Betting Poll - Sports News - MLB - Cleveland Indians

Indians Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Indians resumed play following the All-Star break with a routine 8-2 loss to Seattle Friday night. The Indians basically lost the game in the second inning, when the Mariners scored five runs—all of them unearned.

They were unearned runs because of an error by shortstop Jhonny Peralta, whose defense continues to be a source of concern. Peralta's limited range and lack of quickness make it a challenge for him to be a quality defensive shortstop.

Peralta is, and probably always will be, more of an offensive shortstop, mainly because he hits home runs. However his batting average and on-base percentage have both left something to be desired this season.

Peralta does have 16 home runs, which ranks second on the team, but his shortcomings in other offensive...

Mariners rout Indians 8-2 (AP)

Raul Ibanez is a leader on and off the field for the pitiful Seattle Mariners. He's also one of their best pieces of trade bait. Ibanez displayed his value with a grand slam among his three hits to back another strong start from Felix Hernandez as the Seattle Mariners ended the Cleveland Indians' five-game winning streak with an 8-2 win Friday night.

Friday's AL Capsules (AP)

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer and James Shields allowed one run over seven innings to help Tampa Bay snap a seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Toronto on Friday night. Zobrist hit his fourth homer off A.J. Burnett (10-9) to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Shields (8-6) gave up four hits, two walks and had four strikeouts for Tampa Bay, which started Friday a half-game behind AL...

Sandlot ball going the way of wooden bats (AP)

Sandlot baseball, a slice of American life enjoyed for decades by boys from coast to coast, appears on the verge of extinction. Many men over 40 remember those summer days when they headed to the park or vacant lot and played ball all day -- or until Mom sent word that it was time for dinner. Nowadays, most neighborhood ball fields sit empty on summer afternoons, the idea of unsupervised play...

Indians recall INF Cabrera (PA SportsTicker)

The Cleveland Indians recalled middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from Class AAA Buffalo prior to Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners.

Coroner: Intoxication contributed to Marzano death (AP)

Former major leaguer and baseball commentator John Marzano was intoxicated when he fell down the stairs and died in his home, the medical examiner's office said Thursday. The cause of Marzano's death was determined as "postural asphyxia contributed to by blunt trauma and ethanol intoxication," said Jeff Moran, spokesman for the medical examiner's office.

Pertinent post-All-Star break issues (Yahoo! Sports)

Questions for each team come to mind two at a time as the season enters its second half.

Lee, Sheets thrilled with All-Star starts (PA SportsTicker)

By Larry Fleisher PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' turns 100 (AP)

It's the third most frequently sung song in the United States, yet few know all its lyrics. It's been recorded by more than 400 artists, from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa. It's been performed live by Mike Ditka and Ozzy Osbourne -- with varying skill levels. Six-year-olds and 96-year-olds know its chorus by heart, and it rises into the summer air each night at ballparks around the country, as...

Indians complete four-game sweep of Rays, 5-2 (AP)

The All-Star break couldn't come at a better time for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays hope to rest, regroup, then resume baseball's feel-good story after finishing the first half on a sour note. Jhonny Peralta drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians beat Scott Kazmir and Tampa Bay 5-2 Sunday, handing the Rays their season-worst seventh straight loss and dropping them out of first in the AL East.

Garko has five RBIs to help Indians beat Rays (AP)

Tampa Bay's latest loss was Matt Ginter's first big league win in more than four years. The good news for the Rays is they finally score some runs in Cleveland. Ginter pitched five-hit ball for five innings, Ryan Garko got his first extra-base hit in more than a month and had five RBIs and the Indians handed Tampa Bay its season-high sixth straight loss Saturday night, 8-4.

Indians promote RHP Ginter (PA SportsTicker)

The Cleveland Indians have purchased the contract of righthander Matt Ginter from Class AAA Buffalo of the International League to start Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Indians RHP Carmona to begin rehab (PA SportsTicker)

The Cleveland Indians announced Saturday that righthander Fausto Carmona will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Lake County on Monday.

Lee wins 12th, Indians hand Rays fifth loss in row (AP)

Cliff Lee is going to the All-Star game on another shutout streak. Cleveland's left-hander pitched six stellar innings in a warmup for a possible All-Star start at Yankee Stadium as the Indians defeated Tampa Bay 5-0 on Friday night to extend the Rays' season-high losing streak to five games. "I'm just happy to be going," Lee (12-2) said of being selected to the AL squad for the first time.

Indians snap 10-game slide with 13-2 win over Rays (AP)

The Indians snapped out of one of the worst losing streaks in franchise history by beating a team that is suddenly trying to find answers of its own. Ben Francisco had a career-high four RBIs and hit one of Cleveland's four home runs as the Indians snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 13-2 victory over Tampa Bay that extended the Rays' skid to four on Thursday night.

Former No. 1 pick Bullington claimed by Indians (AP)

Right-hander Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 amateur draft, was claimed on waivers Thursday by the Cleveland Indians from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh had planned to reassign the 27-year-old Bullington to Triple-A Indianapolis if he cleared through waivers. He was 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA in 15 starts for Indianapolis this season.

Indians release RHP Borowski (PA SportsTicker)

The Cleveland Indians officially released closer Joe Borowski on Thursday, nearly one week after he was designated for assignment.

Do the biggest deals bring big postseason success? (Yahoo! Sports)

At the risk of looking like I'm raining on the welcoming parades for CC Sabathia and Rich Harden along the...

Cabrera's homer in 9th completes Tigers' comeback (AP)

Not even a six-run lead was enough for the Cleveland Indians to stop their freefall. Especially not facing Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers' star homered again, this time in the bottom of the ninth to give Detroit an 8-6 win over Cleveland, which has lost 10 in a row. The fiasco concluded an eight-game roadtrip that might as well have been a goodwill tour with sweeps at the hands of division rivals...

Cardinals' turn in NL Central chess match (SportingNews.com)

The Brewers acquired CC Sabathia, the Cubs countered with Rich Harden ... now it's the Cardinals' turn. But St. Louis might be relegated to waiting for injuries to heal.

Indians call up reliever Juan Rincon from minors (AP)

The Indians added a new arm to their beleaguered bullpen on Wednesday, purchasing right-hander Juan Rincon's contract from Triple-A Buffalo. Rincon signed a minor league deal with Cleveland on June 24. The reliever had a 6.75 ERA in four appearances for Buffalo. Rincon started the season in Minnesota and was 2-2 with a 6.11 ERA in 24 games.

Indians purchase contract of Rincon (PA SportsTicker)

The Cleveland Indians on Wednesday purchased the contract of righthander Juan Rincon from Class AAA Buffalo of the International League.

Cabrera hits 2 homers in Tigers' win over Indians (AP)

Miguel Cabrera's left hip has been bothering him all season, leading to him lumbering when he runs. He earned the right to take his time trotting around the bases twice Tuesday night. Cabrera hit two homers for his first time with Detroit and finished 4-for-4, helping the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 9-2.

Indians back on field without Sabathia (AP)

The Cleveland Indians learned CC Sabathia was going be traded during a flight home Sunday. It didn't really hit them until they came to the clubhouse Tuesday without the popular left-hander. "It's tough," All-Star center fielder Grady Sizemore said before Tuesday's game against the Tigers. "He was a big part of this team.

Indians move Elarton to DL (AP)

The Cleveland Indians moved reliever Scott Elarton to the 15-day disabled list Tuesday for what the club called a non-baseball medical condition. The right-hander was placed on the restricted list June 30 after telling manager Eric Wedge he needed to leave the team for personal reasons. Elarton (0-1) has appeared in eight games this season.