It's Tribe Time Now

Your blogger knew the final score wasn't going to be 2-0 Indians, and in the seventh, Miguel Cabrera proved him right. With QB on, Miggy hit one deep into straightaway center at Progressive Yards, awaaaaaaaaay back, GAWN! Tie game! 

In the bottom seventh, Travis Hafner hit one in the same general direction, and choogled all the way to third. Aaron Cunningham squeezed him in to give the Tribe a 3-2 lead. 

Vinnie Pestano and Chris Perez, among the best in baseball at shutting teams down in the eighth, and ninth, innings, did so again. Hold number 28 for Pestano, save number 28 for Perez. 

Doug Fister pitched well enough to win, but Ubaldo Jiminez was better. The Indians ace, lately rocked, blanked the Tigers for six innings and got his ERA under five, to 4.97. 

----------------------------------------

This is the era of specialization, and the acquisition of Omar Infante means Rugburn has at last found his niche: playing left field against left-handed pitchers. And, when Andy Dirks comes back (get well soon, Andy!), that limited role will be gone. 

I have July 30, next Monday at Boston, in Maggie's Rugburn Off The Interstate pool and, with the limited playing time Infante's acquisition also signals, I ain't gonna win it. The contest may in fact have no winner, and my queen would then have to give everyone their money back. 

And guess what else? Speaking of reviled Tigers ... Oakland swept the Yankees and beat Toronto tonight, are at this moment tied for the AL wild card (depending on what the Angels do), Hinge could end up in post-season playing against us, and wouldn't that be a kick in the head?