for 99 (.323), 12 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 4 for 17 (.235), 20 left on base

Detroit 9 for 25 (.360), 26 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 5 (0 HR)

Detroit 5 (3 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 25 IP, 32 H, 12 BB, 16 SO, 12 ER, 4.32 ERA

Detroit 27 IP, 20 H, 7 BB, 25 SO, 7 ER, 2.33 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-2; 15.1 IP, 24 H, 9 BB, 10 SO, 12 ER, 7.05 ERA

Detroit 2-0; 18 IP, 14 H, 5 BB, 16 SO, 6 ER, 3.00 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 1 save; 9.2 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 6 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA

Detroit 9 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 9 SO, 1 ER, 1.00 ERA

 

UP NEXT:

Pittsburgh Pirates [34-33]

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

Probable Starters:

Tomlin (7-4, 4.14 ERA); Carrasco (6-3, 4.09 ERA); Masterson (5-5, 3.16 ERA)

Last year: Pirates won series, 2-1

 

Colorado Rockies [33-35]

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

Probable Starters:

Carmona (4-8, 5.79 ERA); Talbot (2-4, 5.02); Tomlin

Last year: Did not play - Rockies swept three-game series in last meeting in 2008