Tagged: Carlos Santana

A Grand Finish

Down by three two different times last night, and the Tribe fought back to win.  In the bottom of the ninth, after base knocks from Grady Sizemore and Jack Hannahan and a Asdrubal Cabrera walk, Carlos Santana blasted a towering grand slam to right field.  

I would have been just as pleased the a sac fly, because a win is a win.  But I tell ya what, that grand slam was all sorts of special.  For a guy that has been struggling at the plate, to come through in the 4-spot in the order with a blast like that for the win was really something to see.  Hopefully this bodes well for Santana at the plate tonight and gets him out of his funk he’s been in.  Just a great night to be a Tribe fan last night.  
Tonight we see the MLB debut from hurler Alex White.  Game time 6:05PM – get out there and support this team!  
Go Tribe.  

Game 16 & 17 – Heading to KC, The Battle for First

Game 1 of this four game series against the two teams battling for the top spot in the AL Central ended as one might expect:  in extra innings.  Fortunately for the Tribe, they came out on the better end of the score, after putting across 4 runs in the top of the 10th, to put the Royals away for good.  

What I liked most from that game was that the Tribe trailed and were able to battle back.  Most of their wins so far this season, the Tribe have never had to come back from a deficit.  It was nice to see that they have that in them.  Oh, and Shelley Duncan, you are a pinch-hitting machine.  My goodness.
Game 2 of the serious felt similar, however, with a different outcome.  Bruce Chen was fantastic, and the Indians had a hard time figuring him out.  The Royals were up 5-0 before the Indians were able to get involved late.  
Down 5-3 going into the 9th, Cleveland was able to push one more across on the Shin Soo Choo bases loaded walk.  At that point, it was all up to the ice cold Carlos Santana.   He watched three pitches go by.  Oh, and they were all strikes.  Can’t hit if you don’t swing, Carlos.  
Now, I know he’ll come around.  He’s got the talent, no doubt.  But I think Manny Acta should consider dropping him down in the lineup a bit and giving Travis Hafner the #4 spot in the order.  I feel if Pronk is up in that situation, the Tribe wins the game.  
Anyhow, the Indians still have a hold of first all by themselves in the AL Central, with the Royals a game back.  Game 3 of the series is tomorrow night, 8:05 ET.
Go Tribe

Game 2: White Sox oust Indians 8-3

Well, if one thing can be said about the first two games of the season – it’s that our starting pitching has left something to be desired.  

But that’s the thing about being this early in the year, what can really be said?  I can sit here and break down this that and the next thing all day long, it’s just far too early.   That’s why, it’s best to look at the positives and there are a few.
Offensively I like what I’ve seen so far.  I really think Santana is going to have a monster year, and it was great seeing Pronk get his first home run of the year out of the way so soon.  Honestly, when I look at this lineup and I add a healthy Grady Sizemore to it, I see some serious offensive potential.
But we all know what wins games.  Let’s say it all together now: PITCHING.  So far, not so good from our starters.   But tomorrow is another day.
Tribe look to salvage a game this series tomorrow after noon at 1:05PM.  GO TRIBE.

Game 1: Tribe fall to Chi Sox 15-10

Well, the first three innings were something to forget.  My goodness did Fausto Carmona get rocked.  He gave up 10 earned runs in 3 innings, leaving him with an ERA of 30.00 to start 2011 campaign.  Things were looking very bleak, early.  

The White Sox would go on to add 4 more runs to their score before the Tribe could even make a dent.  
But in the 6th, the Tribe bats would come alive.  Sure, Buerhle was out of the game at this point, but you gotta love how this young Indians team kept battling.  Santana and Hannahan both blasted their first homeruns of the season and started of their 2011 off strong offensively with three hits a piece.  
Another interesting stat?  Indians pitching accumulated 14 strikeouts.  White Sox pitching only had ONE.  Obviously, give credit to them for winning the ball game, but Carmona aside, I really liked what I saw from the Tribe.
Game 2 tomorrow, 1PM ET on STO and MLB.TV
Go Tribe