Indians Game Information, August 17
CLEVELAND INDIANS (54-64, 3rd, -11.5G) vs. OAKLAND ATHLETICS (62-55)
RHP Zach McAllister (5-4, 3.46) vs. LHP Tommy Milone (9-9, 3.91)
First Pitch: 10:07 p.m. (ET)
TV: STO Radio: WTAM/Indians Radio Network
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN: Cleveland is in the early portion of a 10-day, 9-game road trip through Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle while holding a 13-7 (.650) record against teams from the A.L. West, the 3rd-highest winning pct. vs. that division by any team in the majors this season behind Chicago-AL and Tampa Bay (both .654, 17-9)… Cleveland has batted .278 (188-677) with a .353 OBP, .403 SLG and 4.7 runs-per-game (94 R/20G)in those 20 games against the A.L. West, while the Tribe’s pitching staff has registered a 3.40 ERA (68 ER/180.0 IP) and .247 avg. against…this marks just the 2nd time all season for the Tribe to travel west of the 95th meridian, as the Indians had played just 2 road series against A.L. West foes to this point in the season (@Seattle & @Oakland as part of a 7-2 trip April 13-22).
LEFTIES OF LATE: Cleveland’s offense is batting .282 (59-209) with 14 XBH’s (9-2B, 5-HR) vs. left-handers over the club’s last 11 games (beginning August 1), while the Indians have won 4 of last 5 games they have faced a left-handed starting pitcher (wins against: Brian Duensing, Felix Doubrant, Franklin Morales, C.J. Wilson)…Cleveland is 14-25 overall this season in games started by opposing lefties.
THAT’S THE POWER OF GLOVE: Cleveland’s pitching staff absorbed 3 more unearned runs in Wednesday night’s loss to the Angels, all resulting from the 3 errors committed by the Tribe’s defense in the 2nd inning…Cleveland hurlers have been charged with 55 unearned runs this season, 2nd-most in the A.L. and 4th-most in the majors behind Detroit (58), Houston (57) and San Diego (57)…17 of those 55 unearned runs (or 31%) have come in the span of the Indians’ last 10 games, while the Tribe’s defense has been charged with 9 errors during that same stretch for a .976 fielding pct. (9 ER/378 TC)…Cleveland’s .985 overall team fielding pct. this season is still 4th-best in the A.L. and 5th in the majors.
