Lost weekend ends with sweep
CLEVELAND — Coco Crisp hooked a grounder toward Indians first baseman Nick Swisher, who corralled the ball, secured his balance and trotted to the bag to record the final out of the seventh inning yesterday.
The fans at Progressive Field — those remaining in their seats after sitting through the Indians’ weekend-long struggle — supplied Swisher with a mocking cheer for completing a routine play.
For the Indians, the routine has become arduous. The simple has become complex. The fundamental has become futile. The necessary has become seemingly impossible.
The Athletics sealed a threegame sweep yesterday with a 13-3 victory, one that again showed the Indians’ offensive and defensive deficiencies and overall inconsistency.
“What we’re doing right now is not good enough,” manager Terry Francona said. “We have to play better.”
Oakland outscored Cleveland 30-6 in the series. The Indians scored first in all three games, but to no avail. Michael Bourn’s leadoff home run yesterday provided the Tribe with a lead that lasted for about 15 minutes.
“Some days, we pitch well,” Bourn said. “Some days, we hit well. Some days, we play defense well. It can’t be some days. You have to be consistent.”
Justin Masterson (2-3) exited after 41⁄ innings, having surrendered
3 seven runs, seven hits and five walks. Cleveland’s 1-0 advantage swiftly morphed into a 7-1 deficit. Consecutive fifthinning doubles by Brandon Moss and Yoenis Cespedes pushed across three of Oakland’s four runs in the inning and ended Masterson’s afternoon.
Swisher and Lonnie Chisenhall each committed an error yesterday. The Indians have 45 errors in 44 games. Outfielders spent the afternoon guessing the trajectory of fly balls that bounced every which way off every green wall.
The remodeled lineup, in which Francona slotted Swisher and Carlos Santana sixth and seventh, respectively, produced eight hits but stranded 12 runners. Swisher and Santana combined to go 0 for 9. The Indians finished the series 0 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Francona had to tap into his overworked bullpen earlier than desired. Oakland’s sizzling lineup gave the relievers trouble. Josh Outman, Scott Atchison and Cody Allen combined to yield six runs (four earned) in 22⁄ innings. Meanwhile, the
3 Athletics’ bullpen limited Cleveland to one run and two hits in four innings.
“It’s a point where we’re being tested,” Masterson said. “But we’re a good team. Once we start getting back to the fundamentals again, we’ll be OK.”
Stumbling with a four-game losing streak, the Indians welcome the Central Divisionleading Detroit Tigers to town tonight. At six games below .500, the Indians have matched their low point, record-wise, of what has been a trying start to the season.
“We got beat in every facet of the game: pitching, defense, timely hitting,” Bourn said. “They beat us in every facet of the game. We got embarrassed on our home field. It doesn’t get any easier. We have Detroit coming to town. They’re not going to take it easy on us. We have to find a way to fix it, and fix it fast.”