Indians Game Information, July 5
CLEVELAND INDIANS (42-39, 2nd, -2.0 G) vs. TAMPA BAY RAYS (43-39)
RHP Josh Tomlin (4-5, 5.85) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 3.44)
First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. (ET) at Progressive Field
TV: STO Radio: WTAM, Indians Radio Network
Series Notes:
HOT TOWN, SUMMER IN THE CITY: The Indians are batting .325 (107-329) over their last 9 games with 6 double-digit hit totals in that span to raise the club’s season average from .248 to a season-high .257, 8th in the A.L…
the Tribe has averaged 6.8 runs-per-game (61 R/9 G) during the current stretch, while posting a .396 OBP and .517 SLG% with 37 extra-base hits (4+ XBH’s-per-game).
AROUND THE BLOCK: The Indians rallied for 6 runs in the 2nd inning of yesterday’s win, one shy of a season-high for a single frame and most at Progressive Field since Sept. 24, 2011 vs. Minnesota (6-run 6th inning); marked the 4th time this season for Cleveland to plate 6+ runs in an inning with all 3 previous instances coming on the road between April 13-17 (4/13 at KC, 4/15 at KC, 4/17 at SEA)…the Indians have a 14-2 record when JOE SMITH, VINNIE PESTANO and CHRIS PEREZ all appear in the same game…JOHNNY DAMON collected a season-high 3 hits yesterday and is batting .284 (21-74) w/ 4 2B, 3 HR and 12 RBI over his last 25 games beginning May 30…while he does not qualify for league leader status, JOSE LOPEZ is batting .349 (15-43) w/ RISP this season, going 5-for-his-last-8 in those situations…CARLOS SANTANA has cut down 15 of 41 (36.6%) would-be base-stealers this season, which is the 2nd-highest qualifying figure among all major league catchers for 2012 behind Arizona’s MIGUEL MONTERO (38.1%, 16 of 42)…SHELLEY DUNCAN, who has gone deep in 3 of his last 4 games (5 RBI), was placed on MLB’s Paternity List yesterday, as he and his wife, Elyse, await the birth of twins.
CATCH SOME RAYS: The Indians and Rays are set to meet for the first time this season, as each club will host a 4-game series over the span of the next 15 days…Cleveland holds a 69-42 advantage all-time against Tampa Bay (1998-2011), including a 40-16 mark here at Progressive Field, although the Rays won 4 of 6 tilts in 2011 and 11 of last 15 games overall.
