Bryson Myles has two doubles and three RBI in the victory over the Erie SeaWolves.

Bryson MylesAkron RubberDucks 

Outfielder Bryson Myles had two doubles and three RBI as the Akron RubberDucks started the second half of the Class AA Eastern League season Thursday with a 5-2 win over the SeaWolves at Erie, Pa.

Akron was leading, 2-1, in the fifth inning when Myles gave RubberDucks starter Shawn Morimando a little breathing room with an RBI double. A single from first baseman Joe Sever brought it Myles to make the score 4-1. 

Another RBI double from Myles in the ninth inning gave the RubberDucks a 5-1 lead.

Myles finished 3-for-5, while Sever was 2-for-4. 

Morimando (6-9, 3.34 ERA) gave up one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. Austin Kubitza (5-8, 5.51) took the loss for the SeaWolves.

The SeaWolves had only seven hits overall.

Follow favorite Jordan Spieth, first-round leader Dustin Johnson and struggling Tiger Woods with our live leaderboard, plus TV schedule, live stream link and tee times.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Keep up with first-round leader Dustin Johnson, struggling Tiger Woods and favorite Jordan Spieth's quest to win the 2015 British Open with our live leaderboard, TV schedule, tee times and updates from the St. Andrews Old Course in Fife, Scotland.

Check out the box below for live Twitter updates and pictures from Twitter accounts of some of the top golfers and notable golf news feeds, including the Golf Channel's Tiger (Woods) Tracker.

British Open tee times for rounds 1 and 2 (Eastern time zone), click here.

Start times

Friday, 1:30 a.m. ET

Saturday, 4 a.m. ET

Sunday, 3:30 a.m. ET

TV schedule (ESPN)
Friday, 4 a.m.-3 p.m. ET
Saturday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, 6 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET

ESPN.com live streaming schedule:
(Featured groups and Road Hole)
Friday, 4 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Sunday, 6 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Golf Channel's nightly recap: 7 p.m. daily.

  Tweets from https://twitter.com/TimsTakeCLE/lists/live-british-open-updates

SECOND-ROUND STORY LINES

Many expected Dustin Johnson to rebound from his U.S. Open debacle, where three-putted on the final hole to lose the lead, and he no showed no signs of whiplash Thursday.

Spieth two back: Pre-tournament favorite Spieth will tee off with playing partner Johnson two shots back after shooting 65 Thursday. They tee off at 9:34 a.m. ET today. Spieth, the 21-year-old Masters and U.S. Open champion, seeks to become the first modern Grand Slam winner.

POLL: Will Jordan Spieth win golf's Grand Slam?

Six at six: American star Zach Johnson and relative unknown American Robert Streb are among six golfers tied for second at six-under 66. This is Streb's first tournament in Europe.

Weather watch: Conditions are dry and relatively calm for Thursday's opening round. Rain and wind are expected Friday, and forecasters say it could turn heavy during the early part of the second round.

"It was very important to get off to a good start and make as many birdies as you can, because the next couple of days are going to be very difficult,'' Dustin Johnson said.

Woods & Watson: Tiger Woods (three) and Tom Watson (five) have eight Open championships between them and both are in danger of missing the cut after shooting four-over 76 Thursday. They are tied for 139th.

Woods, 39, is struggling to return to form and shot the worst Open round of his career. This is to be the final Open for Watson, 65, on the 40th anniversary of winning his first Claret Jug.

Amateur watch: The amateurs fared well Thursday. Jordan Niebrugge of the U.S. shot a 67. Paul Dunne of Ireland and Romain Langasque of France were at 69, while American Ollie Schniederjans and England's Paul Kinnear opened with 70s.

Familiar faces: Retief Goosen (66), Zach Johnson (66), Paul Lawrie (66), Spieth (67), Charl Schwartzel (67), Louis Oosthuizen (67) are among those with at least one major on their resumes who are near the lead.

McIlroy out: For the first time in six decades, the Open is being played without its defending champion. Rory McIlroy is out with an ankle injury suffered playing soccer with friends.

The purse: The Open carries a $9.2 million purse, with $1.8 million going to the winner and $1 million to the runner-up.

Old Course: Par at the legendary "Home of Golf" is 72. Total distance: 6,672 yards. Oosthuizen won the Open when it was last played on the Old Course in 2010.

Click here for an interactive guide to the Old Course.

More updates: Check back for expanded daily coverage from the course and live updates with leaderboards all weekend at cleveland.com/golf.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

"He was examined and it's not good," said manager Terry Francona, who hesitated to provide more, definitive insight before the reliever gets a second opinion. "He looks like he hurt it pretty good."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nick Hagadone will receive a second opinion on his latest setback. The first opinion suggests the left-hander suffered a serious elbow injury.

Hagadone was pulled from a rehab appearance with Class A Mahoning Valley on Wednesday when he felt discomfort after throwing a pitch. He was placed on the disabled list last week with a lower back strain.

That wasn't thought to be a serious injury. Hagadone said one motivation for the DL stint was because he wouldn't miss much time, thanks to the All-Star break. This injury, however, appears to be serious.

"He was examined and it's not good," said manager Terry Francona, who hesitated to provide more, definitive insight before the reliever gets a second opinion. "He looks like he hurt it pretty good."

Hagadone had Tommy John surgery in 2008.

"It looks like he did it again," Francona said. "We'll have more [when he gets re-examined]. This isn't something that's [just] a week with no throwing."

Hagadone has posted a 4.28 ERA in 27 1/3 innings this season. He has allowed 30 hits and 12 walks and has tallied 28 strikeouts. The Indians have southpaws Kyle Crockett and Marc Rzepczynski on the active roster.

Josh Tomlin started Wednesday's game for Mahoning Valley. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three. The right-hander registered three scoreless frames before the Auburn Doubledays -- the Washington Nationals' Class A affiliate -- pounced on him in the fourth.

Testing, testing: Nick Swisher will work out with the Class A Lake County Captains this weekend. He is expected to take batting practice with the club. He may embark on a minor league rehab assignment next week, as he continues to work his way back from left knee inflammation.

Swisher has not played since June 12. In 111 plate appearances this season, he has logged a .198/.261/.297 slash line, with two home runs and eight RBIs.

Breathe and stop: Francona returned home to Arizona for the All-Star break.

"On Monday, I just collapsed," he said. "Tuesday, I went golfing. Wednesday, I did all the domestic [stuff], [stuff] that most people probably hate, but it was kind of a treat."

Francona tuned in to Tuesday night's All-Star game in the top of the sixth inning. The first batter he watched was Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis.

"I literally turned it on and there was Kip standing there," he said. "It didn't last long."

In his only at-bat, Kipnis -- Cleveland's lone All-Star Game representative -- struck out on four pitches against Mets phenom Jacob deGrom, who fanned the side on 10 tosses.

"That was filthy," Francona said.

Brian Sipe is headliner for Kardiac Kids autograph session Saturday at Great Northern Mall.

BEREA, Ohio - Old enough to draw Social Security, Brian Sipe forever remains a Kardiac Kid.

At age 65, the former Browns quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player is again rallying his offense in Cleveland, getting everyone involved for a memorable weekend on the lakefront.

Sipe headlines a Kardiac Kids reunion event at the Great Northern Mall on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The quarterback and many members of the prolific 1980 offense, including Hall-of-Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome, will sign memorabilia for fees.

Organizers of the event, Ohio Sports Marketing and 4^th & Goal, were thrilled to land Sipe and could have built an entire show around just him. But one of the franchise's most popular players wanted to involve as many teammates as possible and expand the weekend beyond just a few hours of signing autographs for a pay day. Sipe and former Browns offensive lineman Robert E. Jackson have arranged for teammates to attend a dinner, golf outing and barbeque, spanning Saturday and Sunday.

"It's nice coming to do these events, but it usually means there is no social time for us," said Sipe, who rarely does autograph shows. "This is a chance for us to spend the afternoon meeting fans and the rest of the weekend we can let our hair down and be a team again. That's important because that hasn't happened since I can remember."

Autograph prices for the Kardiac Kids reunion show Saturday at 1 p.m. at Great Northern Mall.Ohio Sports Marketing 

Sipe not only encouraged event organizers to include other starters, but paid travel expenses for a handful of other teammates, according to several players.

Thirty-five years later, Sipe remains the leader of the Kardiac Kids.

"That says a lot about the kind of guy Brian is," Browns radio analyst and former left tackle Doug Dieken said. "He saw this as an opportunity to get the band back together."

Sipe has spent the past 15 years coaching at San Diego State and in the high school ranks in Southern California. For the former quarterback and Newsome, the Ravens general manager, it was often difficult to commit to an entire weekend. Sipe cannot recall the last time he spent time with Newsome.

"Ozzie won't be coming back as the Ravens GM, but as old No. 82," Dieken said. "It's going to be great sitting around and chewing the fat with these guys. A lot has happened in our lives over the last 35 years and it will give us a chance to catch up on how everyone is doing.

"(Running back) Calvin Hill is coming in for the weekend. His wife said she can't recall the last time she saw him so excited."

There will be plenty of stories from their days on and off the field. Dieken remembers Jackson breaking his ankle in the final game of the 1983 regular season against the Steelers and making an unscheduled stop on the way to the hospital.

"Robert talked the ambulance driver into dropping by Pat Joyce's (Tavern) to pick up a six pack," Dieken said.

The Kardic Kids represent one of the Browns most beloved teams of the Super Bowl era in part because of their string of thrilling finishes and the organization's lack of success since their 1999 return.The club is warmly remembered despite a devastating 14-12 playoff loss to the Raiders in which Sipe's interception in the closing minute became known by the play's condensed name, Red Right 88.

Although many fans associate the team with the 1980 season, Sipe contends the Kardiac Kids had their genesis the year prior.

The Browns went 9-7 in 1979 and followed it with an 11-5 campaign. It marked the best two-stretch since the 1971-72 seasons when there was still a whisper of empire surrounding the organization.

They played 25 games decided by a touchdown or less in 1979-80 - the most ever by the franchise in a two-year span. They are antithesis of the post-1999 Browns, who too often find ways to lose close games.  

"We were just confident that someone would make a big play," Sipe said. "It was just that way. It really started in 1979, that's why we had so much focus and media attention on us in 1980. It was for two years. That's why I think we operated better than anybody else has in that situation.

"We were front and center at a time when the city was in rough shape and people needed something to have hope in. We were the underdogs, picked to finish last and we beat the odds and did the unexpected. The fans' hearts were aching for something like that at that time."

Sipe was the darling of Browns' fans, an undersized 13^th round draft pick in 1972 who waited four years to become the starting quarterback. He often absorbed a beating, but stood in the pocket spraying the ball around the field, involving everyone in the offense.

"What people forget about Brian is how tough he was and what a great leader he became," Dieken said.

Sipe said he hasn't followed the team close enough to make judgments on why the organization has failed to develop a franchise quarterback. He offered no comments on Johnny Manziel other than to say, "it doesn't make sense" to write off the troubled 2014 first-round pick after just two starts.

Sipe plans to return to coaching prep football in the next few years. His immediate focus is reuniting with Browns fans on Saturday and spending the rest of the weekend with old teammates.

"It's going to be great to see Brian," Dieken said. "Nowadays, we're more like the Geriatric Gentlemen instead of the Kardiac Kids, but we're going to have a great time regardless."

Here are the lineups and the pitching matchup for Friday's series opener between the Indians and the Reds.

CINCINNATI -- Here are the lineups and the pitching matchup for Friday's series opener between the Indians and the Reds.

Pitching matchup: Trevor Bauer (8-5, 3.76 ERA) vs. Mike Leake (6-5, 4.08 ERA)

Lineups

Indians

1. 2B Jason Kipnis

2. SS Francisco Lindor

3. CF Michael Brantley

4. LF David Murphy

5. 1B Carlos Santana

6. C Yan Gomes

7. RF Brandon Moss

8. 3B Giovanny Urshela

9. P Trevor Bauer

Reds

1. 2B Brandon Phillips

2. 1B Joey Votto

3. 3B Todd Frazier

4. RF Jay Bruce

5. LF Marlon Byrd

6. SS Eugenio Suarez

7. C Tucker Barnhart

8. P Mike Leake

9. CF Billy Hamilton

Watch the five-star OSU quarterback recruit after his tooth extraction.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Videos of people acting crazy after getting their wisdom teeth pulled are an Internet staple.

Add Ohio State freshman quarterback to that list.

Gibson is a five-star recruit from Florida who joined a crowded OSU quarterback room. He's an elite talent who some think could contribute to the Buckeyes as a wide receiver as well.

But after our wisdom teeth come out, we're all alike, aren't we?

I'm still alive...[?] What wisdom tooth? pic.twitter.com/Ko6lxQcGbH

-- Torrance Gibson 6 (@quick_tg6) July 17, 2015

Researcher Stu Ludsin of Ohio State University has published a report suggesting climate change is threatening Lake Erie's schools of yellow perch.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio's army of shoreline yellow perch fishermen are worried about the absence of their favorite fish this year. While fisheries experts blame it on the weather, researcher Stu Ludsin of Ohio State University has painted a bleak future for the small but popular fish in a new study released this week.

Ludsin's research suggests climate change will cause warmer winters and rising Lake Erie water temperatures. That will lead to a decline in the hardiness of perch eggs and larvae, and their ability to survive in Lake Erie.

Yellow perch don't adjust spawning habits to match an early onset of spring-like temperatures, Ludsin said. If the fish don't make that temperature-based adjustment, zooplankton, the hatchlings' main food source, could be depleted.

"If not enough food is available, the larvae will grow slowly and be vulnerable to predators like invasive white perch," said Ludsin, an associate professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology.

Perch eggs were 30 to 40 percent larger after a long, cold winter and two to four times as likely to hatch compared to eggs produced during short, warm winters. Oddly enough, the last two winters have set records for cold temperatures and thick Lake Erie ice cover.

"The winter of 2013-2014 was a cold one, and produced a pretty good hatch of perch," said Ludsin. "There was also a heavy spring discharge of sediment plumes from the Maumee River, which is important for Western Basin yellow perch. The plumes give perch dingy waters where they can hide to escape predation from white perch."

Frigid temperatures last winter were also good for perch, but the early spring rains were not as plentiful and the plumes not as large. That, said Ludsin, did not bode well for this year's perch hatch.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife forecast good fishing for Lake Erie perch this year, with 7- to 12-inch perch to catch from good hatches in 2008, 2010 and 2012. The perch in the Central Basin of Lake Erie, which includes the Cleveland area, should be generally larger than Western Basin stocks, where commercial fishing nets have been banned in recent years because of low perch populations.

The perch fishing for shoreline fishermen and anglers fishing near shore in small boats has been a major bust this season. Limits of 30 perch per day have almost been impossible to catch. Commercial trap netting success has been off a bit, as well.

"It's been a strange spring and early summer, weather-wise," said Ludsin. "Every species of fish, including walleye, yellow perch and even white perch, have preferred habitat conditions. White perch like the warmest waters. Yellow perch prefer warmer water than do walleye.

"The lack of perch fishing success lately could be from a series of northerly winds and rainstorms, and from flows coming into Lake Erie from the rivers. They are creating near-shore conditions where temperatures and light levels preferred by perch are not available."

Ludsin said this year's weather has been "an anomaly. The habitat yellow perch favor is not in the same places as during more normal years. It's my gut feeling the perch are hanging out in other, more friendly areas right now."

The OSU scientists collected wild perch and kept them in the laboratory at temperatures below 42 degrees for a winter-like 107 days, the average Lake Erie winter over the last 25 years. To duplicate a shorter, warmer winter, perch were kept at those temperatures for only 52 days.

Perch responded to a shorter winter by producing just as many eggs, but they were smaller and didn't hatch as well. Those that did hatch produced smaller larvae.

"In a lot of cold-blooded species, we find that if spring occurs earlier, the timing of reproduction will also move forward," said Ludsin. "Walleye are a great example. In the record short winter of 2012, walleye moved their spawning period up several weeks. With yellow perch, we didn't see that."

This year's lack of success troubles Mike Fedorka at Shine's Bait & Tackle, the long-time Cleveland headquarters for yellow perch fishermen.

"Weather has been a problem, but I've never seen the yellow perch fishing quite this bad," said Fedorka. "We hear that Lake Erie is too cold, but fishermen catch perch through the ice in winter."

Don Moore at Harbor Bait & Tackle on the Grand River in Painesville, like most bait shops this week, couldn't get a supply of emerald shiner minnows for perch fishermen. Recent storms made netting the Lake Erie baitfish difficult, if not impossible.

"It doesn't matter," said Moore. "The perch catches have been so bad this year, I think the perch guys have given up and are probably out playing golf."

Fishermen are hoping Tyson is right, and the perch will start biting soon. A Friday night fish fry just wouldn't be the same without them.

Dustin Johnson turns in a strong round at the British Open.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The grand pursuit of Jordan Spieth, redemption for Dustin Johnson, the mystery that has become Tiger Woods. It all came to a momentary halt Friday in the gloaming of St. Andrews when Tom Watson said goodbye to the British Open.

Watson, the most prolific winner of golf's oldest championship in the last century, finished his 129th round with lights from the Royal & Ancient clubhouse illuminating the 18th green. The five-time champion made bogey. The score was irrelevant.

"There were no tears," Watson said. "This is a joyous occasion. I have a lot of great, great memories. And those memories filled me up."

Everything else about this wet and wild second round remained unsettled.

A heavy downpour at dawn flooded the Old Course and disrupted the start by more than three hours. Johnson and Spieth teed off shortly before 6 p.m. and were headed in different directions when it was too dark to continue.

In swift, shifting weather -- umbrellas on one hole, sunglasses on the next -- Johnson made three birdies in four holes on the front nine and built a two-shot lead before he made his first bogey of the tournament. He three-putted on the par-3 11th in wind so severe he had to back off a 4-foot putt and wipe his eyes.

Johnson was at 10-under par.

Spieth three-putted for bogey three times in 11 holes to offset three birdies and was five shots behind Johnson, whom he beat by one shot in the U.S. Open last month to capture the second leg of the Grand Slam.

Both were just short on the par-5 14th hole in two shots when they chose to mark their golf balls and return at 7 a.m. Saturday to resume the round.

"I'm in a good spot," Johnson said. "Definitely got very tricky this afternoon, all day. Even the front side, the wind was howling and it was blowing straight left-to-right pretty much. It played very tough all day."

Danny Willett of England had to cope with the wind, too, and he had a 3-under 69 to walk off the 18th green with his name atop the leaderboard at 9-under 135.

"Yeah, I think it's a childhood dream and looking up there it's still a little bit surreal, but something I'm going to have to get used to," Willett said. "Otherwise, no point in being up there. We're going to try and rest up and then try and go out for another good weekend and hopefully, we can be up there in two days' time."

Watson wasn't the only player to bid farewell to the Old Course.

Nick Faldo, the three-time Open champion regarded as Britain's greatest champion, came out of the TV tower to play St. Andrews one last time. He switched into a sweater that he wore for his first Open title in 1987 at Muirfield, thrust his arms in the air atop the Swilcan Bridge, and saved par for a 71.

And then there was Woods, headed toward the wrong kind of history. Barring a burst of birdies when he returns Saturday morning -- the kind of form he has not shown in two years -- he was likely to miss the cut in the U.S. Open and the British Open for the first time in the same year. Woods was 5 over with seven holes to play.

So much attention has been on Spieth and Jordan, the main characters from the drama that played out at Chambers Bay last month. Johnson had a 12-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win the U.S. Open, and three-putted to finish one shot behind golf's new golden child.

The wind was fierce, taxing shots with every club in the bag down to the putter.

Johnson continued to hammer away with his driver, setting up birdies, and he looked every bit like the player to beat. Spieth got in enough trouble off the tee that he often left long-range putts that led to bogeys instead of birdies.

Behind them, a long list of players lined up to take their shot on the weekend.

Jason Day, in contention at Chambers Bay even though he battled symptoms of vertigo, was at 8-under par through 11 holes. Paul Lawrie, the '99 champion at Carnoustie, also was at 8 under through 12 holes. Louis Oosthuizen, who won the claret jug the last time the Open came to St. Andrews, was at 7 under through 11 holes.

Among those who managed to finish was Adam Scott, a former Masters champion who is starting to feel the void of giving away the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2012 when he bogeyed the last four holes. Scott was in control in blustery weather, flighting his ball low and judging the bounce to perfect. He made three birdies around the loop at the far end of the course and closed with a birdie for a 67.

Scott was at 7-under 137, along with Zach Johnson (71), Marc Warren (69) and Robert Streb (71).

"The last few years at the Open has been some of my favorite golf," Scott said. "Getting into contention at this championship and having a chance to lift the claret jug is what it's all about. This is a great position. I'm excited for my weekend."

Get scoring updates and join beat writer Zack Meisel for a live chat as the Indians and Reds play the first game of a three-game series Friday night at Great American Ball Park.

CINCINNATI -- Get scoring updates and join beat writer Zack Meisel for a live chat as the Indians and Reds play the first game of a three-game series Friday night at Great American Ball Park. 

Game 89: Indians (42-46) vs. Reds (39-47).

First pitch: 7:10 pm. ET.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM 1100

Here are some quick hits from the Queen City as the Indians and Reds battle for the Ohio Cup.

CINCINNATI -- Here are some quick hits from the Queen City as the Indians and Reds battle for the Ohio Cup.

* Nick Hagadone will visit Dr. James Andrews to get an opinion on the condition of his left elbow. Hagadone suffered what is believed to be a serious elbow injury during a minor league rehab appearance on Wednesday.

* Hagadone will also seek an opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the doctor who performed Nick Swisher's knee surgery last August.

* Mike Aviles has rejoined the Indians after he spent last weekend on the family medical emergency list so he could be with his 4-year-old daughter, Adriana, who is battling leukemia. Jose Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A Columbus earlier in the week.

* Swisher is spending part of the weekend with Class A Lake County. He'll take batting practice with the minor league team as he continues his recovery from left knee inflammation. He could begin a rehab assignment within the next week.

* Tribe manager Terry Francona said it's "always" good for any team to get a break at this point in the season.

"This is their one last chance to kind of take a deep breath and get away for a few days," Francona said. "You want them to take advantage of that. And then you can set up your rotation and things like that, because you can't really do that after the break."

* Trevor Bauer, the Indians' starting pitcher in Friday's series opener, threw a simulated game on Monday. The Indians used front office members as batters since most of the team had dispersed to their various homes for the All-Star break.

"We wanted to get video," Francona said. "We never did."

* Bauer threw again on Wednesday. Pitching coach Mickey Callaway stayed in Cleveland and oversaw the right-hander's sessions.

* All of the Indians' pitchers threw at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, as the team held an optional workout.

* Francona surmised that Josh Tomlin will make his next rehab start on Monday.

* Francona on rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor: "We've seen times where he's looked maybe like he's gotten fooled or maybe chased a ball out of the zone, but we've also seen that short stroke where the ball can get off his bat pretty quick. So, we've seen both. I think we'd love to see everybody hit .300, but I don't know how realistic that is. I think we can see why -- with the tools -- why everybody is so high on him. I think we just need to let him play."

LeBron James and David Blatt, buddies in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS -- LeBron James strode across the court at Cox Pavilion for the Cavaliers' NBA Summer League finale Friday and sat right next to ... David Blatt.

"What's up coach," James shouted jovially as he and Blatt embraced before Cleveland played the Minnesota Timberwolves.

If there's a rift between James and his coach, it was nowhere to be seen in Vegas. The two were talking together along with Cavaliers assistant Tyronn Lue and general manager David Griffin well into the first half. James left after the third quarter and declined a brief interview request.

Neither Blatt nor Lue had in-game coaching duties during summer-league play.

The tenuous relationship between James and Blatt in 2014-15 was well documented, from the icy glares and indifference James showed toward Blatt to his tendency to occasionally offer back-door criticism of his coach in the media.

It's a storyline that lasted throughout the season -- Blatt's first in the NBA which, oh by the way, ended in the Finals. Pundits openly questioned whether Blatt would return for a second season, and if James would allow it.

Well, James signed his one-year, $23 million contract with a player's option for the following season last week. He was frustrated with Blatt, especially in November and December, but never asked for his dismissal, according to multiple sources.

And whatever their relationship, the embrace they shared was nothing like the awkward handshake between Kings coach George Karl and DeMarcus Cousins in Las Vegas.

James, here for the NBA players' union activities Sunday and Monday, sported a No. 23 Cleveland Indians jersey with "King James" on the back. His movie, "Trainwreck," opened nationwide Friday, and he was on the red carpet in Los Angeles for the ESPYs Wednesday.

Oh, and he hit this ridiculous shot, sitting down, not that far from halfcourt.

Tom Watson closes out his British Open career.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Tom Watson closed out his British Open career with his worst score ever at St. Andrews.

Not that it mattered.

In the dwindling Scottish light, Watson shot an 8-over 80 and finished with five straight bogeys Friday, his farewell put off until nearly 10 p.m. after a morning rain delay. Several thousand people hung around for the end, serenading the five-time Open champion with raucous cheers and a chant of "hip, hip, hooray!"

The 65-year-old Watson moaned about his performance, calling himself "a hack."

"Boy, was that ugly!" he said.

No one cared about his score, however.

This was a chance to salute Watson and watch him make one last crossing of the Swilcan Bridge, the famous stone arch over the burn on the 18th fairway. He waved his cap to the crowd, took a bow, then clapped his hands and looked skyward.

While the stands were largely empty given the late hour, fans poured out of the restaurants and pubs lining the 18th hole. Marshals gave up any hope of enforcing their rules against taking photographs during a round, and dozens of flashes went off as Watson tapped in his final putt.

"There should be no tears," Watson said. "I have some wonderful memories."

He wasn't a fan of links golf early in his career but won the British Open on his very first try in 1975. Watson would win it four more times over the next eight years, as golf's oldest championship came to define his career.

There were plenty of triumphs, most notably his famous "Duel in the Sun" with Jack Nicklaus in 1977, and a heartbreaking near-miss at age 59, when he was poised to become the sport's oldest major champion before a bogey at the 72nd hole and a playoff loss to Stewart Cink.

"If I entertained the fans with some great golf shots, that's all I wanted to do," he said. "I think I hit a few of them."

There weren't many great shots in Watson's final British Open. He conceded beforehand that he could no longer compete with players young enough to be his grandchildren, and he will likely finish last in the 156-player field when the second round is completed Saturday morning.

Watson finished with a 12-over 156 total.

As the clouds thickened and the skies darkened, it looked as though he would have to return for one more day to finish his round. He asked his playing partners, Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker, what they wanted to do, knowing they were both fighting to make the cut.

Both said they wanted to keep going.

At the 17th hole, an R&A official informed Els that play would have to be suspended.

The Big Easy urged the official to let Watson's group complete the round.

"They were getting ready to blow the horn," Els said. "I told them, 'You need to speak to someone about that.' I was like, 'C'mon, man, you've got a legend here. There's nobody going to pitch up at 6:30 in the morning to say goodbye."

So play carried on. The entire group, with their caddies, posed for a group picture on the Swilcan Bridge after hitting their tee shots. Then, Watson and his caddying son, Michael, got a shot together. Then it was Watson, all alone atop the arch, with the orange glow of a nearby electronic scoreboard casting an eerie light across the darkened fairway.

After getting to his ball, Watson tried a delicate pitch across the "Valley of Sin," the dip in front of the 18th green. The ball plopped onto the green but wouldn't stay, rolling off the front as the crowd groaned. Els and Snedeker both finished up, leaving the stage to Watson.

He asked Michael to stick the flag back in the hole so he could line up his putt from off the green.

"You've got too hold it for me, son," Watson quipped. "I can't even see it."

He missed that putt, then another. Finally, Watson tapped in for another bogey -- his sixth in the last seven holes -- and turned to bow to the crowd. He was met in front of the clubhouse by several players, including Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar and Tom Lehman.

"That was the right sending-off," Els said.

Watson appreciated those who hung around for his farewell.

"There was just so much joy walking up that hole," he said. "There's no reason to be sad. I played the game for a long time."

For about an hour, the dark clouds and lightning show only served as a backdrop to the action on the field at Great American Ball Park.

CINCINNATI -- For about an hour, the dark clouds and lightning show only served as a backdrop to the action on the field at Great American Ball Park.

Then, the rain arrived, and with it, a delay. The series opener between the Indians and Reds on Friday night was delayed by thunderstorms. The Reds claimed a 4-0 lead. Pitcher Mike Leake delievered a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the third before the grounds crew rolled the tarp onto the field.

Trevor Bauer labored on the mound for the Indians, who mustered a pair of hits in three scoreless frames against Leake.

According to Reds staff, the team has endured 12 rain delays at Great American Ball Park this season.

Update: The game is scheduled to be resumed at 9:15 p.m.

Favored I Know My Chip and long shot No Whip Chip won rich $40,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes on Friday night at Northfield Park.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Heavily favored I Know My Chip and 15-1 shot No Whip Chip captured rich $40,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colt trotters at Northfield Park on Friday night, while Nobles Finesse paced a career best 1:55.4 to capture the sophomore pacing division.

I Know My Chip ($2.10) had won three of seven starts in his sophomore season for Pennsylvania's Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania. The son of Deep Chip dominated, leading from gate to wire as he trotted a 1:57.3 clocking for an overwhelming 73/4-length victory with Chris Page in the sulky.

Chips Starr was second, with Full of Dawn third. Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and the Burke Racing Stable own I Know My Chip. .

No Whip Chip ($31.80) notched his first career win only last week in his fifth career start for trainer Dan Noble and owner Deborah Noble of Xenia, Ohio. That was an allowance race for non-winners of a pari-mutuel race. On Friday night, The Victory Sam colt made it two in a row in a major upset, and reinsman Page won his second straight on the night's card.

No Whip Chip took the lead at the 3/4-mile pole en route to a two-length victory in 1:58.2. Really Deep Chip was second with heavily favored Neely's Messenger third.

Nobles Finesse ($6) captured the first of two $40,000 pacing divisions with trainer Kurt Sugg at the helm. It was the first win of the season for the Feelin Friskie colt owned by Mullet Stables of Millersburg, Ohio.

Taking the lead at the half-mile mark, Nobles Finesse notched a 3/4-length win in 1:55.4. Really Deep Chip was second and even-money favorite Rock N Randall faded after leading much of the way, finishing third.

The Cavaliers are discussing with Russian Sasha Kaun the possibility of playing for Cleveland next season.

LAS VEGAS - The Cavaliers are talking to Russian center Alexander "Sasha" Kaun about joining their crowded, expensive frontcourt, albeit at a discount.

The Cavs control the NBA rights for Kaun, 30, who's played for CSKA Moscow since 2008 and worked under Cleveland coach David Blatt on the Russian national team in 2012.

Kaun told the Northeast Ohio Media Group that the Cavs contacted him Wednesday with an invitation to join general manager David Griffin and other team personnel in Las Vegas this weekend to discuss the possibility. He sat courtside for the Cavs' NBA Summer League finale on Friday next to none other than LeBron James, and was to have dinner with member of the Cavs' front office.

The rub here could be money. Kaun earned a reported $2.9 million annually for CSKA Moscow. Because of their already sky-high payroll that will obliterate the $70 million salary cap and $85 million luxury-tax line, the Cavs are greatly limited in what they can offer him, and it almost certainly wouldn't add up to Kaun's Russian salary.

Kaun, who's belonged to the Cavs since they purchased his draft rights from the then-Seattle SuperSonics in 2008, made it sound like money wasn't a hurdle.

"That's probably something that shouldn't be a problem," he said. "Hopefully coming to this team, it will give us an opportunity to win, and winning is more important to me than money. I don't think I want to do it (play basketball) because of the money. Just play basketball and enjoy it and play with some really great players. That's the more important thing."

Griffin confirmed the team's interest in Kaun to the Northeast Ohio Media Group on Friday, saying "we would love to have him if something could be worked out."

Griffin said the 7-foot Kaun, who posted career highs in points (9.9 per game) and rebounds (4.5 per game) in the Euroleague last season, was "somebody who could be rotational for us and if it could work out great."

(Stats in European hoops are harder to track in the U.S., as the numbers kept are split depending on the quality of opponent).

"It's difficult because he's coming off making an incredibly large amount of money and he is literally a first-team, all-Euroleague-caliber center, and it's a difficult proposition to come to a team like ours for the type of money we have to offer," Griffin said.

The Cavs have $113 million tied up in starting power forward Kevin Love and $4.95 million (for one season) in starting center Timofey Mozgov, a friend and former teammate of Kaun's with the Russian national team.

Reserve power forward Tristan Thompson is a restricted free agent and negotiating with the Cavs - by the time those negotiations are over Thompson could have somewhere between $80 million and $90 million coming his way. And Anderson Varejao is tied up for three years and $30 million, though he's coming off a torn Achilles.

If Kaun were a "rotational" player as Griffin suggested, he would likely play minutes as Mozgov's backup. The veteran's minimum for a player with no experience in the NBA is about $525,000, though Cleveland has north of $1 million left to use from it's taxpayer's salary-cap exception.

Kaun's not only stating that he wouldn't balk at a lower salary, but he's also said he wouldn't play anymore for CSKA Moscow and was done playing in Europe. Kaun played for the 2008 national champion Kansas Jayhawks and married an American, a source said they were considering opening a business in the U.S.

The Cavaliers quietly denied European reports last season about preparing to bring Kaun to Cleveland for 2015-16, but the team's situation has evolved, too. Concerns over Varejao's ability to return from injury linger, and the Cavs struck out in trying to attract big man David West as a free agent this month.

"My interest level is very high," Kaun said. "I definitely would like to play here, especially with the Cavs, you know, a team that's got a chance to win a championship."

Kaun's relationship is strongest with Blatt, who coached the Russians when they won the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics. They shared a few hugs during the Cavs' summer league finale, which Cleveland won 78-73 over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"it was good catching up," Kaun said. "I didn't see him all of last year because he was over here. I like him, he's really smart guy, really educated, and he knows his basketball for sure.

"People gave him a little bit of doubt, whether he can do this or not, I think he proved everybody wrong."

The Indians went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in a 6-1 loss at Cincinnati on Friday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Mike Leake gave up one run in six innings and had three RBI as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-1, Friday night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Marlon Byrd (4-for-4) and Joey Votto homered for the Reds.

Here is a capsule look at the game (no DVR review necessary):

Slumping: The Indians (42-47) have lost three in a row.

The Indians have produced a total of one run in the past two games. Last Sunday in Cleveland, in their final game before the All-Star break, they managed two singles in a 2-0 loss to Oakland.

House of horrors: The Tribe has lost nine straight at GABP.

Open, shut: The Indians are 9-21 in series openers.

Yikes: The Tribe is 9-35 when scoring three or fewer.

Matter of RISP: Tribe bats went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Harsh reality: Leake drove in one with a safety squeeze and two with a double. His three RBI are one more than Tribe catcher Yan Gomes' total since June 26 and one more than Tribe right fielder Brandon Moss's total since July 4.

Reeling: Moss went 0-for-4 and is batting .217. He is hitless in seven games since July 7.

Teammate Michael Bourn came off the bench and went 0-for-0 with a walk. He is batting .222 with a sub-.600 OPS. He is hitless in seven games since July 7.

Nothing doing: Tribe right-hander Trevor Bauer (8-6, 4.03 ERA) allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of his start:

FIRST INNING

(R) Brandon Phillips -- 92 fastball up and in; 93 fastball in dirt; 94 fastball called strike; 92 fastball, pop to first.

Skinny: B-Phil jammed, checked his swing.

(L) Joey Votto -- 92 fastball foul; 92 fastball called strike; 88 off-speed in dirt; 93 fastball foul; 79 curve in dirt; 92 fastball high; 92 fastball, swinging strikeout (thighs).

Skinny: Bauer challenged and won.

(R) Todd Frazier -- 84 slider foul; 83 slider foul; 95 fastball foul; 78 curve, grounder to third.

Skinny: Well-executed curve on outer third got The Toddfather off-balance.

(15)

SECOND INNING

(L) Jay Bruce -- 91 fastball foul (ripped to right); 85 off-speed inside; 84 changeup swinging strike; 84 changeup outside; 77 curve, swinging strikeout (inner third at feet).

Skinny: Nasty strikeout pitch.

(R) Marlon Byrd -- 93 fastball foul (deep in RF corner); 93 fastball foul; 77 curve foul; 95 fastball, homer to right (outer half at thighs).

Skinny: Bauer made it far too easy for Byrd in 0-2 count. Byrd saw similar pitch in 0-0 count.

(R) Eugenio Suarez -- 94 fastball called strike; 85 slider swinging strike; 94 fastball, single to right.

Skinny: Another 0-2 fastball resulted in a hit.

(L) Tucker Barnhart -- 93 fastball low and in; 84 changeup foul; 93 fastball high; 86 off-speed, single to right.

Skinny: Tough break for Bauer. Pitch was at shoe tops; Barnhart simply found a hole with a normal-speed grounder.

(R) Mike Leake  -- 94 fastball up and in (Leake showed bunt); fastball, RBI safety squeeze (Barnhart to second, Leake to first).

Skinny: First baseman Carlos Santana fielded on the move and threw to catcher Yan Gomes. Ball arrived a tad late.

(L) Billy Hamilton -- 94 fastball, bunt to pitcher (Barnhart to third, Leake to second).

(R) Brandon Phillips  -- 87 slider swinging strike; 94 fastball high; 94 fastball up and in; 86 slider swinging strike (off outside corner); 79 curve in dirt; 95 fastball inside, walk.

(Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway visits mound. Jeff Manship begins to loosen in  bullpen.)

(L) Joey Votto -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball high; 87 slider swinging strike (in dirt); 94 fastball, called strikeout.

Skinny: Votto caught guessing off-speed.

(29 pitches)

THIRD INNING

(R) Todd Frazier -- 93 fastball up and in; 83 off-speed, fly to right (down; edge of track).

(L) Jay Bruce -- 84 changeup high; 83 off-speed, single to right.

Skinny: Tough break for Bauer. Bruce hit roller through hole.

(R) Marlon Byrd -- 84 breaking pitch in dirt (Gomes block); 94 fastball, single to center (over plate at thighs).

Skinny: Shot up the middle.

(R) Eugenio Suarez -- 86 breaking pitch in dirt (Gomes block); 95 fastball called strike; 94 fastball foul; 79 curve, pop to right.

(L) Tucker Barnhart -- 92 fastball called strike; 86 slider swinging strike; 79 curve in dirt; 95 fastball inside (barely); 86 off-speed foul; 97 fastball outside; 96 fastball inside (barely), walk.

Skinny: Bauer lost another batter at or after 0-2 count. The 1-2 and 3-2 fastballs were close but inside.

(R) Mike Leake -- 96 fastball, two-run double to right (over plate at shins).

Skinny: Leake made Bauer pay for the walk to Barnhart. Yes, Leake is a good athlete who has 75 career hits. And yes, the pitch wasn't a classic "mistake.'' But a pitcher the caliber of Bauer can't give up a two-out, two-run double to his counterpart.

(Tarp on field.)

(Play resumes after delay of 1 hour, 5 minutes.)

(L) Billy Hamilton -- 94 fastball foul; 88 breaking pitch in dirt; 94 fastball, fly to center.

(21 pitches)

FOURTH INNING

(R) Brandon Phillips -- 92 fastball inside; 84 slider called strike; 82 off-speed inside; 92 fastball high; 91 fastball called strike; 85 off-speed, grounder 1-4-3.

(L) Joey Votto -- 86 slider swinging strike; 85 changeup outside; 94 fastball inside; 94 fastball high; 94 fastball, homer to center (over plate at thighs).

Skinny: Bauer challenged and lost.

(R) Todd Frazier -- 84 off-speed inside; 84 slider called strike; 92 fastball swinging strike (inside); 79 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt).

(L) Jay Bruce -- 85 changeup foul; 85 slider called strike; 78 curve, swinging strikeout.

(18 pitches)

"I think we have hitters that have shown they can do it. Gomes is going to drive in more than 10 [runs]. Santana's going to do more. That's how I feel. Now, we have to go do it. I said before the game, we went through that -- I haven't changed my opinion. I don't think we did a real good job tonight but I haven't changed my opinion."

CINCINNATI -- The Indians started the second half of the season in familiar fashion. They dropped their series opener against the Reds by a 6-1 score, as the offense failed to execute with runners in scoring position (0-for-11). Here is what manager Terry Francona, pitcher Trevor Bauer and shortstop Francisco Lindor had to say after the game.

Francona, on why he maintains faith in the Indians' offense:

"Because I think we have hitters that have shown they can do it. Gomes is going to drive in more than 10 [runs]. Santana's going to do more. That's how I feel. Now, we have to go do it. I said before the game, we went through that -- I haven't changed my opinion. I don't think we did a real good job tonight but I haven't changed my opinion."

Bauer, on what ailed him in Friday's start, during which he surrendered five runs on seven hits in four innings:

"I think not being in a competitive situation for nine days coming back from the All-Star break was a little bit tough. It was a different feeling than I've had on the mound for the entire year. It wasn't the same, that competitiveness. I couldn't really find a way to kick that in. I missed location on quite a few pitches, but I gave up hits on four balls out of the zone. It's one of those nights where everything seems to go south on you."

Lindor, on playing after a four-day break:

"You feel, definitely, your legs are kind of heavy. People think, 'Oh, you're fresh now.' No, you feel a little heavier. You haven't done much besides just stretching. You're thinking about how you're going to do in the second half, how you're going to approach it. That's how I felt today -- a little heavier. It's just a matter of getting my legs under me again and we'll be good."

Bauer, on allowing a two-run double to Reds starter Mike Leake:

"It wasn't where I was trying to go with it. I was trying to throw it right where I threw the one that he bunted. He's an athlete. He hit in college. He's very respectable with the bat. I just missed location. But at the end of the day, that ball is six inches below the zone at 95 mph and he hit it. It's one of those days where everything goes against you."

Francona, on what made Leake so lethal:

"He does a good job. He gets it, he throws it, he throws it over the plate, he changes speeds and then he helps himself out at the plate. You can tell he's a really good athlete the way he handles himself. He gets it right on the mound and goes and keeps firing strikes."

Bauer, on the layoff (he threw at Progressive Field on Monday and Wednesday):

"That's not an excuse; I still need to be better. I need to execute pitches better. Things could have gone a little bit more my way. Everything kind of went south."

Francona, on a play in the eighth inning in which Reds speedster Billy Hamilton scored from third on a groundout to third baseman Giovanny Urshela:

"He actually did a really good job. The only thing, and you get really kind of picky, once he looked him back and straightened up, he was going. Kind of nitpicking. Got it and looked him back. That's what Hamilton can do. If he fakes the throw and he doesn't go, we got trouble. He did a pretty good job, actually."

Lindor, on the team trying to put it all together:

"That's part of the game, you know? There's going to be days like that, but we're trying to eliminate those days. Instead of having 20 days like that, we're trying to have 10 days like that, where we pitch and hit at the same time. At the end of the day, we'll give it our all and whatever happens, happens."

The second round of the 2015 British Open resumes Saturday at 2 a.m. ET and the third round is scheduled for 7 a.m. Dustin Johnson led at 10 under, but Danny Willett was the leader in the clubouse at nine under. Jordan Spieth was five back.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Keep up with leader Dustin Johnson, hard-charging Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Spieth at the 2015 British Open Saturday with our live leaderboard, TV schedule, tee times and updates from the St. Andrews Old Course in Fife, Scotland.

Check out the box below for live Twitter updates and photos from Twitter accounts of some of the top golfers and notable golf news feeds.

The second round was halted by darkness Friday with 42 players still on the course. 

Play is to be resumed Saturday at 2 a.m. ET.

The cut will take place, the field redrawn and the third round is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.

British Open tee times, click here.

Start times

Saturday, 2 a.m. ET (continuation of second round).

Saturday, 7 a.m. ET (third round).

Sunday, 3:30 a.m. ET

TV schedule (ESPN)
Saturday,  2 a.m. ET to completion of second round.

Saturday 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET (third round).
Sunday, 6 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET

ESPN.com live streaming schedule:
(Featured groups and Road Hole)
Saturday, 2 a.m. ET to completion of second round.

Saturday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (third round).
Sunday, 6 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Golf Channel's nightly recap: 7 p.m.

Tweets from https://twitter.com/TimsTakeCLE/lists/live-british-open-updates THIRD-ROUND STORY LINES

Dustin Johnson rolling: American Dustin Johnson, with just one bogey in the tournament, is 10-under through 13 holes of the second round. He had four birdies Friday.

Danny who? Who is Danny Willett? The Englishman completed the second round at 9-under after shooting 69 Friday. Willett is ranked second on the European Tour and once was a higher ranked amateur than Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, but he has never finished better than 15th in a major.

Spieth five back: Pre-tournament favorite Spieth is five under and five strokes back. If the 21-year-old is to win his third major this season, he'll have to start making up ground on Johnson soon. He struggled putting in the wind Friday, which is unusual for Spieth, and was even through 13 holes with three birdies and three bogeys.

Spieth, the 21-year-old Masters and U.S. Open champion, seeks to become the first modern Grand Slam winner.

POLL: Will Jordan Spieth win golf's Grand Slam?

Here comes Hideki: Hideki Matsuyama, the 2014 Memorial Tournament champion, is playing with Johnson and Spieth and seemed intent on grabbing the spotlight from both until darkness set in Friday. He birdied five of the first seven hole and was 6-under through 13

Others to watch: Former Open champ Paul Lawrie began Saturday eight under through 12 holes and Jason Day was eight under through 11.

Among those at seven under were Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen (through 11), who won the last Open played at St. Andrews in 2010. Americans Jason Day and Robert Streb, who both shot 71 Friday, also were seven under.

Irishman Paul Dunne was the low amateur at six under.

Weather watch: Rain is forecast Saturday morning, but not as heavy as the downpour that caused Friday's three-hour delay. Wind will gust at 18 to 34 m.p.h., according to the AccuWeather forecast.

Woods' woes: Tiger Woods was five over through 11 holes when play stopped. It will take a big rally for him to avoid the cut, which will be around even par.

Woods, 39, is struggling to return to form and shot the worst Open round of his career Thursday.

Faldo & Watson say goodbye: Five-time Open champion Tom Watson, 65, and three-time winner Nick Faldo, 57, played what are expected to be their final British Open rounds Friday. Neither fan favorite made the cut and both posed for obligatory photos on the Swilcan Burn Bridge between the first and 18th fairways.

The Open brought out the best in Watson, who lost in a playoff at age 59 in 2009. He nearly became the oldest Open winner (and he first with a hip replacement). Faldo won the 1990 Open at St. Andrews and no Englishman has won the Open since his victory in 1992.

McIlroy out: For the first time in six decades, the Open is being played without its defending champion. Rory McIlroy is out with an ankle injury suffered playing soccer with friends.

McIlroy has not yet withdrawn from the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron Aug. 6-9.

The purse: The Open carries a $9.2 million purse, with $1.8 million going to the winner and $1 million to the runner-up.

Old Course: Par at the legendary "Home of Golf" is 72. Total distance: 6,672 yards. Oosthuizen won the Open when it was last played on the Old Course in 2010.

Click here for an interactive guide to the Old Course.

More updates: Check back for expanded daily coverage from the course and live updates with leaderboards all weekend at cleveland.com/golf.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Welcome to the Indians' second half, same as the first half. Through one game, at least. One, listless, uninspiring game.

CINCINNATI -- There was no jet lag, just more of the same sleepwalking.

Welcome to the Indians' second half, same as the first half. Through one game, at least. One listless, uninspiring game.

The Indians slogged through a 6-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. The near-sellout crowd found the constant rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning along the ballpark's backdrop more entertaining than the Tribe's tepid offense.

Before a rain delay briefly interrupted the Reds' romp, Cincinnati struck for five runs against Tribe hurler Trevor Bauer. Cleveland's right-hander surrendered five runs on seven hits over four innings. Marlon Byrd greeted him with an opposite-field blast to right with one out in the second. Joey Votto clubbed a solo shot off the bottom of the display beyond the center-field wall in the fourth.

Reds pitcher Mike Leake proved to be the Indians' main nemesis, however. Leake limited the Tribe to one run on four hits in six frames. He also bullied Bauer in a pair of critical at-bats.

With two runners on in the second, Leake pushed a bunt to the right side of the infield. Carlos Santana fielded the ball and threw home, but his heave was tardy. Eugenio Suarez scored and Leake reached first safely. In the third, Leake punched a two-out, two-run double to right-center.

The Indians plated their only run in the sixth. Francisco Lindor singled and Michael Brantley doubled to begin the frame. Leake, however, retired the next three hitters in order. Santana's groundout earned the Indians their lonely tally.

The Indians arrived in the Queen City on Thursday following the All-Star break. They held a workout at Great American Ball Park on Thursday evening, in advance of Friday's series opener.

What it means

The Indians slipped to 42-47. They sit in the basement of the American League Central. The White Sox are 42-46. Terry Francona's bunch is 9-21 in series openers and 15-39 when the opponent scores first.

Cleveland has dropped nine straight and 17 of 22 in Cincinnati.

Bauer outage

Bauer entered Friday's contest with a 5-2 record and 1.82 ERA in eight starts away from Progressive Field. He had held the opposition to only 30 hits in 54 1/3 innings (.161 batting average against).

Have you ever seen the rain?

The game was halted in the bottom of the third inning. A one hour, five minute rain delay ensued. Both starting pitchers remained in the game. A steady rain fell for the duration of the contest.

One is the loneliest number

The Indians' sixth-inning run snapped the club's 15-inning scoreless streak. They were blanked by Oakland on Sunday in their final affair before the All-Star break.

Speed kills

Reds speedster Billy Hamilton stole second base in the eighth. He advanced to third when the throw from Tribe catcher Yan Gomes sailed into center field. Brandon Phillips then slapped a grounder to third. Giovanny Urshela looked at Hamilton, who was a few paces off the bag, and fired to first. Hamilton raced home anyway. He reached the plate before Santana's throw arrived.

Double the fun

Brantley doubled with no outs in the sixth and with one out in the eighth. Gomes doubled to lead off the ninth. All three times, the runner was stranded.

They came, they saw

An announced crowd of 38,982 watched the affair -- many from beneath an overhang to avoid the precipitation -- at Great American Ball Park.

What's next

The Indians and the Reds will reconvene at the venue for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Cleveland's Corey Kluber (4-10, 3.38 ERA) will oppose Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (5-6, 3.65). In two career starts against Cincinnati, Kluber has limited the Reds to two runs on 15 hits and two walks across 15 1/3 innings. He has a victory to show for each outing and he has tallied 14 strikeouts. He tossed eight strong innings against the Reds on May 23 at Progressive Field.

Brad Zimmer may be the Indians centerfielder of the future, but the present is very grim.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When you take into account hitting and defense, the Indians have the worst center field situation in the American League.

There are so many sad stats that it's depressing to go through them all. Just know that the Indians rank anywhere from 12-15th in several categories: Batting average (.237), OPS (.611), homers (1), total bases...

It's awful.

If Michael Bourn were delivering superb defense in center, it would help. But his glove and range have been below average, along with batting .174 since June 1.

On the season, Bourn is batting .222 (.562 OPS) with no homers, 18 RBI and 7 stolen bases. It's painful to watch the 32-year-old Bourn, who was an impact player in the outfield and on the bases only three years ago.

Michael Brantley has started 22 games in center, batting .276 (.733) with 1 HR and 9 RBI. But Brantley's cranky back has really hurt his range in the field.

Fangraphs rates the Tribe as having the second-worst center field defense in the American League. The website ranked 22 American League center fielders, Bourn was No. 18 and Brantley was No. 19.

You can always debate fielding ratings because they are somewhat subjective, but the low defensive rankings for the Tribe match the eye-test. This is a major problem area, one the Indians never thought was coming when they opened the season.

CAN IT CHANGE?

For now, it appears the Indians will stick with Bourn and Brantley in center. But for how long?

Unless the All-Star break helps Brantley to fully recover from back problems that have bothered him since spring training, he is best suited for left field. Hard to know to what say about Bourn, other than he looks like a guy whose game relied on his legs -- and those legs have very little life remaining.

The Indians actually have three center field possibilities at Class AAA Columbus, but none look like big league starters right now.

1. Tyler Holt is 26. He plays with a lot of energy. He batted .311 (14-of-45) vs. lefties with the Tribe last year. But in 74 at bats, he had only two extra base hits (doubles). He is hitting .290 (.734 OPS) with 0 HR and 19 RBI. An International League All-Star, he is the most big league ready right now.

2. The Tribe was hoping for a better year from James Ramsey, who is batting .241 (.708 OPS) with 9 HR and 29 RBI at Columbus. He's 25 and was acquired last season from the Cardinals in the Justin Masterson deal. He batted .295 (.890 OPS) with 16 HR and 52 RBI between Class AA and AAA last season. He's not really built upon that.

3. Tyler Naquin opened the season hitting .348 at Class AA Akron. Now at Columbus, Naquin is hitting .237 (.741 OPS) with 4 HR and 12 RBI. The team's 2012 first-round pick, Naquin is 24. His history is that he tends to struggle for a few months when moving up a level, then begins to hit. For example, he batted .225 in 80 plate appearance at Akron in 2013. He followed that up with averaged of .313 and .348 in parts of two seasons with the Rubber Ducks.

THEN THERE'S ZIMMER

Bradley Zimmer is the most exciting outfield prospect coming out of the farm system since the days of Grady Sizemore and Brantley.

Here are reasons why the Tribe is rightly excited by Zimmer:

1. Zimmer was the team's top pick in 2014. He has just been promoted to Class AA Akron. That's impressive after only 468 pro at bats.

2. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Zimmer glides like a natural athlete. He hit 10 homers at Class A Lynchburg, and he also stole 32 bases in 37 attempts -- in only 77 games.

3. A lefty hitter, Zimmer batted .315 (.911 OPS) against lefties, .302 (.881 OPS) against righties in the Class A Carolina League this season.

4. Zimmer played three years at the University of San Francisco, but he's only 22 and in the Class AA Eastern League.

5. For a little context, Francisco Lindor starts at short for the Tribe and he's only 21. That's why Lindor (the team's 2011 first-round pick) has made a remarkable rise in the farm system.

6. The Indians are curious to see how Zimmer reacts at Akron. This is his first full season as a pro. He played 54 games in college last season followed by 48 more in the low levels of Class A. Often, a player wears down a bit physically in his first pro season of about 140 games.

7. Tribe Minor League Director Carter Hawkins said the Carolina League required hitters to make adjustments because there are only eight teams. "You see the same (pitchers/hitters) over and over again, and teams do learn how to attack your weaknesses." Zimmer did handle that part very well.

8. In college, Zimmer's stolen base totals increased from 3 to 19 to 21 in three seasons. In 2014, he was 12-of-16 in stolen bases in 48 pro games. "We encouraged Brad to be very aggressive on the bases," said Hawkins. Zimmer is 32-of-37 in steals this season, showing another aspect of his game.

9. "In the Eastern League, Brad will see some guys who are older, some who have been in the majors," said Hawkins. "That's his next challenge. So far, he has done everything we've asked and we're excited about him."

10. Zimmer is something the Indians desperately need. He is a gifted physical athlete with speed, but he also has some power. I saw Zimmer hit a homer and a double in big league spring training games. He was 4-of-8 with the big league team in Arizona.

ABOUT THE SECOND HALF

A year ago, the Tribe's starting rotation had a 2.95 ERA -- that was the best in the American League.

For the Tribe to return to contention, they will need a repeat performance.

Obviously, the team must hit more and can't remain No. 12 in runs scored. But the heartbeat of the Tribe is the rotation. That is why so many "experts" predicted the Indians would be a playoff team. Since Cody Anderson joined the rotation, it has a 3.50 ERA -- third best in the A.L.

But the starters need to dominate. The Indians are the first team in baseball history to have four starters with at least 100 strikeouts at the All-Star break: Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco.

It's hard to believe that no one ever did it before, especially in the 1960s when pitchers ruled.

The Indians obviously need more out Carlos Santana, Brandon Moss, Yan Gomes and Brantley in terms of power production. I didn't even mention Nick Swisher and Bourn. Those situations look so grim right now. I wrote about all this earlier in the week.

But it's pitching that can lead the Tribe back into playoff contention.

And how about winning at home?

In 2013-14, the Tribe was 99-63 at Progressive Field -- the second-best home record in the American League.

This year, it's 19-26 -- the second worst in the American League.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns
• Terry's Talkin' Cavs