Written by Jonathan Knight

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THE MAGIC IS BACK: The win over the Twins in the opener of their mini-series marked the Indians’ 4th win in their last at-bat this season and their 8th come-from-behind triumph. Their 9th come-from-behind win followed on Wednesday against Seattle, and their 10th came Thursday, along with their fifth win in their last at-bat.

SENDING THEM HOME HAPPY: The Tribe is now 2-4 on the year in extra inning games. Thursday’s victory marked their first extra-frame win at home since their 16-inning triumph over Oakland on Aug. 31 of last year, which was followed by four straight extra-inning defeats at Progressive Field.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time lead over the Red Sox slimmed to 1,022-961, but they increased their leads over the Twins (373-349) and Mariners (205-159).

NOT-SO-FUN-WAY: The Indians haven’t won a series in Fenway Park since 2005. Including the 2007 ALCS, they hold a record of 11-22 in Boston over the past seven seasons.

ROLE REVERSAL:  After struggling at the plate in clutch situations all season, the Indians turned the tables against Seattle, hitting .346 with runners in scoring position, while limiting the Mariners to just a pair of hits in 24 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

BAD MEMORIES: In the last three games of the Boston series, the Indians were outscored 23-7 - which, ironically, was the final score of the infamous Game Four of the 1999 Division Series win by the Red Sox over the Tribe, also played at Fenway Park.

TWIN KILLINGS: The Indians have now won five straight games in Minnesota and defeated the Twins 10 out of the last 11 times they’ve played.

LITTLE EFFORT, BIG RESULT: Joe Smith won Monday night’s game in Minnesota by throwing one pitch. It's funny until you consider Jeanmar Gomez pitched seven shutout innings and got a no decision. Smith got another victory on Thursday despite giving up the go-ahead run in the 11th.

SHORT WORK: Not surprisingly, Derek Lowe’s masterpiece on Tuesday was the Indians’ shortest game of the season, lasting just two hours and 27 minutes.

SCORELESS STREAK: Highlighted by sterling starts by Jeanmar Gomez and Derek Lowe in Minnesota, Indians’ starting pitchers put together a string of 16.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

SIX YEARS LATER: This will truly blow your mind: despite having back-to-back Cy Young Award winners in 2007 and 2008, the last Indian pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout was Jeremy Sowers against Seattle on July 28, 2006.

SAVELESS STREAK: Until Monday, the Indians went six straight games without recording a save, matching their longest saveless streak of the season (April 25-May 1).

ONE AND DONE: The Saturday/Sunday offensive meltdown in Boston marked the first time the Tribe scored one run in back-to-back games since last Aug. 19-20 in Detroit.

QUALITY OUTINGS: Indians’ starting pitchers have delivered 22 quality starts in their 38 games.

LIT UP: The 12 runs the Indians allowed on Sunday were the most they’d permitted in a game this season and just the second time an opponent scored 10 or more runs in a game in 2012. Last year the Indians allowed 10 or more runs 14 times.

UNABLE TO AVOID THE BIG INNING: For what it’s worth, Dan Wheeler did not allow a run in eight of his 12 appearances this season. Problem was, in the four outings in which he did allow runs, he permitted 12 in 3.2 innings - an ERA of 29.43.

A YEAR AGO: After 38 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 25-13, best record in baseball and first place in the AL Central, 4.5 games ahead of the Tigers.

 

PROGRESS REPORT:

The Indians are averaging 4.52 runs per game and allowing 4.61.

Batting average: .249 (8th in AL) 326-1310

Slugging percentage: .390 (9th in AL)

On-base percentage: .341 (3rd in AL)

Walks: 174 (1st in AL)

Stolen bases: 25 (5th in AL)

Strikeouts: 250 (11th in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .256 (88 for 344)

 

Team ERA: 4.17 (9th in AL)

Walks allowed: 148 (13th in AL)

Strikeouts: 242 (12th in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .271 (98 for 361)

Errors: 19 (9th in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

15-12, 4.10 ERA

(230.2 IP, 105 ER)

 

RELIEF PITCHERS:

7-4, 14 saves, 3 blown saves, 4.30 ERA

(121.1 IP, 58 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Lowe 6-2 (7 quality starts)

Gomez 4-2 (3 quality starts)

Tomlin 3-2 (3 quality starts)

Masterson 3-5 (4 quality starts)

Jimenez 4-4 (4 quality starts)

McAllister 2-1 (1 quality start)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 5-5

Blue Script “Indians”: 8-4

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 6-3

Creamy white home alternate: 3-4

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 13-9

Block C Blue Cap: 6-3

Block C Red Cap: 3-4

 

BOSTON SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Red Sox outscored the Indians, 26-15. The Red Sox committed an error. One of the Indians’ runs was unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 34 for 136 (.250), 15 walks, 3 HBP, 2 SF (.333 on-base percentage)

Boston 42 for 136 (.309), 14 walks, 5 HPB, 2 SF (.389 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 10 for 38 (.263), 33 left on base

Boston 15 for 42 (.357), 32 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 11 (2 HR)

Boston 20 (4 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 33 IP, 42 H, 14 BB, 28 SO, 26 ER, 7.09 ERA

Boston 36 IP, 34 H, 15 BB, 20 SO, 14 ER, 3.50 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-3; 23.1 IP, 33 H, 7 BB, 19 SO, 19 ER, 7.33 ERA

Boston 3-1; 20.2 IP, 24 H, 11 BB, 9 SO, 12 ER, 5.22 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 9.2 IP, 9 H, 7 BB, 9 SO, 7 ER, 6.52 ERA 

Boston 1 save; 15.1 IP, 10 H, 4 BB, 11 SO, 2 ER, 1.17 ERA

 

MINNESOTA SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Twins, 10-4. The Indians committed an error. One of the Twins’ runs was unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 18 for 69 (.261), 6 walks, 1 HBP, 1 SF (.325 on-base percentage)

Minnesota 11 for 61 (.180), 9 walks (.286 on-base percentage) 20/70

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 4 for 17 (.235), 13 left on base

Minnesota 3 for 12 (.250), 12 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 10 (4 HR)

Minnesota 4 (1 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 18 IP, 11 H, 9 BB, 4 SO, 3 ER, 1.50 ERA

Minnesota 18 IP, 18 H, 6 BB, 8 SO, 10 ER, 5.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-0; 16 IP, 9 H, 7 BB, 2 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA

Minnesota 0-1; 11 IP, 15 H, 2 BB, 5 SO, 9 ER, 7.36 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 1-0, 1 save, 1 blown save; 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3 ER, 13.50 ERA 

Minnesota 0-1; 7 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 SO, 1 ER, 1.29 ERA

 

SEATTLE SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Mariners, 15-8. The Mariners committed two errors and the Indians committed one. Two of the Indians’ runs were unearned, as was one of Seattle’s.

 

Overall Hitting

Seattle 14 for 73 (.192), 9 walks, (.281 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 24 for 77 (.312), 8 walks, 2 HBP (.391 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Seattle 2 for 24 (.083), 14 left on base

Cleveland 9 for 26 (.346), 23 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Seattle 4 (1 HR)

Cleveland 9 (2 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Seattle 18.1 IP, 20 H, 11 BB, 13 SO, 12 ER, 5.89 ERA

Cleveland 20 IP, 14 H, 9 BB, 20 SO, 7 ER, 3.15 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Seattle 0-1; 10 IP, 24 H, 6 BB, 8 SO, 7 ER, 6.30 ERA

Cleveland 1-0; 11.2 IP, 8 H, 7 BB, 10 SO, 6 ER, 4.63 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Seattle 0-1, 2 blown saves; 8.1 IP, 9 H, 8 BB, 9 SO, 6 ER, 6.48 ERA 

Cleveland 1-0; 8.1 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 10 SO, 1 ER, 1.08 ERA

 

UP NEXT: 

Miami Marlins [20-18]

(Friday 7:05 p.m.; Saturday 4:05 p.m., Sunday 1:05 p.m.)

Last year: Did not play - Indians won season series 2-1 in 2007

 

Detroit Tigers [18-20]

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

Last year: Tigers won season series, 12-6

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