A Look Back At The Week Ahead; September 9 to September 15

September 9

This day has an amazing 15-6 record on Sundays and against the Orioles/Browns franchise. It also isn't skewed just to the Browns this time as they are 8-3 against the Browns and 7-3 against the Orioles. The last shutout on this date was in 1982, which broke a shutout-less streak that began in 1909, or 65 games. That shutout in 1982 was 3-0 against the aforementioned Orioles. LGFuT Dennis Martinez was on the hill against the Tribe's John Denny. Denny worked around a leadoff double in the first, a two out walk in the second, a two out bases loaded jam in the third, and retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings, before being replaced in the sixth by Bud Anderson. Martinez was a bit more efficient, a walk to Von Hayes and a single to Rick Manning in the second, a walk to Larry Milbourne in the third, a double to Andre Thornton in the fourth. And after six innings, the game was still scoreless. The Indians finally broke through in the seventh. Mike Hargrove led off with a double and after a botched sacrifice bunt by Hayes, the Tribe had first and third with nobody out. After Manning lined out to Cal Ripken at short, Ron Hassey doubled them both in and Alan Bannister singled him home, giving the Tribe a 3-0 lead. But Anderson pitched spectacularly after coming on in the sixth, he allowed just a walk to Glenn Gulliver in the eighth, no hits and three strikeouts to get the win.

September 10

The current two game losing streak broke the longest winning streak of six on this date from 2004 to 2010. There was a seven game losing streak from 1909 to 1914 and an eight gamer from 1928 to 1935. In 1919, in the opening game of a doubleheader, the Indians beat the Yankees 3-0 in the Polo Grounds. Ray Caldwell was facing the Yankees Carl Mays. First baseman Joe Harris hit a two run homer in the first and doubled home another run in the sixth, accounting for all three Indian runs. In the meantime, Caldwell was pitching the game of his life. His only blemish in the game was a walk to catcher Truck Hannah. He struck out five batters, including right fielder Chick Fewster three times. Caldwell finished the day with the Tribe's fourth no hitter in history.

September 11

The oddest stat of this date has to be that the Indians are 6-1-9 in doubleheaders with the only loss to the Yankees in 1960. They were also 12-4 against the Browns, but only 1-4 against the Orioles. That only win came back in 1956. The Indians loaded the bases in the first on a Gene Woodling walk, a Vic Wertz double and a Rocky Colavito walk. Woodling scored on an error on a Chico Carrasquel grounder to shortstop Willy Miranda. Bob Lemon hit a two run shot in the second, extending the lead to 3-0. Lemon had a good, but not great start. He scattered six hits and four walks without striking out anyone. The only run was a Gus Triandos homer in the fifth The Tribe did turn three double plays and caught one stealing in support of Lemon.

September 12

The Tribe has a smoking home record on this date, a .640 clip. The longest win streak was eight games from 1984 to 1992. The most common opponent is the Tigers, but we haven't fared well against them, .333. The last time we played them in 1989, it was a 1-0 victory in Municipal Stadium. In this one, Buddy Black and Frank Tanana traded zeroes all night long. Black pitched very well, with his only real trouble in third. After a leadoff single by Mike Heath, he struck out Ken Williams. Gary Ward singled down the right field line, moving Heath to third, but Cry Snyder nabbed Ward going to second. After a Rick Schu walk, he got Dave Bergman to ground out. Black allowed only five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Tanana was actually outpitching Black most of the game, not walking anyone and only giving up three singles and a Snyder double until the eighth inning. Joel Skinner singled to lead off, and after a Felix Fermin sacrifice to get pinch runner Tommy Hinzo to second, Jerry Browne singled home the lone run in the game.

September 13

Last year's win against the Rangers snapped a five game losing skid. The poor record on this date is because of two long losing streaks. There was an eight game streak from 1927 to 1935 and a eleven game losing streak from 1941 to 1953. We love playing the Red Sox, 11-4, with the largest win in 1957, 16-3 in Fenway. The Sox led 3-2 heading to the fifth, but the Tribe would score two in the fifth, four in the sixth, one in the seventh, three in the eighth and four more in the ninth. They pounded out 21 hits, with Dick Williams hitting 6-2-5-2 and Vic Wertz with a 3-1-1-5 line that included a three run homer and two sacrifice flies. Mike Garcia pitched a complete game for the win, six hits, three walks, three earned, two walks and two strikeouts.

September 14

What a terrible record on this date, and that includes a ten game win streak from 1989 to 1998. But from 1962 to 1977, the Tribe went a pathetic 1-15, with the only win in the opener of a doubleheader against the Senators (Rangers version) in 1971, 3-1. The nightcap of that doubleheader they lost 8-6 in 20, yes 20, innings. In the opener, it was scoreless until the fourth when Ted Uhlaender opened with a triple and run scored on an error. A walk to Vada Pinson led to a double by Roy Foster, but Pinson was thrown out at home. Graig Nettles singled in Foster nd a double play ended the threat with the Tribe leading 2-0. Uhlaender singled in another in the fifth. Vince Colbert went the distance for the Indians, four hits, four walks, three strikeouts and the only run allowed a Don Mincher in the ninth.

September 15

The Tribe is currently on a four game losing streak here, but there were a pair of six gamers in 1991 to 1997 and 1956 to 1962. The longest winning streak is seven from 1915 to 1922. One of the worst losses in team history occurred way back in 1901, 21-0. In fact, there have been a lot of shutouts both ways on this date. The Tribe has been shutout 11 times and the opponent twelve times, not counting the 0-0 tie game in 1904. Random shutout choice is the 2-0 win in 1968 against the Orioles. Jim Hardin for the Orioles was pretty good. He only gave up five hits and no walks, but the runs scored on a Lee Maye rounder in the fourth and a solo shot by Max Alvis in the seventh. Stan Williams pitched a complete game, with only four hits, two walks and six strikeouts.