A VICTORY OVER VERLANDER: Thursday marked the Indians’ first win over Justin Verlander since Sept. 29, 2010, when they notched a 4-3 win, scoring all four runs off Verlander. In his last 12 starts against the Indians going into Thursday, Verlander went 9-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 105 strikeouts.
CLUTCH PITCHING: In their last eight games, Indians’ opponents have hit just .108 (7 for 65) with runners in scoring position.
TRIFECTA: After never before having saved three games in three days, Chris Perez has now done it three times this season.
COMPARING CLOSERS: At this point last season, Chris Perez had 12 saves. After 44 games in Jose Mesa’s record 46-save 1995 season, he also had 16, while Joe Borowski had 14 (and a 7.94 ERA) after 44 games in his 45-save 2007 campaign.
THE MAGIC IS STILL HERE: Thursday’s masterpiece win marked the Indians’ 5th win in their last at-bat. Their two previous victories in the Detroit series give them 12 come-from-behind wins on the season.
ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the Marlins dropped to 4-8, while their mark against the Tigers jumped to 1,031-1,063.
ATTENDANCE WATCH: Now with 26 home games in the books, the Indians have a home attendance total of 425,742. After 26 home dates last year, the Indians had drawn 479,707. That’s an average of more than 2,000 less fans per game (18,450 to 16,375).
JUST LIKE LAST YEAR: The Indians also swept the Tigers in their first trip to Cleveland in 2011.
STILL WALKIN’: The Tribe still leads the American League in walks with 191.
ARE THEY FOR REAL?: Since you’re no doubt wondering if the Indians’ 26-18 record is indicative of what’s to come, here’s how each pennant-/division-winning Tribe team has stood after 44 games:
2007: 27-17 (finished 96-66)
2001: 30-14 (finished 91-71)
1999: 31-13 (finished 97-65)
1998: 25-19 (finished 89-73)
1997: 24-20 (finished 86-75)
1996: 30-14 (finished 99-62)
1995: 33-11 (finished 100-44)
1954: 29-15 (finished 111-43)
1948: 31-13 (finished 97-58)
1920: 28-16 (finished 98-56)
FRIED BY THE FISH: Including the 1997 World Series, the Indians are now 3-6 against the Marlins in Cleveland.
CONSISTENT RAGE: Chris Perez has not allowed a baserunner in 11 of his 21 appearances this season. He hasn’t allowed a run in 18.
NON-SAVE RAGE: Since the debate has come up, here are Chris Perez’s numbers in his few non-save situations this season: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 ER for a 4.91 ERA.
TRIBE BACK ON TRACK: Tuesday’s win snapped the Indians’ 10-game losing streak to Detroit. Over the past three seasons, they’re 16-5 against the Tigers in Cleveland.
UBALDO BACK ON TRACK: Tuesday night’s win also snapped a three-game losing streak by Ubaldo Jimenez against the Tigers since he joined the Indians. In five Cleveland starts against Detroit, Jimenez is now 2-3 with an ERA of 6.14.
DOUBLE STRUGGLES: With runners in scoring position last weekend, the Indians and Marlins hit a combined .156 (5-32).
JOSE EN FUEGO: In the past 12 days, Jose Lopez has raised his season batting average from .182 to .286.
RECORDS: The Indians are now: 13-7 within the Central Division...22-10 against right-handed pitchers & 4-8 against left-handed pitchers....17-5 against teams with a sub-.500 record and 9-13 against teams at or above .500.
HUH?: The Indians are the only team in the AL Central with a winning record at home.
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: The Tribe is now 10-2 in one-run games.
A YEAR AGO: After 44 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 29-15, best record in baseball and first place in the AL Central, 7 games ahead of the Tigers.
PROGRESS REPORT:
The Indians are averaging 4.32 runs per game and allowing 4.30.
Batting average: .247 (8th in AL)
Slugging percentage: .384 (10th in AL)
On-base percentage: .336 (3rd in AL)
Walks: 191 (1st in AL)
Stolen bases: 32 (4th in AL)
Strikeouts: 281 (12th in AL)
With runners in scoring position: .249 (96 for 386)
Team ERA: 3.90 (9th in AL)
Walks allowed: 171 (13th in AL)
Strikeouts: 277 (12th in AL)
Opponents with runners in scoring position: .256 (103 for 402)
Errors: 22 (10th in AL)
STARTING PITCHERS:
18-13, 3.84 ERA
(269.1 IP, 115 ER)
RELIEF PITCHERS:
8-4, 18 saves, 3 blown saves, 4.02 ERA
(136.2 IP, 61 ER)
INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:
Lowe 6-3 (8 quality starts)
Gomez 5-2 (4 quality starts)
Jimenez 5-4 (5 quality starts)
McAllister 3-1 (2 quality starts)
Tomlin 3-2 (3 quality starts)
Masterson 4-6 (6 quality starts)
INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:
White Script “Indians”: 7-6
Blue Script “Indians”: 9-4
Gray Block “Cleveland”: 6-3
Creamy white home alternate: 4-5
INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:
Chief Wahoo Cap: 16-10
Block C Blue Cap: 6-3
Block C Red Cap: 4-5
MIAMI SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:
The Marlins outscored the Indians, 8-6. Each team committed an error. Two of the Indians’ runs were unearned as was one of the Marlins’.
Overall Hitting
Miami 19 for 90 (.211), 9 walks, 1 HBP, 1 SF (.287 on-base percentage)
Cleveland 18 for 92 (.196), 10 walks, 2 HBP, 1 SF (.286 on-base percentage)
With Runners in Scoring Position
Miami 2 for 13 (.154), 15 left on base
Cleveland 3 for 19 (.158), 20 left on base
Extra-Base Hits
Miami 5 (0 HR)
Cleveland 4 (1 HR)
Overall Pitching
Miami 26 IP, 18 H, 10 BB, 12 SO, 5 ER, 1.73 ERA
Cleveland 27 IP, 19 H, 9 BB, 18 SO, 7 ER, 2.33 ERA
Starting Pitchers
Miami 2-1; 21 IP, 16 H, 9 BB, 10 SO, 5 ER, 2.14 ERA
Cleveland 1-1; 19.1 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 11 SO, 4 ER, 1.86 ERA
Relief Pitchers
Miami 2 saves; 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA
Cleveland 1 save; 7.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 SO, 3 ER, 3.52 ERA
DETROIT SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:
The Indians outscored the Tigers, 11-6. Each team committed two errors. Three of the Indians’ runs were unearned.
Overall Hitting
Detroit 22 for 102 (.216), 14 walks, 1 SAC (.308 on-base percentage)
Cleveland 25 for 92 (.272), 7 walks, 2 SF (.317 on-base percentage)
With Runners in Scoring Position
Detroit 3 for 28 (.107), 30 left on base
Cleveland 5 for 23 (.217), 18 left on base
Extra-Base Hits
Detroit 8 (1 HR)
Cleveland 9 (2 HR)
Overall Pitching
Detroit 24 IP, 25 H, 7 BB, 16 SO, 8 ER, 3.00 ERA
Cleveland 27 IP, 22 H, 14 BB, 17 SO, 6 ER, 2.00 ERA
Starting Pitchers
Detroit 0-2; 20 IP, 19 H, 6 BB, 16 SO, 8 ER, 3.60 ERA
Cleveland 2-0; 19.1 IP, 18 H, 11 BB, 9 SO, 6 ER, 2.79 ERA
Relief Pitchers
Detroit 0-1; 4 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA
Cleveland 1-0, 3 saves; 7.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 8 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA
UP NEXT:
at Chicago White Sox [23-22]
(Friday 8:10 p.m.; Saturday 4:10 p.m., Sunday 2:10 p.m.)
Last year: White Sox won season series, 11-7
This year: White Sox lead season series, 5-4
Kansas City Royals [17-26]
(Monday 4:05 p.m.; Tuesday 7:05 p.m.; Wednesday 12:05 p.m.)
Last year: Indians won season series, 12-6
This year: Indians lead season series, 4-2