Written by Jonathan Knight

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A TURNING POINT?: The Tribe entered the series with Detroit with a 4-23 record at Comerica Park over last three seasons. The Indians hadn’t won a series in Detroit since sweeping the Tigers Aug. 25-27, 2008.

LEADING THE PACK: Not only does the Tribe continue to lead the AL in walks (218), but it now has taken the lead in stolen bases (48).

ROUGH TIME IN MOTOWN: Prior to Tuesday, Ubaldo Jimenez was 0-4 in four starts in Detroit with a 9.95 ERA. He lost both of his starts in Motown with the Indians last year, posting a 15.13 ERA.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time mark against the Twins dropped to 374-351 while their record against the Tigers improved to 1,033-1,064.

GRAND SLAM FOR JK: Jason Kipnis’ bomb Friday night was the Tribe’s first grand slam since last July 11 when Travis Hafner blasted a walk-off bases-loaded homer to beat Toronto. It was the first grand slam of Kipnis’ big-league career.

THE JUNE SWOON: Over the previous five seasons, the Indians’ record in June stood at 43-67, a winning percentage of just .391. Yet their overall winning percentage over the past five seasons is .461.

ANOTHER COMEBACK: Tuesday’s victory over Detroit marked the Indians’ 14th come-from-behind triumph of the season.

NO WALKING: The one walk Ubaldo Jimenez allowed on Tuesday was the fewest he’d permitted in an outing this season.

STRUGGLING ON THE BACK END: Until breaking through for a run off Detroit's Luis Marte in the sixth inning on Wednesday night, the Indians hadn’t scored off an opponents’ bullpen in 23.1 consecutive innings.

STREAK HALTED: Going into last weekend, the Indians had won 11 of their last 12 games against Minnesota.

BAD STARTS: The Indians have allowed their opponent to score in the first inning eight times in their last 12 games. They lost seven of the eight.

DIVISIONAL MATTERS: The Indians’ record against AL Central opponents now stands at 17-15.

POKING PAVANO: Friday night marked Carl Pavano’s 11th start against the Indians since the Tribe traded him in 2009. This was undoubtedly his worst, dropping him to 2-4 against Cleveland with a 3.93 ERA since the trade. In his last three games against the Indians he has an 8.44 ERA.

NEARLY PERFECT: The Minnesota bullpen allowed neither a run nor a walk in 11 innings last weekend.

A YEAR AGO: After 56 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 33-23, best record in the American League and first place in the AL Central, 3.5 games ahead of the Tigers.

 

PROGRESS REPORT:

The Indians are averaging 4.48 runs per game and allowing 4.86.

Batting average: .251 (8th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .382 (11th in AL)

On-base percentage: .332 (3rd in AL)

Walks: 218 (1st in AL)

Stolen bases: 48 (1st in AL)

Strikeouts: 351 (2nd-fewest in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .258 (125 for 485)

 

Team ERA: 4.52 (13th in AL)

Walks allowed: 202 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Strikeouts: 353 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .298 (156 for 524)

Errors: 29 (4th-fewest in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

22-22, 4.73 ERA

(332.2 IP, 175 ER)

RELIEF PITCHERS:

8-4, 21 saves, 3 blown saves, 4.11 ERA

(177.1 IP, 81 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Lowe 7-5 (9 quality starts)

Gomez 6-4 (4 quality starts)

Jimenez 6-5 (6 quality starts)

Tomlin 4-3 (3 quality starts)

Masterson 4-8 (7 quality starts)

McAllister 3-1 (2 quality starts)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN GETTING QUALITY START: 23-8

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN NOT GETTING QUALITY START: 7-18

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 8-7

Blue Script “Indians”: 10-6

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 7-6

Creamy white home alternate: 5-7

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 18-13

Block C Blue Cap: 7-6

Block C Red Cap: 4-7

Red, White & Blue Block C Red Cap: 1-0

 

ATTENDANCE WATCH: Indians are averaging 17,159 fans per home game - last in the AL

 

MINNESOTA SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

Each team scored 14 runs. The Twins committed four errors and the Indians committed three. Three of the Indians’ runs was unearned, as was one of Minnesota’s.

 

Overall Hitting

Minnesota 29 for 106 (.274), 5 walks, 2 SF (.296 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 32 for 109 (.294), 4 walks, 1 SF (.316 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Minnesota 9 for 28 (.321), 18 left on base

Cleveland 6 for 20 (.300), 22 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Minnesota 6 (2 HR)

Cleveland 5 (2 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Minnesota 2

Cleveland 4

 

Overall Pitching

Minnesota 26 IP, 32 H, 4 BB, 15 SO, 10 ER, 3.46 ERA

Cleveland 27 IP, 29 H, 5 BB, 15 SO, 13 ER, 4.33 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Minnesota 1-1; 15 IP, 24 H, 4 BB, 6 SO, 10 ER, 6.00 ERA

Cleveland 1-2; 18.2 IP, 22 H, 5 BB, 8 SO, 9 ER, 4.34 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Minnesota 1-0, 2 saves; 11 IP, 8 H, 0 BB, 9 SO, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA 

Cleveland 8.1 IP, 7 H, 0 BB, 7 SO, 4 ER, 4.32 ERA

 

DETROIT SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Tigers, 18-15. The Tigers committed two errors and the Indians committed one. Three of the Indians’ runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 27 for 105 (.257), 11 walks, 1 SF (.325 on-base percentage)

Detroit 25 for 100 (.250), 4 walks, 1 HBP (.286 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 9 for 23 (.391), 18 left on base

Detroit 10 for 24 (.417), 14 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 9 (2 HR)

Detroit 10 (3 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Cleveland 2

Detroit 1

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 26 IP, 25 H, 4 BB, 15 SO, 15 ER, 5.19 ERA

Detroit 27 IP, 27 H, 11 BB, 16 SO, 15 ER, 5.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 2-1; 16.2 IP, 21 H, 3 BB, 8 SO, 14 ER, 7.56 ERA

Detroit 1-2; 15.2 IP, 18 H, 8 BB, 9 SO, 12 ER, 6.89 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 2 saves; 9.1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 ER, 0.97 ERA

Detroit 11.1 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 7 SO, 3 ER, 2.38 ERA 

 

UP NEXT: 

at. St. Louis Cardinals [30-28]

(Friday 8:15 p.m.; Saturday 7:15 p.m., Sunday 2:15 p.m.)

Last year: Did not play; Indians won season series 2-1 in 2009

 

at Cincinnati Reds [31-25]

(Tuesday 7:10 p.m.; Wednesday 7:10 p.m.; Thursday 12:35 p.m.)

Last year: Indians won season series, 5-1

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