Fake Sunday

My friend pointed out that today being a holiday it counts as this week's Sunday. And even though we won in grand fashion yesterday, today was our Sunday loss.

Yeah, right!

Tough game today. Detroit's starter Doug Fister was beating up his own strikeout record, ultimately striking out 13.

Ubaldo looked amazing the first three innings, basically matching Fister for strikeouts. He was at his absolute best he's been for us, really. But Victor Martinez got a ball that got away from Ubaldo in the 4th and that was that. A 3-run homer and we never got more than 2 runs.

Jiminez struck out 8 over 7 innings.

Smith wasn't too hot today, giving up a run in his 2/3 of an inning. Sipp and Pestano finished off the game, with Pestano striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.

Grady was back today! I am always trepidatious on a guy's return in a big game. Because really is he going to be amazing out of the gate? He wasn't amazing out of the gate the two other times he came back this year. He also doesn't run as fast as Zeke, who would have legged out the FC Grady hit in to (it was an RBI tho). But, he's one of our main guys and he is still amazing in the field. Hopefully tomorrow he's ready again.

Fukudome did his best to make us win, getting his second homer this year for the Tribe. He hit it right in to the wind too - seems like it took forever to get out! He also got a single, giving him 12 hits in his last 10 games.

Thome got a single, so yay for that. Today was the first game we've lost with him in the lineup.

Lonnie Chisenhall - playing for the injured (!!!) Jack Hannahan - did not strike out today, on a day where we struck out 13 times as a team. Go Lonnie!

Jason Donald is still a stud and got another hit today, batting .368 in his last 10 games. His average is creeping up towards .300 at .293. I don't think he's got enough plate appearances to be "eligible" for anything but not bad for a sometimes-player!

We looked decent today in that we didn't lose our shit like Chicago did last night - losing 18-2 to Detroit. So we've got that going for us. But as Manny always says the score doesn't matter, just the W.

Gotta reach for that W tomorrow, Fausto versus Porcello. I'll be there! It's going to be CRAZY.

For those of you not going to the game, it'll be at 7:05. Look for me and my sign in center field, first row. Go StubHub!

Radio Chatter:
"Amazingly this kiddie-core has kept the Indians in the hunt. They're playing meaningful games in September."
- Tom Hamilton

"I guess everybody growing up in Venezuela is a short stop, huh?"
- Tom Hamilton on Miguel Cabrera's original position

"Ozzie Guillen said it best - 'I don't want to hear any complaining. We're getting paid a lot of money. Go play.'"
- Tom Hamilton

"The only thing good about this scenario? Miguel Cabrera has banged in to 23 double plays. Otherwise...there's nothing good about this scenario."
- Tom Hamilton on Smith loading the bases with Cabrera up in the 8th