So, you couldn’t make it to the ballpark this weekend, huh? You missed a heck of a four-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners.

There’s still time to see the Tribe before they take off for six games; the Indians play host to Detroit Tuesday and Wednesday before visiting Boston for four and Cincinnati for a pair. Get your tickets here, and remember: Buying early and using our new FanPass paperless ticketing technology not only saves time, but also money!

Here’s a look back at the Seattle series in facts, figures, faces – and fun!

Friday

Jason Kipnis’ walk-off homer was the first of his career and the second walk-off hit of his career, the other a 2-out, RBI-single on July 25, 2011 vs. the Angels. Friday’s homer off Seattle lefty Lucas Luetge marked the first walk-off home run for Cleveland in a lefty-lefty matchup since Travis Hafner on July 7, 2011 vs. Toronto.

Ubaldo Jimenez took a no-decision in the victory, leaving with a 3-1 lead in the sixth. His nine strikeouts were his most in a start since recording 10 last Aug. 9, 2012 vs. Boston (5-3 win). The right-hander now has tallied at least eight strikeouts in three consecutive starts to match a career-high. Jimenez has taken a win (three) or no-decision (two) in his last five outings.

Vinnie Pestano notched his first win of the season with a scoreless 10th inning; he was activated from the disabled list prior to the game (right elbow tendinitis). With the win, Cleveland’s bullpen improved to 6-0, only ‘pen in the Majors without a loss this season.

Saturday

Mark Reynolds’ RBI fielder’s choice – his third career walk-off RBI — gave the Indians their fourth walk-off win of 2013, the others coming in a 1-0 victory on April 12 vs. the White Sox (Nick Swisher RBI-single in the bottom of the 9th; Justin Masterson CG SHO), a 10-inning, 7-6 victory on May 3 vs. Minnesota (Drew Stubbs RBI-double in the bottom of the 10th) and a 10-inning, 6-3 victory on May 17 vs. Seattle (Kipnis 3-run homer in the bottom of the 10^th). The back-to-back walk-off wins were the first time the Tribe achieved that feat since April 29 and April 30, 2011.

With the 5-4 win, the Indians improved to 11-3 in one-run games in 2013.

Zach McAllister continued to pitch well, giving up two runs in 7 1/3 innings; he did not factor into the decision, though, after Seattle tied the game in the ninth. Reynolds had three RBI in all, the fourth time this season he’s accomplished that feat. Michael Bourn became the second Indians player this season to have two stolen bases in the same game.

Sunday

The victory ensured another series win for the Tribe, as they are now 8-3-4 in 15 series played thus far this season and 6-0-4 in their last 10. The Indians also are now 5-2-1 in home series and 5-1-1 in weekend series.

The Indians have been at or above the .500 mark for 17 straight days.

With the win over Felix Hernandez, Cleveland improved to 7-1 against former Cy Young winners this season; club has now defeated R.A. Dickey, David Price, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Bartolo Colon, Justin Verlander and Hernandez. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the 2013 Indians are the first team in MLB history to defeat 7 past Cy Young winners before June 1.

Masterson won his third consecutive start for the third time this season, holding the Mariners scoreless through 7 innings and striking out a season-high 11 batters; he fell just one strikeout short of his career high (12; September 30, 2009 vs. CWS). He also became the first Indians pitcher to win 7 starts through the club’s first 42 games of the season since Charles Nagy in 1996 (Indians record 29-13), and extended his career-high stretch of scoreless innings to 19. For his efforts — Masterson also pitched a complete game shutout last Monday vs. the Yankees — he was named the American League Player of the Week.

Monday

The Indians now have won five straight, eight of 10, 12 of 15, 18 of 22 and 21 of their last 28 games, as Cleveland owns the highest winning percentage in the Majors since April 20 (.750, 21-7).

The victory marked the Tribe’s fifth walk-off win of 2013; Cleveland had 6 walk-off wins in 2012. The Indians also improved to 15-8 at Progressive Field this season, outscoring opponents 85-45 over their last 15 home games.

Yan Gomes recorded his first career multi-home run game, and put an exclamation point on the Indians four-game sweep with his first career walk-off RBI. Eight of Gomes’ 16 hits on the season have been for extra bases, including four home runs, two doubles and two triples; 16 of his first 36 career hits have also been for extra bases including six doubles, two triples and eight home runs.

Ryan Raburn and Gomes belted back-to-back home runs off Hisashi Iwakuma in the bottom of the second, the fifth time the club has gone back-to-back thus far in the season.

–Text by Indians Communications staff; photos by Dan Mendlik and Kyle Emery

The guys are glad to be back in Cleveland — and in first place! Enjoy this photo slideshow from Friday batting practice.

–Kyle Emery photos

The group met with an Indians representative to talk about the team’s efforts in social media and how it affects interaction with fans and media, along with players’ interactions with fans.

They then spoke with veteran Plain Dealer reporter Paul Hoynes to talk about the profession before sitting in on Indians manager Terry Francona’s daily pregame press briefing. They then watched batting practice from outfield seats, followed by the treat of the day: a sitdown with Indians players Chris Perez, Yan Gomes and Cody Allen.

They also were given two assignments: to write about their day for possible publishing on Cleveland.com, and also to Tweet throughout the day using the hashtag #TribeReporter for inclusion on TribeVibe.

Below are some of the best Tweets we received throughout the day:

Had an absolutely phenomenal experience at the ballpark yesterday, learned so much!! #tribereporter

— J.D. Walker (@JDWalker13) May 9, 2013

me and cody allen. he was a really nice guy. #tribereporter twitpic.com/cp9jbg

— Tommy Carosielli (@TCarosielli8) May 9, 2013

Great win today tribe, and to go along with it got to be a #tribereporter #awesome #rolltribe

— Connor Lowe (@ConnorLowe55) May 9, 2013

great day today being a #tribereporter and the tribe brought home a win…felt very natural to spend a whole day at the ballpark #tribetime

— Tim Tedeschi (@Timo_Ted61) May 9, 2013

Thanks so much to the @indians for picking me for the #TribeReporter contest. Awesome day & met some awesome people. twitter.com/ClaytonCarmen/…

— Clayton Carmen (@ClaytonCarmen) May 9, 2013

Just walked by Asdrubal Cabrera. No big deal really. #TribeReporter

— Tyler Carey (@tylercarey94) May 8, 2013

Paul Hoynes is the man. Very interesting and engaging @hoynsie #TribeReporter

— Zach Fehrenbach (@zfbach) May 8, 2013

I would just like to say that some of these kids that I met who are fellow #tribereporter s are truly incredible.

— Teri Theobald (@T_DawgTeri) May 8, 2013

Hey Terry #TribeReporter twitter.com/JakeH25/status…

— Jake Hromada (@JakeH25) May 8, 2013

–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond

Cleveland Indians outfielder Drew Stubbs paid a visit to St. Mark School in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood on Monday as part of a partnership between the Indians and The Plain Dealer, and the publication’s “Education Corner.”

During the offseason, The PD held poetry contests for school children to write the best cinquain they could muster, about Cleveland and the Indians. The winner would get a pizza party for his class, attended by an Indians player.

The winner was Marty Maloney, a seventh-grader at St. Mark Catholic School in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood. Here’s the always-trusty Wikipedia on the definition and forms of a cinquain; and here’s Marty’s winning prose:

Go Tribe!
Your home, my home!
Cleveland is where it’s at!
Be proud, scream loud; Celebration!
Grand Slam!

Stubbs was at the school this past Monday, and talked to the class about how he got to where he is, told them to stay in school and signed autographs and took pictures with the kids. Afterward, the group at pizza with him.

–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond (pictures by Dan Mendlik)

Cleveland Police Officer Jeff Stanczyk presents the national anthem Tuesday night at Progressive Field. (Dan Mendlik photo)

You might know him as the Tootsie Roll Cop, as TribeVibe contributor Megan Golden wrote last July.

And while Jeff Stanczyk still hands out the delectable chocolate treats like they’re, well, candy, his time with the Cleveland Police Department and protecting the visitors bullpen is nearing an end.

Stanczyk is retiring this year after 33 years on the force, and there will be no shortage of folks who will miss him around Progressive Field. Stanczyk presented – not sang, not performed – presented the national anthem before Tuesday night’s Indians-A’s game at the stadium, and he said in an interview Tuesday before he sang it that it was one of his highest honors.

It was the third time he’s done it at Progressive Field, and he also has presented it at Cleveland Browns Stadium. While in college at Ohio State, he and friends sang in a barbershop quarter at Cedar Point.

“I think I’m their mercy call, when no one else will do it,” Stanczyk jokes. “It’s a true honor for me to do it, because people made sacrifices for us to be here.”

The engaging Stanczyk has been at Progressive Field since it opened in 1994 and spent years before that at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. He worked the Progressive Field bleacher seats for many years before moving to the visitors bullpen, where he keeps the peace between fans and opposing relief pitchers.

He’s also endeared himself to those relievers and the fans who sit near them. Whether it’s those Tootsie rolls, or his trademark phrase – “Look at my face” – when he wants you to understand he’s being sarcastic, his boisterous demeanor and booming voice makes him one of the best-known folks around the ballpark, outside of Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis, of course.

And yet Stanczyk, a Cleveland native, says he feels lucky for having the opportunity to be involved with the game, fans and players.

“I’ve watched people grow up here,” he said. “That makes it special. I want to help make it special for everyone here, just like all the other employees throughout the park do. This is not about me or any other one individual. We’re all just spokes in the wheel.”

His wife, Caroline – “everyone calls her Bootsie, though” – and son Adam were on hand on Tuesday. As for what he plans to do after retirement from the CPD, Stanczyk says he’ll be back to work soon – maybe even at Progressive Field in some capacity.

–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond

Note to all: Even though it’s a different sport, football players will generally beat you in a game of Speed Pitch.

Little seems to be a pretty big fan of Major League and Drew Stubbs:

We in here! @joehaden23 @josh_gordonxii #suitelife #giveemtheheaterrick #drewstubbsgoingyard twitter.com/Str8UpGlittle/…

— Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) May 2, 2013

Stubbs up to bat…….. Bleachers beware!!!

— Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) May 2, 2013

Decked out in Jordans and Tribe caps, the Browns snapped photos with tons of fans, before challenging everyone to Speed Pitch:

“@shane_g33ksquad: Me @str8upglittle & @josh_gordonxii at the Tribe game👌⚾ #Cleveland twitter.com/Shane_G33ksqua…”| MonStars #spacejam

— Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) May 2, 2013

We r here! 1st base speed pitch! If u beat @str8upglittle we r giving out a signed little jersey!!

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) May 2, 2013

Little brought the heater and an apparent Discount-Double-Check celebration. Props to Ryan Reinsel, who tied him with a rumored 53 mph pitch. Competing with a professional athlete in anything is a pretty solid accomplishment.

Winner goes to my boy @ryan_reinsel we both brought that funk and tied. He’s still a BEAST!!! #GUNSHOW twitter.com/Str8UpGlittle/…

— Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) May 2, 2013

If you think football players playing baseball is fun, what about baseball players taking it to the gridiron?

Mark Reynolds got some wheels! Possible wideout? @adamthebullfan what you think?

— Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) May 2, 2013

The Tribe and the Browns also recently teamed up to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland, by competing on a neutral sport —  Bowling. The Indians pulled out the W on the lanes, as they did on the field that night:

S/o 2 the Indians 4 the win 2night! And all the fans 4 showing me @josh_gordonxii and @str8upglittle love! Goodnight

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) May 2, 2013

Joe, Josh and Greg — TribeVibe would love to see you back at the ballpark again soon. Maybe a three-legged race with Ketchup, Mustard, and Onion?

– TribeVibe contributor Courtney Shilling

Today’s BP session featured a visit from Nick Leyto, who for the last three months has been getting cancer treatments at Cleveland Clinic. He’s home now for two weeks before returning to the Clinic for more chemo.

–Photos by Kyle Emery

Jake Landis will visit Progressive Field on Tuesday as part of his Jacob’s Ride program, through which he’s bicycling over 10,000 miles, to all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in 2013.

His goal: raising $1 million for cochlear implants, or bionic ears, which help those with hearing impairment hear more clearly.

The 24-year-old left his home in Annapolis, Md., for the 175-day trip, which began at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and will end on Sept. 24 at Marlins Park in Miami. At Progressive Field on Tuesday, he’ll throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game.

According to Jacob’s Ride, hearing impairment is now the No. 1 birth defect among children born in America; over 500,000 Americans live in the United States with severe to profound hearing loss. Cochlear implants (CI) are the most successful medical intervention for those profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. A small, complex electronic device, it bypasses the damaged parts of the inner ear and delivers electrical impulses to the auditory nerve sending information to the brain.

Funds raised by Jacob’s Ride will go to existing foundations and hospitals that work with cochlear implant candidates. These organizations include:

• The Gift of Hearing Foundation, Massachusetts
• Hearing Loss Association of America
• Johns Hopkins Medicine: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Maryland
• Mayo Clinic, Minnesota
• J.W. Pickle Foundation, Tennessee

Find more information on Jacob’s Ride by clicking here.
–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond

Think these guys are having fun?

–Photos by TribeVibe contributor Kyle Emery

The Cleveland Indians have ended the Cleveland Browns’ seven-year winning streak in the teams’ annual Bowl For Kids Sake matchup Thursday night at Freeway Lanes in Parma.

The Browns had won seven straight and held a 7-3 edge in the teams’ all-time series. But the Indians — led by Reggie Hawthorne, a Progressive Field Retail Stand Captain who recently participated in the National Intercollegiate Bowling Championships for Notre Dame College — beat the Browns by about 7,000 pins.

Players who participated included Justin Masterson, Chris Perez, Yan Gomes and Bryan Shaw, while wives including Amanda Kluber, Meryl Masterson, Jenny Gomes, Kristin Shaw, Melanie Perez, Kathleen Reynolds and Meredith Chisenhall joined the festivities. Browns players including Jabaal Sheard, Billy Winn, John Hughes and Craig Robertson also were on hand, while mascots Slider and Chomps made appearances.

Proceeds from the event go to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland, the largest provider of one-on-one youth mentoring services in the United States. The group has been bringing caring adults into the lives of children for over 100 years. BBBS of Greater Cleveland provides professionally-supported one-on-one mentoring services to youth, serving over 600 children annually in Cuyahoga County, either in the community or at a site or school. For more information visit http://www.bbbsneo.org.

–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond (photos by Dan Mendlik)