Game 51: Indians 7, Twins 1

The Indians needed an easy victory, and the Twins were happy to oblige.

Carl Pavano was just a two-pitch pitcher, throwing a fastball/change combination, and he didn't last long because of it. The LGFT was tagged for seven runs, six of them coming on two hits. Lonnie Chisenhall had the first blast, a two-run homer in the second. It was Chisenhall's second homer since his recall four days ago, and if he continues to hit like this, it'll be tough to take him out of the lineup when Jack Hannahan returns to the lineup. The second came from Jason Kipnis, who hit the first team grand slam of the year in the fourth. Chisenhall actually set up the grand slam, as he failed to get a good read on a Choo single, and couldn't score from second on a bloop to shallow left.

Several Tribe alumni were in the park, including Albert Belle, who I believe was making his first trip to Jacobs/Progressive Field since retiring. Albert obviously left the Indians not on the best of terms, and it was good to see him finally back with the team. When he was shown on the video board, he got a warm reception from the fans at the park, the first time he was cheered in Cleveland since 1996. Carlos Baerga was around as well, and was in the radio booth when Jason Kipnis hit his grand slam; Baerga had earlier compared Kipnis with a young Chase Utley.

Meanwhile, on the field, Derek Lowe picked up where he left off against the Twins and in general after his awful start in Chicago. If not his bobble at first in the seventh, he would have finished his outing having thrown 16 consecutive shutout innings against the Twins. He did record a strikeout this time (two of them, in fact), and allowed just five hits in 6.2 innings. Nick Hagadone and Jeremy Accardo finished things up with 2.1 scoreless innings.

Source: FanGraphs