April 29
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
48 |
41 |
0 |
.539 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
24 |
20 |
0 |
.545 |
Road |
24 |
21 |
0 |
.533 |
Extra Innings |
2 |
6 |
0 |
.250 |
Double Headers |
0 |
2 |
2 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
2 |
5 |
0 |
.286 |
Tuesday |
7 |
5 |
0 |
.583 |
Wednesday |
7 |
5 |
0 |
.583 |
Thursday |
6 |
3 |
0 |
.667 |
Friday |
7 |
7 |
0 |
.500 |
Saturday |
8 |
7 |
0 |
.533 |
Sunday |
11 |
9 |
0 |
.550 |
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
7 |
0 |
.611 |
|
Red Sox |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
White Sox |
5 |
8 |
0 |
.385 |
9 |
7 |
0 |
.563 |
|
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
|
2 |
3 |
0 |
.400 |
|
Brewers |
0 |
2 |
0 |
.000 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
.500 |
|
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
|
8 |
3 |
0 |
.727 |
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
.500 |
|
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
The oddest thing about this date is a couple of scheduling quirks. One is that the Tribe played nine straight games on the road from 1970 to 1979. And this year's game in Kansas City will break a ten game streak at home from 2000 to 2012. Normally I would highlight the 21-9 blowout win over the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952. However this is also the anniversary of Wes Ferrell's no-hitter in 1931. This was the Tribe's fifth no hitter. The St. Louis Browns were the victim in this one, losing 9-0. Ferrell didn't necessarily have an easy go of it either. He allowed three walks, two to shortstop Jim Levey. But backup Tribe shortstop Bill Hunnefield committed three errors, putting another three baserunners on. The Indians put the game away by scoring two in the seventh and another three in the eighth. The hitting stars were center fielder Earl Averill who went 2-5 with a home run, catcher Luke Sewell who was 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Ferrell himself, who was 2-4, a double and a homer, with two runs scored and four RBI. Ferrell ended with a GameScore of 92.
April 30
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
38 |
50 |
1 |
.432 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
13 |
27 |
0 |
.325 |
Road |
25 |
23 |
1 |
.521 |
Extra Innings |
6 |
4 |
0 |
.600 |
Double Headers |
0 |
0 |
3 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
1 |
7 |
0 |
.125 |
Tuesday |
7 |
7 |
0 |
.500 |
Wednesday |
7 |
6 |
0 |
.539 |
Thursday |
3 |
6 |
1 |
.333 |
Friday |
4 |
7 |
0 |
.364 |
Saturday |
9 |
6 |
0 |
.600 |
Sunday |
7 |
11 |
0 |
.389 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orioles/Browns/Brewers |
8 |
9 |
1 |
.471 |
Red Sox |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
White Sox |
5 |
7 |
0 |
.417 |
Tigers |
5 |
7 |
0 |
.417 |
Royals |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
Angels |
1 |
5 |
0 |
.167 |
Brewers |
1 |
1 |
0 |
.500 |
Twins/Senators |
3 |
4 |
0 |
.429 |
Yankees |
3 |
1 |
0 |
.750 |
Athletics |
4 |
8 |
0 |
.333 |
Mariners |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rangers/Senators |
3 |
3 |
0 |
.500 |
Blue Jays |
0 |
1 |
0 |
.000 |
The end of the month has not been that kind to our beloved Indians. The .432 percentage is definitely on the lower end of the spectrum. And shockingly enough it is because that horrific 13-27 home record. Luckily this year we are on the road, to have our earliest inter-league game ever. The eighteen games against the Orioles franchise include a whopping fourteen against the Browns. This included nine games in a ten year stretch from 1904 to 1914. The worst loss was a 20-10 shellacking at Comiskey Park in 1934. But the highlight of this date is surprise, another no-hitter. We revisit Rapid Robert again, who beat the Yankees 1-0 in Yankee Stadium in 1946, in his thirteenth start after returning from World War II in late 1945. Feller was a bit wild, walking five, but also struck out eleven. He dueled Bill Bevens, who allowed seven hits and walked five, but he did pitch a complete game. The only blemish ended up being a ninth inning home run by catcher Frankie Hayes. Feller finished with a GameScore of 93.
May 1
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
55 |
40 |
0 |
.579 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
32 |
21 |
0 |
.604 |
Road |
23 |
19 |
0 |
.548 |
Extra Innings |
6 |
3 |
0 |
.667 |
Double Headers |
2 |
0 |
1 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
4 |
5 |
0 |
.444 |
Tuesday |
7 |
6 |
0 |
.538 |
Wednesday |
9 |
5 |
0 |
.643 |
Thursday |
7 |
5 |
0 |
.583 |
Friday |
8 |
6 |
0 |
.571 |
Saturday |
8 |
7 |
0 |
.533 |
Sunday |
12 |
6 |
0 |
.667 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orioles/Browns/Brewers |
6 |
9 |
0 |
.400 |
Red Sox |
3 |
3 |
0 |
.500 |
White Sox |
10 |
4 |
0 |
.714 |
Tigers |
6 |
9 |
0 |
.400 |
Royals |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
Angels |
1 |
4 |
0 |
.200 |
Brewers |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
Twins/Senators |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
Yankees |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
Athletics |
7 |
4 |
0 |
.636 |
Mariners |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
|
Rangers/Senators |
3 |
1 |
0 |
.750 |
Blue Jays |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
As poor as April 30 was, May-day has been the complete opposite at home, with a 32-21 record. The longest winning streak on this date is nine which happened from 1954 to 1960, including two doubleheader sweeps over the Red Sox and Kansas City Athletics. Last year's loss to the White Sox broke a five game win streak. This date has also produced double digit runs on ten separate occasions. The high is 13, most recently by the 2001 team, beating the Royals by eleven. Lofton opened with a walk, Omar doubled him home, Robbie Alomar sacrificed Vizquel to third, Juan Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly, Thome also got a walk and Ellis Burks hit a home run to open a 4-0 lead on Chad Durbin. In the fourth, Eddie Taubensee hit a three run homer, scoring Marty Cordova and Russell Branyan. Meanwhile, Chuck Finley was cruising. He allowed one unearned run in the fourth and another run in the fifth. Blake Stein relieved Durbin in the fifth, and dodged danger until the seventh when Juan Gonzalez parked one over the fence, scoring Alomar this time. After a Thome double, Doug Henry relieved Stein and promptly wild pitched Thome to third and walked Burks. This set up back to back jacks by Cordova and Branyan.
May 2
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
57 |
32 |
0 |
.640 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
24 |
17 |
0 |
.585 |
Road |
33 |
15 |
1 |
.688 |
Extra Innings |
10 |
2 |
0 |
.833 |
Double Headers |
1 |
1 |
2 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
6 |
2 |
0 |
.750 |
Tuesday |
8 |
4 |
0 |
.667 |
Wednesday |
9 |
4 |
1 |
.692 |
Thursday |
4 |
4 |
0 |
.500 |
Friday |
10 |
4 |
0 |
.714 |
Saturday |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
Sunday |
9 |
9 |
0 |
.500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orioles/Browns/Brewers |
14 |
3 |
0 |
.824 |
Red Sox |
6 |
2 |
0 |
.750 |
White Sox |
6 |
7 |
0 |
.462 |
Tigers |
8 |
6 |
1 |
.571 |
Royals |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
Angels |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
Brewers |
0 |
1 |
0 |
.000 |
Twins/Senators |
6 |
1 |
0 |
.857 |
Yankees |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
Athletics |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
Mariners |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rays |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rangers/Senators |
3 |
4 |
0 |
.429 |
Blue Jays |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
This has to be one of the most impressive days on the season calendar for the Tribe. They are a smoking 57-32 on May 2, including a scintillating 33-15 on the road and 10-2 in extra innings. Sadly, in 2013 we have no game scheduled. After losing their first five games on this date, the Naps/Indians went on 9-1 from 1906 to 1916, had an eight game win streak from 1930 to 1943, a nine gamer from 1954 to 1964 and another eight gamer from 1988 to 1998. In 1984, the Indians beat the Orioles at Memorial Stadium 9-7 in 16 innings. This matchup was expected to be a duel between Rick Sutcliffe and Scott McGregor. And for two and a half, they obliged, nobody reaching base. Sutcliffe blinked first, allowing four runs in the third, a two run homer by catcher Floyd Rayford, and a two run double by Eddie Murray. The Tribe got two back in the fourth on a throwing error by third baseman Wayne Gross, but Sutcliffe allowed single runs in the fourth and fifth, being relieved by Mike Jeffcoat int he fifth. Cleveland got one more back in the seventh on a George Vukovich grounder. The game was tied in the top of the eighth on an Eddie Murray error and a three run homer by Brook Jacoby off of Sammy Stewart. Luis Aponte promptly allowed the Orioles to take the lead in the bottom half on a Wayne Gross homer. Tippy Martinez came in to close out the game, but allowed a leadoff double to Carmen Castillo. Brett Butler sacrificed him to third, and Tony Bernazard scored him on a squeeze bunt. Neither team did much damage in extras, but after Jim Palmer relieved in the fourteenth, he allowed a leadoff walk to Bernazard in the sixteenth. Mike Fischlin pinch ran for him. Julio Franco singled and Andre Thornton moved them to second and third on a deep fly ball to center. After Hargrove was intentionally passed, Jacoby scored Fischlin on a sacrifice fly and Ron Hassey got an insurance run on a single. George Frazier set down the side in order to finish off the win.
May 3
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
51 |
36 |
1 |
.586 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
23 |
15 |
1 |
.605 |
Road |
28 |
21 |
0 |
.571 |
Extra Innings |
1 |
3 |
0 |
.250 |
Double Headers |
1 |
0 |
2 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
5 |
3 |
0 |
.625 |
Tuesday |
8 |
5 |
0 |
.615 |
Wednesday |
10 |
3 |
0 |
.769 |
Thursday |
7 |
1 |
0 |
.875 |
Friday |
5 |
7 |
0 |
.417 |
Saturday |
8 |
7 |
0 |
.533 |
Sunday |
8 |
10 |
1 |
.444 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orioles/Browns |
9 |
4 |
0 |
.692 |
Red Sox |
4 |
4 |
0 |
.500 |
White Sox |
7 |
5 |
0 |
.583 |
Tigers |
5 |
6 |
1 |
.455 |
Royals |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
Angels |
2 |
3 |
0 |
.400 |
Twins/Senators |
8 |
4 |
0 |
.667 |
Yankees |
3 |
1 |
0 |
.750 |
Athletics |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
Mariners |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rays |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rangers/Senators |
3 |
3 |
0 |
.500 |
Blue Jays |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
The early May success continues here, with another impressive 51-36 mark. We have beaten the Twins franchise two thirds of the time on this date, including 3-1 since they landed in the Twin cities. The most recent victory against them on this date was a 4-2 victory in the Metrodome in 2005. Jake Westbrook had started the season 0-5 and had 6.35 ERA going into the game. The Indians gave him a 4 run lead though, on a two run jack by Hafner in the first, and a solo shot by Casey Blake and a run scoring double by Ron Belliard in the second, all off of Joe Mays. Justin Morneau hit a solo shot himself in the second and Joe Mauer had a run scoring single in the third. Mays escaped a bases loaded jam in the fifth, and Westbrook also eked out of a second/third jam in the fifth. The bullpens took over, and Rafael Betancourt had a perfect seventh, Arthur Rhodes only allowed a single in the eighth, bringing it to Bob Wickman. Wickman did his thing, allowing a single to Michael Cuddyer, a balk to get him to third, and a walk to Shannon Stewart. Stewart stole second to get the tying run in scoring position, but Wickman punched out Matt LeCroy on a full count.
May 4
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
46 |
48 |
1 |
.489 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
23 |
20 |
0 |
.535 |
Road |
23 |
28 |
1 |
.451 |
Extra Innings |
4 |
8 |
0 |
.33 |
Double Headers |
0 |
1 |
2 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
3 |
5 |
0 |
.375 |
Tuesday |
6 |
8 |
0 |
.429 |
Wednesday |
6 |
8 |
1 |
.429 |
Thursday |
6 |
6 |
0 |
.500 |
Friday |
4 |
8 |
0 |
.333 |
Saturday |
11 |
4 |
0 |
.733 |
Sunday |
10 |
9 |
0 |
.526 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orioles/Browns |
3 |
9 |
1 |
.250 |
Red Sox |
7 |
4 |
0 |
.636 |
White Sox |
8 |
3 |
0 |
.727 |
Tigers |
3 |
6 |
0 |
.333 |
Royals |
1 |
4 |
0 |
.200 |
Angels |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Twins/Senators |
10 |
4 |
0 |
.714 |
Yankees |
1 |
3 |
0 |
.250 |
Athletics |
4 |
8 |
0 |
.333 |
Mariners |
0 |
2 |
0 |
.000 |
Rays |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rangers/Senators |
4 |
1 |
0 |
.800 |
Blue Jays |
1 |
4 |
0 |
.200 |
And the winning record finally disappears here. Based on the history of being 11-4 on Saturdays and 10-4 against the Twins/Senators (including 4-0 against the Twins), the odds are decent we should beat them this year, getting us one game closer to a .500 record. The highlighted game here is the 20-6 bombing of the A's in 1991 in the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. This game was started by Eric King, who somehow started 24 games for the Indians in 1991. Luckily, the hitters gave him an 8-1 lead by the second inning, mostly on a pair of three run homers by Chris James. King pitched into the seventh, allowing five runs, including solo homers by Mark McGwire and Harold Baines. The Tribe was up 10-5 going into the eighth and tacked on eight more off of Eric Show and John Briscoe. Jerry Browne tripled, Michael Huf struck out, Mark Lewis singled, Beau Allred singled, Albert Belle doubled, Chris James singled, Carlos Baerga doubled, Sandy Alomar grounded out, Turner Ward walked, Browne doubled, Huff singled and Lewis ended the inning on a fly ball. James finished the game 4-5 with three runs scored and nine RBI.
May 5
W |
L |
T |
Pct |
|
All-Time |
46 |
46 |
1 |
.500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
22 |
23 |
1 |
.489 |
Road |
24 |
23 |
0 |
.511 |
Extra Innings |
4 |
4 |
0 |
.500 |
Double Headers |
0 |
1 |
3 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday |
4 |
4 |
0 |
.500 |
Tuesday |
6 |
7 |
0 |
.462 |
Wednesday |
7 |
7 |
0 |
.500 |
Thursday |
7 |
5 |
0 |
.583 |
Friday |
6 |
7 |
0 |
.462 |
Saturday |
7 |
8 |
1 |
.467 |
Sunday |
9 |
8 |
0 |
.529 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orioles/Browns |
8 |
3 |
0 |
.727 |
Red Sox |
4 |
8 |
0 |
.333 |
White Sox |
7 |
10 |
1 |
.412 |
Tigers |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
Royals |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
Angels |
1 |
1 |
0 |
.500 |
Twins/Senators |
6 |
5 |
0 |
.545 |
Yankees |
3 |
1 |
0 |
.750 |
Athletics |
8 |
4 |
0 |
.667 |
Mariners |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
Rays |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
Rangers/Senators |
1 |
5 |
0 |
.167 |
Blue Jays |
0 |
3 |
0 |
.000 |
This year's game against the Twins will shift the balance and/or rebalance a lot of records. The Tribe sits right at .500 for this date, being one game under .500 at home, one game over .500 on Sundays and one game over .500 against the Twins and Twins franchise. Additionally, the Tribe is .500 in extra innings which includes the 4-3 win over Oakland in 2011 and the 5-2 loss to the Rangers last year. Let's peek at the 1-0 win against the Senators in 1929. Jake Miller got the better of Ad Liska in this one. Miller scattered six hits and three walks, while Liska only gave up two hits and three walks. The only ruin of the game came in the second, when right fielder Bibb Falk singled and eventually scored on an error by either shortstop Joe Cronin or third baseman Buddy Myer. Miller hit also hit two batters and picked off two baserunners on first in the game. Both Liska and Miller pitched complete games.