A Look Back At The Week Ahead; June 17 to June 23

June 17

The perfect scenario here would be if this was a Friday against the Twins. But the most common opponent has been the Red Sox, including nine straight from 1911 to 1935. This year's opponent is the Royals, who we beat just once, back in 1989, 4-3. The Indians got two in the first on a Joe Carter home run. The Royals responded with three in the top of the second on a Frank White RBI groundout and a two run shot by Rey Palacios. Carter continued his mastery of Mark Gubicza by singling home two more in the third, taking back the lead. Scott Bailes only allowed two more baserunners through the eighth. Doug Jones came in and had a one walk save.

June 18

While this date has a modest .515 winning percentage, the Pythag is much higher, at .552. This is mainly because the Indians have only been shutout three times, in 1927, 1972 and 2002. The last time the Indians scored 10 runs, was back in 2007 against the Phillies. But the most impressive win was a 21-2 win against the original Philadelphia franchise, the Athletics, in the second game of a doubleheader in 1950. This laugher was done in the first inning when the Indians scored 14. They brought 17 batters to the plate. Luckily, Lou Brissie couldn't find the plate. After a leadoff double and a lineout, he walked the next five guys, then two more singles and one more free pass and his day was done. Carl Scheib wasn't much better, another walk, two singles, a Eddie Joost error and a three run bomb by Ray Boone finished off the inning. Jim Hegan hit a grand slam off Scheib in the third and voila, 18-0. Every starter scored teo or more runs, except pitcher Mike Garcia who did score one run. He and Hegan were also the only ones not to receive a one of the sixteen free passes by the Athletics pitchers, which was two more than the hits they gave up. Oh, and Garcia pitched a complete game.

June 19

While slightly over .500 for this day, there were two fairly long winning streaks, an eight gamer from 1935 to 1943 and ten gamer from 1988 to 1999. The Tribe is unbeaten in doubleheaders, four wins and five splits and have won 13 of 17 on Sundays. While there have been nine extra-inning games, three of them were in the last four years, including the 5-2 home win against the Pirates in 2011. The Pirates opened the game with two off Justin Masterson in the first, a Nate Walker RBI single and a Matt Diaz RBI forceout. The Tribe tied it up in the second on a Carlos Santana bomb and a double play ground ball by Lou Marson. Masterson struggled with his command and only lasted five. Chad Durbin, Rafael Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Chris Perez, Joe Smith and Tony Sipp held the Pirates at Bay the rest of the night. The Tribe also put up a bunch of goose eggs. In the bottom of the eleventh, Cord Phelps had a walk-of three run homer off Tim Wood to win the game.

June 20

To see this record at just five games under .500 is rather impressive. That is mainly because they went 4-22 from 1910 to 1934, including a 12 game losing streak from 1910 to 1922. One of those four victories was a 1-0 pitcher's duel against the Red Sox in 1926. Both Jake Miller and Fred Heimach pitched complete games. Miller was a tad better though, scattering nine hits and only walking two. Heimach gave up eight hits and four walks. The only run he allowed was an RBI hit from Rube Lutzke in the second.

June 21

Luckily this is not a Saturday game as the Indians are a woeful 4-12. There were a couple back to back wins against the Yankees in 1997 and 1998 when they scored 13 and 11 wins respectively. But we'll revisit the lone interleague victory, a 7-2 win in Chavez Ravine in 2008 in extra innings. CC Sabathia went a strong seven innings, scattering five hits and striking out ten with the only run a Matt Kemp homer in the sixth. CC was the main man on offense too, hitting a solo home run in the third off Chan Ho Park, who went only five innings. The bullpens pitched scoreless ball until the eleventh. Cory Wade allowed leadoff singles to Jamey Carroll and Ben Francisco and after getting Ryan Garko to line out, Scott Proctor was called in. He didn't get anyone out: Jhonny Peralta single, Casey Blake single, Shin-Soo Choo intentional walk, a Kelly Shoppach single and a walk to Jorge Velandia, and the Tribe had a four run lead. Ramon Troncoso relieved and Grady Sizemore singled in another. Then Carroll hit a sacrifice fly to get one more, but Velandia was also thrown out at thrid ending the inning on a double play. Scott Elarton allowed a James Loney RBI double but closed out the Dadogers to get Masahide Kobayashi a win.

June 22

Even with losing five straight from 2004 to 2010, this day has been very good over the years. The home record of 31-15-1 is fantastic, there is a winning road record and another unbeaten record in double headers, five sweeps and seven splits. The record on Sundays is amazing and the Twins franchise only has four wins in 18 tries. From 1953 to 195, the Tribe went 8-0-1 against the Senators/Twins. This included back to back 1-0 shutouts in 1958 and 1960. The 1958 win was the backend of a double header where Mudcat Grant scattered six hits and didn't walk anyone in the complete game win. Hal Griggs pitched pretty well himself. Only four hits and four walks, but was done in by a home run by Minnie Minoso.

June 23

And naturally since June 22 was so dang good, the 23rd is so dang bad, including a 15-28 record at home. One of the positives on this date was the home doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox in 1931 when they beat them 13-0 and 10-0. The opener was actually very tight until the eighth inning when the Tribe broke out for eight runs to extend the lead to 9-0 off Jack Russell, Ed Durham, and Hod Lisenbee. The hitting stars included Earl Averill (5-2-4-1, Ed Morgan (4+3-3-2) and Willie Kamm (4-1-2-1, double, triple). Clint Brown went the distance, giving up five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. In the nightcap, Willis Hudlin threw a one-hitter (with four walks). The Indians scored three in the third, five in the fifth and two in the sixth with Averill again leading the charge (5-1-3-3). Johnny Burnett (5-3-3-1, two doubles, stolen base) also was integral to the win.