By Marc Katz,

Staff Writer

Updated 11:42 AM Wednesday, November 2, 2011

DAYTON — Frank Robinson works out more at age 76 than he did during his hall-of-fame baseball career, which was marked with many significant milestones.

Robinson was the first black manager in the big leagues, the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues, a Triple Crown winner and the centerpiece in arguably the worst trade in Cincinnati Reds history.

He’ll talk about all of that and more Saturday night during the Schear Family Heart In Sports Community Conversation with hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy at the Dayton Marriott.

Two recent bouts with a racing heart beat made Robinson a good subject for the Heart In Sports talk, but the guy who slugged 586 career home runs (ninth all-time) while hitting .294 over 21 seasons claimed he did it all with little offseason exercise.

“When I was younger, they had different measurements for you to get in shape,” Robinson said this week from his Los Angeles-area home.

“We didn’t have a lot of offseason training. As a matter of fact, we just kind of took it easy, or we worked (at other jobs) during the off-season. We went to spring training to get in shape.”

Robinson, now an adviser to baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, certainly was in shape in 1956 as a 20-year-old rookie when he hit .290 with 38 homers and 83 RBIs. He led the National League with 122 runs scored.

“I never gave it any thought about longevity in baseball until I was in it for about 10 years,” Robinson said. “My thinking was just try to get five years in. After that, I said, ‘Well, why not 10?’ After that, why not 20? You had to get 20 years in to be fully invested in the pension plan at that time.”

At one point, he thought he’d be with the Reds for life, but on Dec. 9, 1965, he was traded to Baltimore for pitchers Jack Baldschun and Milt Pappas plus outfielder Dick Simpson. Reds owner Bill DeWitt, trying to justify himself, uttered Robinson was “an old 30,” even though he was coming off a season of 33 homers, 113 RBIs and a .296 batting average.

The old guy hit .316 with the Orioles, adding 49 home runs and 122 RBIs to capture the American League’s Triple Crown. He won the league MVP award and helped Baltimore to a world championship.

Robinson wasn’t so old, and he still didn’t work out in the offseason the way today’s players do.

“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” he said.

“Players today work in-season, they work offseason. I did a little more when I got to be about 30, but I didn’t do any real weight training at any time. I was pretty well developed as far as my muscles were concerned.

“What I should have done, and I know now, I should have done more stretching. I’m doing a lot more stretching now and I’m doing things with my body I couldn’t do even when I was younger.”

As for the trade, Robinson surmises he might have gained a reputation as a troublemaker. As an elder on the team, he became a spokesman and said he would cover for teammates by telling management any complaints were his.

Otherwise, he was quiet and was overshadowed in the National League by contemporaries Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente.

“Yeah, I’m with those guys,” he said. “But I’m always mentioned fourth. That’s OK. Team goals were more important to me.”

Obtained by the Indians in 1974, Robinson was surprised to be offered a job as player-manager the next season. He wanted to decline, but his agent let him know how important it was to break that color barrier.

The move cost him a chance at 3,000 hits and 600 home runs.

“I didn’t play much as a manager,” said Robinson, who last managed in 2006 (Nationals). “Even today, I don’t regret it. If I hadn’t managed, I would have made it to 3,000 and 600, but that’s OK.”

What do you guys think about this.

By Marc Katz,

Staff Writer

1:24 AM Wednesday, November 2, 2011

DAYTON — Frank Robinson works out more at age 76 than he did during his hall-of-fame baseball career, which was marked with many significant milestones.

Robinson was the first black manager in the big leagues, the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues, a Triple Crown winner and the centerpiece in arguably the worst trade in Cincinnati Reds history.

He’ll talk about all of that and more Saturday night during the Schear Family Heart In Sports Community Conversation with hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy at the Dayton Marriott.

Two recent bouts with a racing heart beat made Robinson a good subject for the Heart In Sports talk, but the guy who slugged 586 career home runs (ninth all-time) while hitting .294 over 21 seasons claimed he did it all with little offseason exercise.

“When I was younger, they had different measurements for you to get in shape,” Robinson said this week from his Los Angeles-area home.

“We didn’t have a lot of offseason training. As a matter of fact, we just kind of took it easy, or we worked (at other jobs) during the off-season. We went to spring training to get in shape.”

Robinson, now an adviser to baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, certainly was in shape in 1956 as a 20-year-old rookie when he hit .290 with 38 homers and 83 RBIs. He led the National League with 122 runs scored.

“I never gave it any thought about longevity in baseball until I was in it for about 10 years,” Robinson said. “My thinking was just try to get five years in. After that, I said, ‘Well, why not 10?’ After that, why not 20? You had to get 20 years in to be fully invested in the pension plan at that time.”

At one point, he thought he’d be with the Reds for life, but on Dec. 9, 1965, he was traded to Baltimore for pitchers Jack Baldschun and Milt Pappas plus outfielder Dick Simpson. Reds owner Bill DeWitt, trying to justify himself, uttered Robinson was “an old 30,” even though he was coming off a season of 33 homers, 113 RBIs and a .296 batting average.

The old guy hit .316 with the Orioles, adding 49 home runs and 122 RBIs to capture the American League’s Triple Crown. He won the league MVP award and helped Baltimore to a world championship.

Robinson wasn’t so old, and he still didn’t work out in the offseason the way today’s players do.

“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” he said.

“Players today work in-season, they work offseason. I did a little more when I got to be about 30, but I didn’t do any real weight training at any time. I was pretty well developed as far as my muscles were concerned.

“What I should have done, and I know now, I should have done more stretching. I’m doing a lot more stretching now and I’m doing things with my body I couldn’t do even when I was younger.”

As for the trade, Robinson surmises he might have gained a reputation as a troublemaker. As an elder on the team, he became a spokesman and said he would cover for teammates by telling management any complaints were his.

Otherwise, he was quiet and was overshadowed in the National League by contemporaries Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente.

“Yeah, I’m with those guys,” he said. “But I’m always mentioned fourth. That’s OK. Team goals were more important to me.”

Obtained by the Indians in 1974, Robinson was surprised to be offered a job as player-manager the next season. He wanted to decline, but his agent let him know how important it was to break that color barrier.

The move cost him a chance at 3,000 hits and 600 home runs.

“I didn’t play much as a manager,” said Robinson, who last managed in 2006 (Nationals). “Even today, I don’t regret it. If I hadn’t managed, I would have made it to 3,000 and 600, but that’s OK.”

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CLEVELAND — Before the game, Asdrubal Cabrera tossed tennis balls to his 3-year-old son, Meyer, who hit them around the field while wearing dad’s No. 13.

Dad did the same thing to the Cincinnati Reds.

Cabrera went 5-for-5 with two homers and a career-high five RBI Sunday as Cleveland completed a three-game sweep of Cincinnati, beating the reeling Reds 12-4 to, at least for the moment, grab bragging rights as Ohio’s best team.

Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning against Edinson Volquez (3-2) for the Indians, who did early damage after winning the series’ first two games with late-inning comebacks. Cabrera added a solo homer in the sixth to give Cleveland an 8-4 lead.

“He was a one-man show at the plate,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He was unbelievable. He was on every pitch, and he has played like an All-Star for us since Day 1.”

Michael Brantley, Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo — the top three hitters in Cleveland’s lineup — went a combined 10-for-12 with six runs and nine RBI as the Indians, seen more as a contender than early season surprise, moved 14 games above .500 for time since 2007.

With its first sweep of the Reds in seven years, Cleveland improved baseball’s best record to 29-15 — 18-4 at Progressive Field, tying the best home start in franchise history.

“They are tough at home,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “They are playing good baseball. Whatever they needed, they got this series.”

Carlos Carrasco (3-2) allowed four runs in six-plus innings, handing the Reds their fifth consecutive loss. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce hit solo homers against the right-hander, who was lucky several line drives were hit at Cleveland fielders.

“We hit four, five, six balls well that on other days would have been doubles,” Cincinnati outfielder Chris Heisey said. “That’s baseball. You get days where you nub three or four and they go for hits. But Cleveland made some good plays.”

After horsing around on the field with Meyer, who insisted his dad pitch to him outside and not in the indoor cages, Cabrera’s day against the Reds didn’t start well. The steady shortstop made a throwing error on Drew Stubbs’ grounder leading off, but he more than made up for it with his first five-hit, multihomer game. Cabrera also had an error in the sixth, but it didn’t cause any harm.

The Indians missed Cabrera in 2010, when they lost 93 games. He was out two months after breaking his left forearm in a collision with former Indians third baseman Jhonny Peralta. Other than that, the 25-year-old Cabrera has been everything the Indians could have hoped for since they called him up in the 2007 playoff stretch.

Now healthy, there isn’t a shortstop in the AL playing better.

“We think he’s one of the best at his position,” Acta said. “We’re glad we have him.”

Cabrera’s name rarely, if ever, gets mentioned in discussions about the league’s top shortstops. It might be time he’s included in those conversations. He’s batting .302 and leads the team with nine homers and 32 RBI. This month, he’s batting .360 with four homers and 15 RBI in 18 games.

“I’m just trying to do good things for the team,” said Cabrera, who doesn’t worry about outside attention. “I’m just thinking about trying to win the game and do what I can do. And have fun.”

The weekend series began ominously for Cleveland. On Friday, the club placed designated hitter Travis Hafner on the disabled list with a strained side muscle, a move that came a few days after Grady Sizemore went on the disabled list with a bruised right kneecap.

Those were the first major signs of trouble for the Indians, who have shaken off losing two major pieces and continue to win despite any lingering doubters.

“We’ve got a good team,” Cabrera said. “We know it, and we just want to keep it going.”

The Reds were within 8-4 in the seventh and had two runners on with none out, but Chad Durbin came on for Carrasco, struck out two and worked out of the jam.

The Indians then blew it open in their half on RBI doubles by Jack Hannahan and Brantley, Cabrera’s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly by Choo.

As has been the case all season, Volquez was in an early hole — and this time, the Reds helped him dig it.

The Indians scored four runs in the first against the right-hander, who has an 18.00 ERA in the first inning, perhaps the main reason he has trailed in all 10 starts.

Brantley led off with an infield single, and Cabrera hit his eighth homer to make it 2-1. Choo followed with a double and moved up on a groundout before Travis Buck walked. With Orlando Cabrera batting, Buck broke for second, but stopped and got into a brief rundown.

Second baseman Brandon Phillips chased Buck, but missed the tag before throwing home. Catcher Ramon Hernandez attempted to get Choo at third, but his throw sailed over Scott Rolen’s head and rolled to the wall, allowing Choo and Buck to score easily.

Votto gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first with a 431-foot shot into the bleachers in left-center, an area rarely reached by left-handers. It was the reigning NL MVP’s sixth homer — first since April 27.

Notes: Cleveland didn’t win its 18th home game in 2010 until July 16. … Aroldis Chapman, on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, will make a rehab start today with Triple-A Louisville. Pitching coach Bryan Price said Chapman’s control problems stemmed from him over-rotating his shoulder during his delivery. … Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Sizemore will increase baseball activities the next three days. Soloff deemed it an “important milestone” in Sizemore’s recovery. … Indians right-hander Josh Judy made his major league debut in the ninth. … The “Ohio Showdown” series drew 99,086 — the Indians’ highest weekend attendance since the final week in 2008.

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CLEVELAND — Before the game, Asdrubal Cabrera tossed tennis balls to his 3-year-old son, Meyer, who belted them around the field while wearing dad’s No. 13.

Dad did the same thing to the Cincinnati Reds.

Cabrera went 5 for 5 with two homers and a career-high five RBIs as Cleveland completed a three-game sweep of Cincinnati, beating the reeling Reds 12-4 on Sunday to at least for the moment grab bragging rights as Ohio’s best team.

Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Edinson Volquez (3-2) for the Indians, who did early damage after winning the series’ first two games with late-inning comebacks. Cabrera added a solo homer in the sixth to give Cleveland an 8-4 lead.

“He was a one-man show at the plate,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He was unbelievable. He was on every pitch, and he has played like an all-star for us since day one.”

Michael Brantley, Cabrera, and Shin-Soo Choo, the top three hitters in Cleveland’s lineup, went a combined 10 for 12 with six runs and nine RBIs as the Indians, now seen more as a contender than early season surprise, moved 14 games over .500 for the first time since 2007.

With its first sweep of the Reds in seven years, Cleveland improved baseball’s best record to 29-15 overall, 18-4 at Progressive Field, tying the best home start in franchise history.

“They are tough at home,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “They are playing good baseball. Whatever they needed, they got this series.”

Carlos Carrasco (3-2) gave up four runs in six-plus innings, handing the Reds their fifth straight loss. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce hit solo homers off the right-hander, who was lucky that several line drives were hit directly at Cleveland fielders.

“We hit four, five, six balls well that on other days would have been doubles,” Cincinnati outfielder Chris Heisey said. “That’s baseball. You get days where you nub three or four and they go for hits. But Cleveland made some good plays.”

After horsing around on the field with Meyer, who insisted that his dad pitch to him outside and not in the indoor cages, Cabrera’s day against the Reds didn’t start well. The steady shortstop made a throwing error on Drew Stubbs’ grounder leading off, but he more than made up for it with his first five-hit, multihomer game. Cabrera also had an error in the sixth, but it didn’t cause any harm.

The Indians missed Cabrera last season, when they lost 93 games. He was out two months after breaking his left forearm in a collision with former Indians third baseman Jhonny Peralta. Other than that, the 25-year-old Cabrera has been everything the Indians could have hoped for since they called him up in the 2007 playoff stretch.

Now healthy, there isn’t a shortstop in the AL playing better.

“We think he’s one of the best at his position,” Acta said. “We’re glad we have him.”

Cabrera’s name rarely, if ever, gets mentioned in discussions about the league’s top shortstops. It might be time he’s included in those conversations. He’s batting .302 and leads the team with nine homers and 32 RBIs. This month, he’s batting .360 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 18 games.

“I’m just trying to do good things for the team,” said Cabrera, who doesn’t worry about outside attention. “I’m just thinking about trying to win the game and do what I can do. And have fun.”

The weekend series began ominously for Cleveland. On Friday, the club placed designated hitter Travis Hafner on the disabled list with a strained side muscle, a move that came a few days after Grady Sizemore went on the DL with a bruised right kneecap.

Those were the first major signs of trouble for the Indians, who have shaken off losing two major pieces and continue to win over any lingering doubters.

“We’ve got a good team,” Cabrera said. “We know it, and we just want to keep it going.”

The Reds were within 8-4 in the seventh and had two runners on with none out, but Chad Durbin came on for Carrasco, struck out two and worked out of the jam.

The Indians then blew it open in their half on RBI doubles by Jack Hannahan and Brantley, Cabrera’s run-scoring single, and a sacrifice fly by Choo.

As has been the case all season, Volquez was in an early hole and this time, the Reds helped him dig it.

The Indians scored four runs in the first against the right-hander, who has an 18.00 ERA in the opening inning, perhaps the main reason he has trailed in all 10 starts.

Brantley led off with an infield single, and Cabrera hit his eighth homer to make it 2-1. Choo followed with a double and moved up on a groundout before Travis Buck walked. With Orlando Cabrera batting, Buck broke for second, but stopped and got into a brief rundown.

Second baseman Brandon Phillips chased Buck but missed the tag before throwing home. Catcher Ramon Hernandez attempted to get Choo at third, but his throw sailed over Scott Rolen’s head and rolled to the wall, allowing Choo and Buck to score easily.

Votto gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first with a 431-foot shot into the bleachers in left-center, an area rarely reached by left-handers. It was the reigning NL MVP’s sixth homer and first since April 27.

NOTES: Cleveland didn’t win its 18th home game last season until July 16. … Aroldis Chapman, on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, will make a rehab start on Monday with Triple-A Louisville. Pitching coach Bryan Price said Chapman’s control problems stemmed from him over-rotating his shoulder during his delivery. … Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Sizemore will increase baseball activities the next three days. Soloff deemed it an “important milestone” in Sizemore’s recovery. … Indians RHP Josh Judy made his major league debut in the ninth. … The “Ohio Showdown” series drew 99,086 the Indians’ highest weekend attendance since the final week in 2008.

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Before the game, Asdrubal Cabrera tossed tennis balls to his 3-year-old son, Meyer, who belted them around the field while wearing dad’s No. 13.
Dad did the same thing to the Cincinnati Reds.
Cabrera went 5 for 5 with two homers and a career-high five RBIs as Cleveland completed a three-game sweep of Cincinnati, beating the reeling Reds 12-4 on Sunday to — at least for the moment — grab bragging rights as Ohio’s best team.
Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Edinson Volquez (3-2) for the Indians, who did early damage after winning the series’ first two games with late-inning comebacks. Cabrera added a solo homer in the sixth to give Cleveland an 8-4 lead.
“He was a one-man show at the plate,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He was unbelievable. He was on every pitch, and he has played like an All-Star for us since Day One.”
Michael Brantley, Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo — the top three hitters in Cleveland’s lineup — went a combined 10 for 12 with six runs and nine RBIs as the Indians, now seen more as a contender than early season surprise, moved 14 games over .500 for time since 2007.
With its first sweep of the Reds in seven years, Cleveland improved baseball’s best record to 29-15 — 18-4 at Progressive Field, tying the best home start in franchise history.
“They are tough at home,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “They are playing good baseball. Whatever they needed, they got this series.”
Carlos Carrasco (3-2) gave up four runs in six-plus innings, handing the Reds their fifth straight loss. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce hit solo homers off the right-hander, who was lucky that several line drives were hit directly at Cleveland fielders.
“We hit four, five, six balls well that on other days would have been doubles,” Cincinnati outfielder Chris Heisey said. “That’s baseball. You get days where you nub three or four and they go for hits. But Cleveland made some good plays.”
After horsing around on the field with Meyer, who insisted that his dad pitch to him outside and not in the indoor cages, Cabrera’s day against the Reds didn’t start well. The steady shortstop made a throwing error on Drew Stubbs’ grounder leading off, but he more than made up for it with his first five-hit, multihomer game. Cabrera also had an error in the sixth, but it didn’t cause any harm.
The Indians missed Cabrera last season, when they lost 93 games. He was out two months after breaking his left forearm in a collision with former Indians third baseman Jhonny Peralta. Other than that, the 25-year-old Cabrera has been everything the Indians could have hoped for since they called him up in the 2007 playoff stretch.
Now healthy, there isn’t a shortstop in the AL playing better.
“We think he’s one of the best at his position,” Acta said. “We’re glad we have him.”
Cabrera’s name rarely, if ever, gets mentioned in discussions about the league’s top shortstops. It might be time he’s included in those conversations. He’s batting .302 and leads the team with nine homers and 32 RBIs. This month, he’s batting .360 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 18 games.
“I’m just trying to do good things for the team,” said Cabrera, who doesn’t worry about outside attention. “I’m just thinking about trying to win the game and do what I can do. And have fun.”
The weekend series began ominously for Cleveland. On Friday, the club placed DH Travis Hafner on the disabled list with a strained side muscle, a move that came a few days after Grady Sizemore went on the DL with a bruised right kneecap.
Those were the first major signs of trouble for the Indians, who have shaken off losing two major pieces and continue to win over any lingering doubters.
“We’ve got a good team,” Cabrera said. “We know it, and we just want to keep it going.”
The Reds were within 8-4 in the seventh and had two runners on with none out, but Chad Durbin came on for Carrasco, struck out two and worked out of the jam.
The Indians then blew it open in their half on RBI doubles by Jack Hannahan and Brantley, Cabrera’s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly by Choo.
As has been the case all season, Volquez was in an early hole — and this time, the Reds helped him dig it.
The Indians scored four runs in the first against the right-hander, who has an 18.00 ERA in the opening inning, perhaps the main reason he has trailed in all 10 starts.
Brantley led off with an infield single, and Cabrera hit his eighth homer to make it 2-1. Choo followed with a double and moved up on a groundout before Travis Buck walked. With Orlando Cabrera batting, Buck broke for second, but stopped and got into a brief rundown.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips chased Buck but missed the tag before throwing home. Catcher Ramon Hernandez attempted to get Choo at third, but his throw sailed over Scott Rolen’s head and rolled to the wall, allowing Choo and Buck to score easily.
Votto gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first with a 431-foot shot into the bleachers in left-center, an area rarely reached by left-handers. It was the reigning NL MVP’s sixth homer — first since April 27.
Notes: Cleveland didn’t win its 18th home game last season until July 16. … Aroldis Chapman, on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, will make a rehab start on Monday with Triple-A Louisville. Pitching coach Bryan Price said Chapman’s control problems stemmed from him over-rotating his shoulder during his delivery. … Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Sizemore will increase baseball activities the next three days. Soloff deemed it an “important milestone” in Sizemore’s recovery. … Indians RHP Josh Judy made his major league debut in the ninth. … The “Ohio Showdown” series drew 99,086 — the Indians’ highest weekend attendance since the final week in 2008.

That’s all for today.

Read More: Shin-Soo Choo (RF – CLE), Michael Brantley (CF – CLE), Joey Votto (1B – CIN), Jay Bruce (RF – CIN), Edinson Volquez (P – CIN), Travis Buck (LF – CLE), Jack Hannahan (3B – CLE), Carlos Carrasco (P – CLE), Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds

Asdrubal Cabrera went 5-for-5 with two homers and five RBI, Michael Brantley added three hits and two ribbies, and Shin-Soo Choo drove in a pair as the Indians finished off a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2011 Battle of Ohio with a 12-4 win at Progressive Field that saw the Tribe improve to 29-15 and maintain a seven-game lead in the American League Central.

Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 5.16 ERA) hung around long enough to get the victory, going six innings and surrendering all four runs — including home runs from Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Carrasco struck out three and walked only one while allowing six hits in winning his second straight.

Chad Durbin came on with a man at second and nobody out in the seventh and worked around an error to shut the door and keep the lead at 8-4, before Cleveland put it away with a four-run seventh.

Rafael Perez worked a scoreless eighth, and Josh Judy made his major league debut in the ninth, giving up a single and a double but keeping the Reds off the board.

After Votto gave Cincinnati the lead with his blast to the bleachers in the first, Asdrubal connected off of losing pitcher Edinson Volquez (3-2, 6.35 ERA) with Brantley aboard to put the Tribe ahead.

Choo then doubled, and after Carlos Santana was retired for the first out, but moved Choo to third, Travis Buck walked, and then things got interesting.

Buck broke for second with Orlando Cabrera batting, then put on the brakes as Choo bluffed for home, drawing a throw to the plate. As Choo headed back to third, Reds’ catcher Ramon Hernandez uncorked a throw into left field that hugged the line all the way to the wall, allowing both Choo and Buck to score and giving the Indians a 4-1 lead.

Choo drove in Brantley with a single in the second to make it 5-1, though it could have been more, as the Indians failed to further add to their lead with runners at first and third and none out.

But the Tribe came through in the third when Brantley hit a sacrifice fly to score Austin Kearns, who had reached on a hit by pitch. Then Asdrubal Cabrera singled to score Jack Hannahan, who had walked, and Cleveland was up 7-1 and Volquez’s day was done.

Volquez allowed seven runs — six earned — in only 2.2 innings, with seven hits, four walks, and the hit-batsman.

The Reds got a run back in the fourth on Bruce’s homer, then added two in the sixth to get to within 7-4. In that sixth, Joey Votto doubled in his second run of the game, and a Brandon Phillips ground out cut the Indians’ lead to three.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit his second homer in the bottom of the sixth off of Sam LeCure to make the lead 8-4, and then in the bottom of the seventh, with one out, Kearns tripled off of new reliever Jordan Smith and scored on Hannahan’s double to make it 9-4. Lou Marson walked and Brantley doubled, scoring Hannahan and moving Marson to third. Asdrubal drove in his fifth run of the afternoon with a single, and the final run of the inning — and the game — scored when Choo hit a sac fly.

The Indians now welcome the Boston Red Sox to town for a three-game set beginning Monday night at 7:05, as the Tribe looks to move to 19-4 at home.

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Travis Wood flirted with no-hit history for the Cincinnati Reds — then suddenly could not get a much-needed out.
Wood held Cleveland hitless into the sixth inning, then got only one more out as the Indians mounted a four-run rally to tie the score at 4, then beat the Reds 5-4 on a pinch-hit bunt RBI single in the eighth by raw rookie Ezequiel Carrera on Friday night.
“This was a tough one to lose, especially with the way Wood was working,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It was a perfect bunt, well executed.”
Carrera bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third base with two outs to give the Indians the win in the Ohio Showdown’s series opener.
Called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day when Travis Hafner went on the disabled list, Carrera dropped the first pitch from Nick Masset down the first-base line, scoring Choo, who had tripled off Bill Bray (1-1). The speedy Carrera was able to avoid a tag by first baseman Joey Votto for an unforgettable hit in his first at-bat in the majors.
“It’s awesome,” said closer Chris Perez. “That was special. He’ll never forget it, and I’ll never forget his first big-league hit. To be able to put that bunt in and miss the tag, wow.”
Vinnie Pestano (1-0) got two outs in the eighth for his first career win. Perez worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 tries.
After Choo’s two-out triple off the wall in left-center, Baker ordered Bray to intentionally walk Cleveland cleanup hitter Carlos Santana. When right-hander Masset came on, Indians manager Manny Acta sent up Carrera to hit for Shelley Duncan.
“Santana, even when he’s not hitting, is one of their most dangerous hitters,” Baker said. “I thought they might hit (lefty Travis) Buck, but even with a kid up from Triple-A, I still felt comfortable.
“I figured he might try to bunt. He did and it was perfect.”
Wood was nearly perfect for 5 1-3 innings, yielding only a leadoff walk to Santana in the second. Santana was erased when former Reds infielder Orlando Cabrera bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns broke up the no-hitter with a line single and things quickly unraveled for Wood even though Baker went out to talk to the 24-year-old right-hander.
“I’ve seen guys lose no-hitters and then lose the game, that’s why I went out there,” Baker said. “He got two strikes on a couple hitters, then left breaking balls up and they were hit. We got two strikes on Choo before he hit it off the wall, too.”
Jack Hannahan and Michael Brantley followed with singles to make it 4-1. Wood walked Asdrubal Cabrera to load the bases and then hit Choo with a pitch to force in Cleveland’s second run. Logan Ondrusek came on and walked Carlos Santana on a 3-2 pitch, making it 4-3.
Shelley Duncan followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it, capping another improbable rally by the Indians, who have been doing it all season.
“To not get out of that inning was unbelieveable,” Wood said. “That can’t happen. I had to find a way out of it and bear down.
“I’m not sure what happened. I was throwing strikes, then the next thing you know the bases were loaded. Then I walked a guy, hit a guy and it was a downward spiral.”
That has happened to a lot of opponents at Progressive Field of late. The Indians’ last six wins at home have come in their final at-bat. Cleveland overcame three errors to improve baseball’s best record to 27-15, including 16-4 at home.
Jay Bruce had two hits for the Reds, who lost their third straight.
Cleveland starter Alex White lasted only three innings before leaving with a sore right middle finger.
White walked the bases loaded in the third, after appearing to injure himself on a breaking pitch. As he completed his follow through, White reacted as if he had been stung by a bee, jumping and shaking his hand.
Acta and trainer Lonnie Soloff came out to check on the rookie, who stayed in after throwing a couple of warmups.
However, he seemed bothered by the finger and walked Paul Janish, Drew Stubbs — after an 11-pitch at-bat — and Jonny Gomes in order. White nearly got out of the jam, getting Votto to bounce to first baseman Matt LaPorta for a potential double play. But LaPorta’s throw to second was wild and went into left field, allowing Janish and Stubbs to score and make it 2-0.
The Reds went up 4-0 in the sixth, helped by Orlando Cabrera’s error at second base.
NOTES: Cincinnati hasn’t had a no-hitter since Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988. … Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is hitting .395 (17 of 43) with nine RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak. … The Indians announced that Saturday’s game is sold out, the club’s first sellout other than for opening day since May 24, 2008. … The Reds began a season-long, 10-game road trip that includes stops in Philadelphia and Atlanta. … Hafner joined Grady Sizemore (bruised knee) on the DL. He is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained muscle on his side.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Travis Wood flirted with no-hit history for the Cincinnati Reds — then suddenly could not get a much-needed out.
Wood held Cleveland hitless into the sixth inning, then got only one more out as the Indians mounted a four-run rally to tie the score at 4, then beat the Reds 5-4 on a pinch-hit bunt RBI single in the eighth by raw rookie Ezequiel Carrera on Friday night.
“This was a tough one to lose, especially with the way Wood was working,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It was a perfect bunt, well executed.”
Carrera bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third base with two outs to give the Indians the win in the Ohio Showdown’s series opener.
Called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day when Travis Hafner went on the disabled list, Carrera dropped the first pitch from Nick Masset down the first-base line, scoring Choo, who had tripled off Bill Bray (1-1). The speedy Carrera was able to avoid a tag by first baseman Joey Votto for an unforgettable hit in his first at-bat in the majors.
“It’s awesome,” said closer Chris Perez. “That was special. He’ll never forget it, and I’ll never forget his first big-league hit. To be able to put that bunt in and miss the tag, wow.”
Vinnie Pestano (1-0) got two outs in the eighth for his first career win. Perez worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 tries.
After Choo’s two-out triple off the wall in left-center, Baker ordered Bray to intentionally walk Cleveland cleanup hitter Carlos Santana. When right-hander Masset came on, Indians manager Manny Acta sent up Carrera to hit for Shelley Duncan.
“Santana, even when he’s not hitting, is one of their most dangerous hitters,” Baker said. “I thought they might hit (lefty Travis) Buck, but even with a kid up from Triple-A, I still felt comfortable.
“I figured he might try to bunt. He did and it was perfect.”
Wood was nearly perfect for 5 1-3 innings, yielding only a leadoff walk to Santana in the second. Santana was erased when former Reds infielder Orlando Cabrera bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns broke up the no-hitter with a line single and things quickly unraveled for Wood even though Baker went out to talk to the 24-year-old right-hander.
“I’ve seen guys lose no-hitters and then lose the game, that’s why I went out there,” Baker said. “He got two strikes on a couple hitters, then left breaking balls up and they were hit. We got two strikes on Choo before he hit it off the wall, too.”
Jack Hannahan and Michael Brantley followed with singles to make it 4-1. Wood walked Asdrubal Cabrera to load the bases and then hit Choo with a pitch to force in Cleveland’s second run. Logan Ondrusek came on and walked Carlos Santana on a 3-2 pitch, making it 4-3.
Shelley Duncan followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it, capping another improbable rally by the Indians, who have been doing it all season.
“To not get out of that inning was unbelieveable,” Wood said. “That can’t happen. I had to find a way out of it and bear down.
“I’m not sure what happened. I was throwing strikes, then the next thing you know the bases were loaded. Then I walked a guy, hit a guy and it was a downward spiral.”
That has happened to a lot of opponents at Progressive Field of late. The Indians’ last six wins at home have come in their final at-bat. Cleveland overcame three errors to improve baseball’s best record to 27-15, including 16-4 at home.
Jay Bruce had two hits for the Reds, who lost their third straight.
Cleveland starter Alex White lasted only three innings before leaving with a sore right middle finger.
White walked the bases loaded in the third, after appearing to injure himself on a breaking pitch. As he completed his follow through, White reacted as if he had been stung by a bee, jumping and shaking his hand.
Acta and trainer Lonnie Soloff came out to check on the rookie, who stayed in after throwing a couple of warmups.
However, he seemed bothered by the finger and walked Paul Janish, Drew Stubbs — after an 11-pitch at-bat — and Jonny Gomes in order. White nearly got out of the jam, getting Votto to bounce to first baseman Matt LaPorta for a potential double play. But LaPorta’s throw to second was wild and went into left field, allowing Janish and Stubbs to score and make it 2-0.
The Reds went up 4-0 in the sixth, helped by Orlando Cabrera’s error at second base.
NOTES: Cincinnati hasn’t had a no-hitter since Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988. … Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is hitting .395 (17 of 43) with nine RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak. … The Indians announced that Saturday’s game is sold out, the club’s first sellout other than for opening day since May 24, 2008. … The Reds began a season-long, 10-game road trip that includes stops in Philadelphia and Atlanta. … Hafner joined Grady Sizemore (bruised knee) on the DL. He is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained muscle on his side.

Thanks for reading! .

Travis Wood flirted with no-hit history for the Cincinnati Reds — then suddenly could not get a much-needed out.
Wood held Cleveland hitless into the sixth inning, then got only one more out as the Indians mounted a four-run rally to tie the score at 4, then beat the Reds 5-4 on a pinch-hit bunt RBI single in the eighth by raw rookie Ezequiel Carrera on Friday night.
“This was a tough one to lose, especially with the way Wood was working,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It was a perfect bunt, well executed.”
Carrera bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third base with two outs to give the Indians the win in the Ohio Showdown’s series opener.
Called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day when Travis Hafner went on the disabled list, Carrera dropped the first pitch from Nick Masset down the first-base line, scoring Choo, who had tripled off Bill Bray (1-1). The speedy Carrera was able to avoid a tag by first baseman Joey Votto for an unforgettable hit in his first at-bat in the majors.
“It’s awesome,” said closer Chris Perez. “That was special. He’ll never forget it, and I’ll never forget his first big-league hit. To be able to put that bunt in and miss the tag, wow.”
Vinnie Pestano (1-0) got two outs in the eighth for his first career win. Perez worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 tries.
After Choo’s two-out triple off the wall in left-center, Baker ordered Bray to intentionally walk Cleveland cleanup hitter Carlos Santana. When right-hander Masset came on, Indians manager Manny Acta sent up Carrera to hit for Shelley Duncan.
“Santana, even when he’s not hitting, is one of their most dangerous hitters,” Baker said. “I thought they might hit (lefty Travis) Buck, but even with a kid up from Triple-A, I still felt comfortable.
“I figured he might try to bunt. He did and it was perfect.”
Wood was nearly perfect for 5 1-3 innings, yielding only a leadoff walk to Santana in the second. Santana was erased when former Reds infielder Orlando Cabrera bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns broke up the no-hitter with a line single and things quickly unraveled for Wood even though Baker went out to talk to the 24-year-old right-hander.
“I’ve seen guys lose no-hitters and then lose the game, that’s why I went out there,” Baker said. “He got two strikes on a couple hitters, then left breaking balls up and they were hit. We got two strikes on Choo before he hit it off the wall, too.”
Jack Hannahan and Michael Brantley followed with singles to make it 4-1. Wood walked Asdrubal Cabrera to load the bases and then hit Choo with a pitch to force in Cleveland’s second run. Logan Ondrusek came on and walked Carlos Santana on a 3-2 pitch, making it 4-3.
Shelley Duncan followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it, capping another improbable rally by the Indians, who have been doing it all season.
“To not get out of that inning was unbelieveable,” Wood said. “That can’t happen. I had to find a way out of it and bear down.
“I’m not sure what happened. I was throwing strikes, then the next thing you know the bases were loaded. Then I walked a guy, hit a guy and it was a downward spiral.”
That has happened to a lot of opponents at Progressive Field of late. The Indians’ last six wins at home have come in their final at-bat. Cleveland overcame three errors to improve baseball’s best record to 27-15, including 16-4 at home.
Jay Bruce had two hits for the Reds, who lost their third straight.
Cleveland starter Alex White lasted only three innings before leaving with a sore right middle finger.
White walked the bases loaded in the third, after appearing to injure himself on a breaking pitch. As he completed his follow through, White reacted as if he had been stung by a bee, jumping and shaking his hand.
Acta and trainer Lonnie Soloff came out to check on the rookie, who stayed in after throwing a couple of warmups.
However, he seemed bothered by the finger and walked Paul Janish, Drew Stubbs — after an 11-pitch at-bat — and Jonny Gomes in order. White nearly got out of the jam, getting Votto to bounce to first baseman Matt LaPorta for a potential double play. But LaPorta’s throw to second was wild and went into left field, allowing Janish and Stubbs to score and make it 2-0.
The Reds went up 4-0 in the sixth, helped by Orlando Cabrera’s error at second base.
NOTES: Cincinnati hasn’t had a no-hitter since Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988. … Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is hitting .395 (17 of 43) with nine RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak. … The Indians announced that Saturday’s game is sold out, the club’s first sellout other than for opening day since May 24, 2008. … The Reds began a season-long, 10-game road trip that includes stops in Philadelphia and Atlanta. … Hafner joined Grady Sizemore (bruised knee) on the DL. He is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained muscle on his side.

Gotta run!.

Travis Wood flirted with no-hit history for the Cincinnati Reds — then suddenly could not get a much-needed out.
Wood held Cleveland hitless into the sixth inning, then got only one more out as the Indians mounted a four-run rally to tie the score at 4, then beat the Reds 5-4 on a pinch-hit bunt RBI single in the eighth by raw rookie Ezequiel Carrera on Friday night.
“This was a tough one to lose, especially with the way Wood was working,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It was a perfect bunt, well executed.”
Carrera bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third base with two outs to give the Indians the win in the Ohio Showdown’s series opener.
Called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day when Travis Hafner went on the disabled list, Carrera dropped the first pitch from Nick Masset down the first-base line, scoring Choo, who had tripled off Bill Bray (1-1). The speedy Carrera was able to avoid a tag by first baseman Joey Votto for an unforgettable hit in his first at-bat in the majors.
“It’s awesome,” said closer Chris Perez. “That was special. He’ll never forget it, and I’ll never forget his first big-league hit. To be able to put that bunt in and miss the tag, wow.”
Vinnie Pestano (1-0) got two outs in the eighth for his first career win. Perez worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 tries.
After Choo’s two-out triple off the wall in left-center, Baker ordered Bray to intentionally walk Cleveland cleanup hitter Carlos Santana. When right-hander Masset came on, Indians manager Manny Acta sent up Carrera to hit for Shelley Duncan.
“Santana, even when he’s not hitting, is one of their most dangerous hitters,” Baker said. “I thought they might hit (lefty Travis) Buck, but even with a kid up from Triple-A, I still felt comfortable.
“I figured he might try to bunt. He did and it was perfect.”
Wood was nearly perfect for 5 1-3 innings, yielding only a leadoff walk to Santana in the second. Santana was erased when former Reds infielder Orlando Cabrera bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns broke up the no-hitter with a line single and things quickly unraveled for Wood even though Baker went out to talk to the 24-year-old right-hander.
“I’ve seen guys lose no-hitters and then lose the game, that’s why I went out there,” Baker said. “He got two strikes on a couple hitters, then left breaking balls up and they were hit. We got two strikes on Choo before he hit it off the wall, too.”
Jack Hannahan and Michael Brantley followed with singles to make it 4-1. Wood walked Asdrubal Cabrera to load the bases and then hit Choo with a pitch to force in Cleveland’s second run. Logan Ondrusek came on and walked Carlos Santana on a 3-2 pitch, making it 4-3.
Shelley Duncan followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it, capping another improbable rally by the Indians, who have been doing it all season.
“To not get out of that inning was unbelieveable,” Wood said. “That can’t happen. I had to find a way out of it and bear down.
“I’m not sure what happened. I was throwing strikes, then the next thing you know the bases were loaded. Then I walked a guy, hit a guy and it was a downward spiral.”
That has happened to a lot of opponents at Progressive Field of late. The Indians’ last six wins at home have come in their final at-bat. Cleveland overcame three errors to improve baseball’s best record to 27-15, including 16-4 at home.
Jay Bruce had two hits for the Reds, who lost their third straight.
Cleveland starter Alex White lasted only three innings before leaving with a sore right middle finger.
White walked the bases loaded in the third, after appearing to injure himself on a breaking pitch. As he completed his follow through, White reacted as if he had been stung by a bee, jumping and shaking his hand.
Acta and trainer Lonnie Soloff came out to check on the rookie, who stayed in after throwing a couple of warmups.
However, he seemed bothered by the finger and walked Paul Janish, Drew Stubbs — after an 11-pitch at-bat — and Jonny Gomes in order. White nearly got out of the jam, getting Votto to bounce to first baseman Matt LaPorta for a potential double play. But LaPorta’s throw to second was wild and went into left field, allowing Janish and Stubbs to score and make it 2-0.
The Reds went up 4-0 in the sixth, helped by Orlando Cabrera’s error at second base.
NOTES: Cincinnati hasn’t had a no-hitter since Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988. … Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is hitting .395 (17 of 43) with nine RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak. … The Indians announced that Saturday’s game is sold out, the club’s first sellout other than for opening day since May 24, 2008. … The Reds began a season-long, 10-game road trip that includes stops in Philadelphia and Atlanta. … Hafner joined Grady Sizemore (bruised knee) on the DL. He is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained muscle on his side.

Thanks for reading! .

Rookie pinch-hitter Ezequiel Carrera bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third base with two outs in the eighth inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night in the Ohio Showdown’s series opener.

Carrera, called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day when Travis Hafner went on the disabled list, dropped the first pitch from Nick Masset down the first-base line, scoring Choo, who had tripled off Bill Bray (1-1). The speedy Carrera was able to avoid a tag by first baseman Joey Votto for an unforgettable hit in his first at-bat in the majors.

Vinnie Pestano (1-0) got two outs in the eighth for his first career win. Chris Perez worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 tries.

The Indians’ latest dramatic win — their last six wins at home have come in their final at-bat — came on a day when Hafner joined Grady Sizemore on the DL. Hafner is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained muscle on his side.

Cleveland overcame three errors to improve baseball’s best record to 27-15, including 16-4 at home.

The Indians are entering a crucial stretch with 16 straight games against teams over .500, and they’re going to have to do it without two of their best hitters.

Jay Bruce had two hits for the Reds, who lost their third straight.

Cincinnati starter Travis Wood didn’t give up a hit until the sixth and was coasting before the Indians tied it with four runs in the inning.

He allowed a one-out single to former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns, and that’s when things fell apart for Wood, who went from flirting with history to getting a no-decision.

After Kearns’ hit, Jack Hannahan and Michael Brantley followed with singles to make it 4-1. Wood walked Asdrubal Cabrera to lead the bases and then hit Choo with a pitch to force in Cleveland’s second run. Logan Ondrusek came on and walked Carlos Santana on a 3-2 pitch, making it 4-3.

Shelley Duncan followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it, capping another improbable rally by the Indians, who have been doing it all season.

Facing a Cleveland lineup missing two of its biggest names, Wood faced the minimum through 5 1-3 innings. He walked Santana leading off the second, but got former Reds teammate Orlando Cabrera to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

Cleveland starter Alex White lasted only three innings before leaving with soreness in his right middle finger.

White walked the bases loaded in the third, after appearing to injure himself on a breaking pitch. As he completed his follow through, White reacted as if he had been stung by a bee, jumping and shaking his hand.

Indians manager Manny Acta and trainer Lonnie Soloff came out to check on the former first-round draft pick, who stayed in after throwing a couple of warmups.

However, he seemed bothered by the finger and walked Paul Janish, Drew Stubbs — after an 11-pitch at-bat — and Jonny Gomes in order. White nearly got out of the jam, getting Votto to bounce to first baseman Matt LaPorta for a potential double play. But LaPorta’s throw to second was wild and went into left field, allowing Janish and Stubbs to score and make it 2-0.

The Reds went up 4-0 in the sixth, helped by Orlando Cabrera’s error at second base.

NOTES: Cincinnati hasn’t had a no-hitter since Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988. … The Indians announced Saturday’s game is sold out, the club’s first sellout other than for opening day since May 24, 2008. … The Reds began a season-long, 10-game road trip that includes stops in Philadelphia and Atlanta. … With RHP Mitch Talbot set to return from the disabled list, the Indians’ starting rotation will undergo another change. Acta said he will wait a few days before making a move. It’s possible the club will see how RHP Carlos Carrasco fares on Sunday.

Thanks for reading! .