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Indians Fall Short To Yanks, 3-2
July 27, 2010 By Dan Battaglia
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While there will be no post-season for the Tribe in 2010, there was a playoff like atmosphere in the air Monday night at Progressive Field when the Indians hosted the World Champion Yankees. Alex Rodriguez was unable to get off 599 homeruns, but Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson launched long balls of their own to propel the Yanks to a 3-2 win in the first game of the 4 game series.
With the MLB trade deadline looming, Jake Westbrook (6-7) pitched well for the Indians in what may have been his final start in a Cleveland uniform. The Tribe has been gauging interest on the veteran pitcher on the final year of his contract, and Monday's performance had to be convincing to potential suitors. Westbrook held the Yankees to just 4 hits in 8.0 innings of work, but was done in by the long ball. A solo homerun by former Ohio State Buckeye Nick Swisher in the 4th inning and a would-be game winning 2-run shot by Curtis Granderson in the 8th was all New York needed on this particular night.
Javier Vazquez (9-7) gave up an early solo homerun to Travis Hafner in the second inning, but settled in and had the Indians hitters off balance for the majority of the evening. The Tribe had the makings of a rally in the 6th inning, but only managed one clutch hit, an RBI double by Shin-Soo Choo. Vazquez, who has had a very up-and-down year for the Yankees, was impressive against the Indians only allowing the 2 runs in 7.0 innings of work.
The future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera (21) was called on to slam the door on the Indians in the 9th inning. Carlos Santana led the inning off with a single, but there would be no Sandy Alomar like magic off Rivera on Monday as he retired the next 3 batters on weak ground balls.
The Indians were unable to find the clutch hits Monday and are just 1 for 31 in their last 5 games with runners in scoring position. All eyes will once again be on A-Rod and his quest for his 600th homerun when the series continues at 7:05 on Tuesday. Former Indian CC Sabathia (13-3 3.18 ERA) will be countered by Josh Tomlin making his MLB debut for the Tribe.
