Cleveland Indians Team Report

INSIDE PITCH The Indians snapped a four-game losing streak with a 9-4 win over Chicago on Monday, a rare night in which all areas of the team excelled. The Indians got a well-pitched game from starter Carl Pavano, they got several timely hits, and the defense and bullpen were up to the task of preserving the lead. All of those elements have been missing for much of the first two months of the season. That includes the starting pitching the Indians received from Pavano. The veteran right-hander got off to a disastrous start this season, giving up nine runs in one inning in his first start. He has been playing catchup ever since but has quietly begun to resurrect his season. In his last three starts, Pavano is 3-0 with a 3.66 ERA. His overall numbers 3-3 with a 6.45 ERA still show the effects of his rocky first start. But he has been solid in his last three. It’s that kind of recovery that manager Eric Wedge hopes to see from the many other Indians players who have gotten off to poor starts individually, which has led to the team getting off to a poor start overall. INDIANS 9, WHITE SOX 4: RHP Carl Pavano pitched into the seventh inning to get the win and SS Jhonny Peralta had his second consecutive three-hit game as the Indians snapped a four-game losing streak. Peralta also had three RBI, as did OF Shin-Soo Choo.NOTES, QUOTESThe Indians scored two runs in the first inning Monday. It marked the first time this month the Indians scored a run in the first inning.RHP Fausto Carmona pitched into the seventh inning, allowing two runs, but still got tagged with the loss Saturday as the Indians lost to the Tigers 4-0. The Indians also lost 1-0 on Friday. It's the first time the Indians have been shut out in consecutive games since the White Sox blanked them on July 21 and 22, 2004. It's the first time in 44 years, since May 28-29, 1965, that the Tigers have shut out the Indians in consecutive games.RHP Rafael Betancourt on Saturday made his 357th career appearance with the Indians. That ties him with George Uhle (1919-28, 1936) for 10th place on the club's all-time list for games pitched.BY THE NUMBERS: 0-6 Indians' record at home on Fridays and Saturdays this season.QUOTE TO NOTE: "We can't give into it. If you give in to it, the game will beat you down." Manager Eric Wedge, after the last-place Indians were shut out in consecutive games by Detroit.ROSTER REPORTSS Jhonny Peralta, who had been mired in a season-long slump, had his second consecutive three-hit game Monday. Over the last two games Peralta is 6-for-9, raising his batting average to .246.CF Grady Sizemore, whose batting average has hovered in the low .200s and whose on-base percentage has been in the low .300s, could be moved out of the leadoff spot if his slump continues much longer. Manager Eric Wedge says he wouldn’t rule anything out at this point. "At this point we’re looking at everything," said Wedge.RHP Carl Pavano, who gave up nine runs in on inning in his first start of the season and after four starts was 0-3 with a 9.50 ERA, has begun to turn his season around. In his last three starts Pavano is 3-0 with a 3.66 ERA.RHP Jake Westbrook, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year, has begun to throw one-inning stints in extended spring games in Goodyear, Ariz. Indians officials hope to have Westbrook back by the last half of June. MEDICAL WATCH: RHP Joe Smith (strained right rotator cuff) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29. DH Travis Hafner (weakness in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. He might return as soon as he's eligible, manager Eric Wedge said. RHP Scott Lewis (strained left elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He is unlikely to return before mid-May. INF Jamey Carroll (broken left hand) went on the 15-day disabled list April 6. He will be out four to six weeks, but he won't need surgery. RHP Jake Westbrook (Tommy John surgery in June 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 26. He hopes to be pitching in the big leagues again by midseason. ROTATION: LHP Cliff Lee RHP Fausto Carmona RHP Carl Pavano RHP Anthony Reyes LHP Jeremy Sowers BULLPEN: RHP Kerry Wood (closer) RHP Rafael Betancourt LHP Aaron Laffey RHP Jensen Lewis RHP Masa Kobayashi LHP Tony Sipp RHP Matt Herges CATCHERS: Victor Martinez Kelly Shoppach INFIELDERS: 1B Ryan Garko 2B Asdrubal Cabrera SS Jhonny Peralta 3B Mark DeRosa INF Luis Valbuena INF Josh Barfield OUTFIELDERS: LF Ben Francisco CF Grady Sizemore RF Shin-Soo Choo OF David Dellucci OF Matt LaPorta