3/18/11 Texas Rangers 6, Cleveland Indians 12

Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ

Hmmm, the Cleveland Indians are looking pretty good in this game. The Rangers fought hard, but starting pitcher Matt Harrison's very uneasy start sealed the deal (4 IP, 4H, 4ER, 4BB, 3K, HR, 1 HB, 2 WP)...in relief, side armer Cody Eppley gives up 3 ER, Mark Lowe gives up 4 ER, and the Rangers all but give up their chances to beat the Indians.



Uncharacteristic offense...HRs by Elvis Andrus (who did NOT hit a HR in 2010) and David Murphy, plus 2 RBIs by Chad Tracy (I'm glad he found some work). Still not enough; Asdrubal Cabrera (2R, 2H, 3RBI, BB, HR, HBP), Shin-Soo Choo (2H, 3RBI, K, HBP), and Matt LaPorta (3R, 2H, 2RBI, BB, K) kept driving in the runs.

I found out that on a Catcher's Interference call (which I have scored as batter reaches on CI, but is also really an E2), the team opposing the interfering team can "take the play"...in this instance, Lou Marson's glove hits Murphy's bat as he hits what should be a ground ball to 2B for a G4-3 putout. Julio Borbon, who was on first when Murphy entered the box, tried to stretch his run to 3rd and would have certainly been called out on the tag (1B relay throw to 3B on the G4-3). Since CI was called, the ball was 'dead' at the G4-3 and Ron Washington took the single, so Borbon advances to 2B (the stretch to 3B on the ball in play was disregarded) and Murphy takes 1B.

4/30/10 Minnesota Twins 9, Cleveland Indians 3

Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

The Twins are in town to scalp the Indians, and they do it well. The Indians get on the board due to an inning-extending outfield near-collision.

MIN 9 12 0
CLE 3 12 2

With one out, Mike Redmond pops a routine fly to RC, Cuddyer and Span nearly neail each other but the ball drops and Redmond gets a double. This collision should have been an error, but it was ruled a hit. That would have been 2 outs, with the top of the order coming up in Asdrubal Cabrera, who had grounded out in his first 2 ABs and might have again. At any rate, Slowey earns the 3 runs that happen next, but the Twins remain on top.

Orlando Hudson, Justin Morneau both drive in 2 runs apiece. The only Twins who don't hit safely are Denard Span (who reaches on a fielder's choice, driving in a run, and eventually scores) and Delmon Young (who walks and eventually scores).

The game was called by Dick Brenner and future HOFer Bert Blyleven on Fox Sports North.