Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Graph @ Fangraphs
Highest WPA:
Grady Sizemore .224
Josh Barfield .199
Rafael Betancourt .196
Lowest WPA:
Ryan Garko -.155
Aaron Fultz -.109
Jason Michaels -.108
For six innings, Steve Trachsel hounded the Indians' hitters by steadfastly refusing to throw a hittable strike. He was content to shoot for the corners of the zone or miss. The Indians were patient enough to get him out of the game by the sixth inning, and quickly jumped on former Indian Jeremy Guthrie for five runs, three of which came on a thrilling inside-the-park home run by Grady Sizemore. Grady's blast landed in the center field corner just out of the reach of the rangy Corey Patterson, and while the Orioles' center fielder picked himself off the warning track, Sizemore rocketed around the bases; the relay home wasn't close.
The middle relief instantly gave away most of the four-run cushion in the seventh, but Rafael Betancourt outfastballed Nick Markakis to finish the inning, and set down the Orioles' heart of the order in the eighth. Joe Borowski struck out the side in the ninth to notch his ninth save of the season.
Eric Wedge left the dugout very early in the game, sticking up for (who else?) Casey Blake after umpire Bill Miller called a low Trachsel breaking ball a strike in the first inning. Bench coach Jeff Datz ran the show the rest of the way.
Next Up: Summer finally arrives at Jacobs Field. Sowers vs. Bedard, 7:05 PM.