Written by Jonathan Knight

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ROCK-BOTTOM RAGE: The four hits Chris Perez allowed in the ninth on Sunday were the most he’d permitted in a game since Sept. 14, 2009, when he gave up four hits and four runs in a blown-save defeat in Minnesota. Four hits is the most he’s ever allowed in an outing in his career.

VINNIE NO-RUNS: Vinnie Pestano has not allowed a run in 14 of last 15 appearances and in 20 of his last 22. In 12 of those 22 appearances he hasn’t allowed a baserunner.

SO NOW IT’S TOO HOT?: Saturday afternoon’s crowd of 20,658 and Sunday’s of 19,163 were both notably smaller than Thursday night’s 26,577. On the positive side, until Sunday the Indians had drawn more than 20,000 for seven straight home games.

ALL-TIME TOTAL: The Indians’ all-time record against the Rays moved to 71-44.

TERRIFIC TOMLIN: Thursday night’s gem was Josh Tomlin’s second-best outing of the season, trailing only his eight-inning, one-run performance in Seattle on April 19. It was his sixth quality start out of his 14 starts this season.

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF THE LEAST: Thursday’s win was the Indians’ 9th triumph this season in which they scored three or less runs.

MAKING THE LEAST OUT OF THE MOST: Friday was the sixth time this year the Indians allowed 10 runs or more.

UBALDO IRONY: Since June 1, Ubaldo Jimenez is 3-3 but has an ERA of 2.93. In April and May, his ERA was a paltry 5.79, but his record was 5-4.

CHOO ON FIRE: In his last 10 games, Shin-Soo Choo has raised his season batting average 23 points.

DON’T RUN ON THE RAYS: The Indians attempted six stolen bases in the Tampa series and were thrown out five times (including a pick-off). 

TURNING A CORNER?: Tony Sipp has not allowed a hit, walk, or run in his last five outings.

WHY HE THREW A FIT: Before taking out his frustrations in a completely mature and understandable fashion, Nick Hagadone had allowed 18 earned runs this season, 12 in his last seven outings. Over that period, his ERA has jumped from 2.75 to 6.39.

A BUMP IN THE ROAD: Justin Masterson’s outing on Friday was his worst since he also allowed eight runs in 3.2 innings in Seattle on April 17. It was also the first time this year he allowed more than one home run in a game. In one night, his season ERA jumped from 3.92 to 4.40.

A YEAR AGO: After 85 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 47-40, first place in the AL Central, a half-game ahead of Detroit.

 

PROGRESS REPORT: 

The Indians are averaging 4.53 runs per game and allowing 4.87.

Batting average: .258 (8th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .402 (8th in AL)

On-base percentage: .333 (3rd in AL)

Walks: 309 (1st in AL)

Stolen bases: 59 (7th in AL)

Strikeouts: 539 (2nd-fewest in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .245 (187 for 763)

 

Team ERA: 4.50 (13th in AL)

Walks allowed: 289 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Strikeouts: 566 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .292 (218 for 747)

Errors: 46 (4th-fewest in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

33-35, 4.60 ERA

(507.1 IP, 259 ER)

RELIEF PITCHERS:

11-6, 26 saves, 4 blown saves, 4.31 ERA

(254.2 IP, 122 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Lowe 9-8 (12 quality starts)

Jimenez 9-8 (10 quality starts)

Tomlin 8-5 (6 quality starts)

Masterson 7-11 (11 quality starts)

Gomez 6-7 (4 quality starts)

McAllister 5-2 (3 quality starts)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN GETTING QUALITY START: 34-12

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN NOT GETTING QUALITY START: 10-29

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 13-9

Blue Script “Indians”: 17-12

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 8-10

Creamy white home alternate: 6-10

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 29-21

Block C Blue Cap: 8-10

Block C Red Cap: 5-10

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

Silver Chief Wahoo Cap: 1-0

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY DAY OF THE WEEK:

Sunday: 6-8

Monday: 5-3

Tuesday: 7-5

Wednesday: 6-7

Thursday: 7-4

Friday: 8-5

Saturday: 5-9

 

ATTENDANCE WATCH: The Indians are averaging 19,256 fans per home game - 14th in the AL

 

TAMPA BAY SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Rays outscored the Indians, 21-19. The Rays committed five errors and the Indians committed one. Four of the Rays’ runs were unearned, as was one of the Indians’.

 

Overall Hitting

Tampa Bay 32 for 138 (.232), 14 walks, 1 SF (.301 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 37 for 132 (.280), 15 walks, 1 HBP (.358 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Tampa Bay 8 for 26 (.308), 24 left on base

Cleveland 7 for 35 (.200), 27 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Tampa Bay 13 (5 HR)

Cleveland 16 (6 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Tampa Bay 1

Cleveland 1 (5 caught stealing)

 

Overall Pitching

Tampa Bay 34 IP, 37 H, 15 BB, 21 SO, 18 ER, 4.77 ERA

Cleveland 36 IP, 32 H, 14 BB, 40 SO, 16 ER, 4.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Tampa Bay 1-2; 23.2 IP, 26 H, 13 BB, 15 SO, 14 ER, 5.32 ERA

Cleveland 2-1; 23 IP, 20 H, 8 BB, 26 SO, 11 ER, 4.30 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Tampa Bay 1-0, 1 save; 10.1 IP, 11 H, 2 BB, 6 SO, 4 ER, 3.49 ERA 

Cleveland 0-1, 1 save, 1 blown save; 13 IP, 12 H, 6 BB, 14 SO, 6 ER, 4.15 ERA

 

UP NEXT: 

at Toronto Blue Jays [43-43]

(Friday 7:07 p.m.; Saturday 7:07 p.m.; Sunday 7:07 p.m.)

Last year: Blue Jays won season series, 4-3

This year: Blue Jays lead season series, 2-1

 

at Tampa Bay Rays [45-41]

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

Last year: Rays won season series, 4-2

This year: Season series tied, 2-2

 

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