0.15 - In the past seven games, the Cleveland Indians’ starting pitchers have amassed a near unimaginable 0.15 ERA. That’s one single lone earned run in 58 1/3 innings. The earned run came way back on May 9 when staff ace C.C. Sabathia allowed a single earned run in the 5th inning against Toronto.

After Blue Jays’ catcher Rod Barajas touched home plate last Friday, the five man rotation of Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, Cliff Lee, Paul Byrd, and rookie Aaron Laffey combined for 44 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings until Laffey went and ruined it by allowing a run in the 2nd inning of Thursday afternoon’s contest against Oakland. Of course, Oakland only scored because of a throwing error by Laffey when fielding a squibber hit in front of the plate making the run, therefore, unearned.

That means heading into Friday night’s matchup with the Cincinnati Reds, the Indians’ starters have amassed 53 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run - a 0.00 ERA. How have the Tribe done it? Here’s a breakdown of the 53 1/3 innings:

  • It started with what has been the return to form of last season’s Cy Young Award winner Sabathia. After allowing the run against the Blue Jays, Sabathia threw two more scoreless frames before leaving the May 9 game. He received the W in the 6-1 win.
  • Laffey followed the next day with 7 innings of goose eggs himself. With the teams wearing throwback uniforms, he looked like a veteran as he scattered six hits and walked one Blue Jay while striking out two to pick up his first major league win in a 12-0 victory.
  • After Sunday’s games were rained out, Carmona set the tone for what was to come for 18 innings with a scoreless first inning that took only nine pitches (seven strikes). Carmona tossed his second career shutout as Cleveland took Game 1 of the doubleheader 3-0.
  • Despite spinning his own gem with 9 innings of scorelessness, Lee became the only Indian pitcher during the streak to receive a no decision. Lee gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out five but left after the ninth inning with the score tied 0-0. (Rafael Betancourt would eventually surrender three runs in the 10th inning yielding the Blue Jays a 3-0 win.)
  • Facing a new foe in the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland saw a similar result as crafty veteran righty Paul Byrd extended the streak with 7 1/3 innings of brilliance. Byrd allowed only five base runners and struck out seven of the young A’s batters as Cleveland won 4-0.
  • Sabathia returned to the bump and was dominant. He threw 9 innings for a complete game shutout, his first of the season, in which he only surrendered five hits. He racked up 11 Oakland K’s along the way. He only needed two solo home runs for support. Cleveland 2, Oakland 0.
  • Then there was Thursday’s afternoon performance by Laffey, which became his second career victory. Besides the unearned run, Laffey barely allowed anything pitching 7 innings that saw only five Oakland hits. He also struck out a career high six batters.

The weight of the streak now falls upon third year southpaw Jeremy Sowers, who was called up earlier in the week after the rain out and subsequent double header the following day upset the regular rotation. Sowers has thrown well for Triple-A Buffalo (2-2, 2.21 ERA in 7 starts) so far this season, but the question Friday night will be whether he can endure 5-7 innings in the crackerjack box known as Great American Ball Park without allowing an earned run and thus keep the consecutive innings streak alive.

The streak may come to an end Friday night, but regardless, it has energized the, now, first place Indians’ squad. It has also rested the bullpen due to the three outings of nine innings, so after the series with their I-71 foes in Cincinnati, Cleveland should be in great shape when they head to the Windy City to take on the White Sox, who currently sit in second place in the division.

Shotgun Spratling

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