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Zimmer, Myles lead Akron RubberDucks' romp over Erie

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Bradley Zimmer and Bryson Myles each hit home runs in Akron's 12-5 win at Canal Park.

bradley zimmer.jpegBradley Zimmer 

AKRON, Ohio -- Bryson Myles and Bradley Zimmer each hit home runs and Zimmer finished with four RBI as the RubberDucks rolled to a 12-5 victory Monday over the Erie SeaWolves at Canal Park.

The RubberDucks jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, starting with an RBI singled from Zimmer. Nellie Rodriguez followed with another RBI single, and the third run scored after Myles grounded into a double play.

The SeaWolves scored twice in the second inning and once in the third to tie the game, but the RubberDucks took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. With two outs and a man on first, Myles homered to left-center field to make it 5-3.

An RBI single from Joe Sever increased the lead to 6-3 in the fourth, and the RubberDucks broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Leading, 6-4, Jeremy Lucas started the inning with a double, then scored on a single by Eric Stamets, who moved to second on a fielding error.

With one out, Clint Frazier doubled to bring in Stamets, and a wild pitch from Erie reliever Gabe Hemmer allowed Frazier to move to third.

Hemmer managed to strike out Sever for the second out, but Zimmer singled to center field to make it 9-4.

Although Erie made it 9-5 in the top of the eighth, Akron squelched any chance of a comeback by scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning, with Sever getting an RBI single and Zimmer hitting a two-run homer.

Zimmer finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Sever was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Lucas was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two walks.

Akron right-hander D.J. Brown (2-0, 2.78 ERA) gave up four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. 

Go here to see a box score from the game.


Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor opens Week 6 with rough game at plate: DMan's Lindor Log

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Francisco Lindor went 0-for-4 with one strikeout as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Houston Astros, 7-1, May 9 in Houston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's MLB arrival in June of last season came with considerable hype. He lived up to it -- and then some.

Lindor had an .835 OPS and 4.6 WAR in 99 games. He finished second to Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

What will Lindor do next? Here is a week-by-week recap of his 2016 season:

Week 1: 4 G, 17 PA, 5-for-15 (five singles), four runs, two walks, three strikeouts. 10/17 Quality Plate Appearance (subjective).

Summary: Even though he had no extra-base hits, Lindor swung the bat well overall. He took what the pitchers gave him and totaled three hits against two good lefties (David Price, Chris Sale). Issues were with cutter under hands and splitters. Solid defensively.

Week 2: 6 G, 26 PA, 6-for-25 (three singles, two doubles, homer), four RBI, three runs, two steals, seven strikeouts. 9/26 QPA. One error.

Summary: Not one of Lindor's better six-game stretches. Uncomfortable too often against off-speed, particularly changeups. Seven strikeouts/zero walks was noticeable. OK defensively.

Week 3: 6 G, 27 PA, 9-for-22 (eight singles, double), five walks, RBI, five runs, steal, caught stealing. 16/27 QPA.

Summary: Once again, Lindor took what the pitchers gave him and settled for singles en route to a strong six-game block. Finished with one walk in four straight games. Excelled defensively.

Week 4: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-23 (four singles, one double), three walks, three RBI, sacrifice fly. 12/27 QPA. Good defensively.

Summary: Lindor did not swing well. Too eager/anxious numerous times. Missed plenty of pitches to hit.

Week 5: 6 G, 25 PA, 10-for-23 (eight singles, double, homer), walk, hit-by-pitch, three RBI, seven runs, steal. 13/25 QPA.

Summary: Good bounce-back from Week 5. Turned decent pitches into hits. Played plus-defense.

Week 6 (ongoing):

SEASON GAME 29: @ Houston Astros

First inning vs. RHP Mike Fiers (none on, two outs) -- 71 curve high; 89 fastball foul; 81 changeup swinging strike; 72 curve high; 90 fastball, grounder to first.

Quality plate appearance: No. Lindor had a pitch to hit.

Fourth inning vs. Fiers (runner on first, none out) -- 74 curve in dirt; 90 fastball foul; 82 changeup, grounder to first.

Quality plate appearance: No.

Sixth inning vs. Fiers (none on, two outs) -- 89 fastball up and in; 90 fastball, grounder to first.

Quality plate appearance: No. Lindor had a pitch to hit. Scouts would say that he got himself out.

Ninth inning vs. RHP Scott Feldman (none on, none out) -- 90 fastball called strike; 84 changeup outside; 89 cutter foul; 79 curve down and in; 90 cutter, swinging strikeout.

Quality plate appearance: No.

Totals: 0-for-4, three grounders to first and strikeout. 0/4 QPA. Lindor swung as if the bat weighed 20 pounds.

Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians no match for Jose Altuve's Houston Astros: DMan's Report, Game 29 (photos)

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Corey Kluber gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Houston Astros, 7-1, Monday night in Houston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jose Altuve doubled and drove in three and right-hander Mike Fiers allowed one run on three hits in seven innings as the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians, 7-1, Monday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Tribe righty Corey Kluber allowed five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Cooled: The Indians (15-14) were coming off a 5-1 homestand against Detroit and Kansas City, which wrapped with a comeback victory over the Royals on Sunday.

Heating up: The Astros (13-20) are 6-3 in May.

GPS required: The Tribe has dropped six of its last seven on the road.

Strange sight: Sometimes, Major League Baseball doesn't make sense. When a team is on the wrong end of it, as the Indians were Monday, the memories need to be short.

File, forget, move on to Tuesday.

Kluber, the Tribe's ace, entered Monday night on a roll. In his previous three starts, he was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (24 IP, 3 ER). He had allowed 12 hits, walked two and struck out 23.

Kluber was comfortable enough at Minute Maid Park, having gone 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in three appearances (two starts). Overall against the Astros, he had a 1.48 ERA in five appearances (30 1/3 IP, 5 ER).

And Kluber opened the game in spectacular fashion. He struck out Altuve looking (2-2 comeback fastball to outside edge); George Springer swinging (0-2 fastball tipped); and Carlos Correa swinging (0-2 breaking pitch down and away).

Kluber did not dazzle in the second inning, but all he allowed was a one-out walk. He appeared to be on his way to a duel with Fiers.

Then came the third.

Kluber's first 18 pitches resulted in five hits, one walk and zero outs. It wasn't as if Kluber's stuff suddenly became terrible, although location was an issue. It was more a credit to the Astros, who were aggressive early in counts and took good swings. Here is the breakdown of the third:

(L) Luis Valbuena -- single to right (1-0 cutter down).

Skinny: Former Indian Valby entered hitting .182.

(L) Jason Castro -- double down left-field line (1-0 fastball down and away). Valbuena to third.

Skinny: Bat shattered. Good pitch, bad break for Kluber.

Altuve -- two-run double to left (0-0 cutter).

Skinny: Pitch backed up onto Altuve's swing plane.

Springer -- walk.

Skinny: Four pitches.

Correa -- single to left (3-2 changeup). Bases loaded.

Skinny: Kluber was ahead, 0-2. Correa worked the count full before lining a pitch that stayed up.

(L) Colby Rasmus -- two-run single to right (0-0 fastball).

Skinny: Rasmus wasn't willing to spot Kluber anything, either. He pounced on a fat pitch.

(L) Marwin Gonzalez -- RBI grounder to pitcher (1-2 fastball).

(L) Preston Tucker -- grounder to pitcher (0-0 changeup).

Carlos Gomez -- walk.

Skinny: Five pitches.

Lefty Kyle Crockett relieved Kluber and struck out Valby swinging.

Not much doing: Finesse pitcher Fiers and two relievers combined on the three-hitter. The Indians' run (Rajai Davis) was driven in by a grounder (Jason Kipnis).

The Indians can't expect to win when Nos. 3-5 Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley and Mike Napoli combine to go 0-for-11 with one walk. The trio never hit the ball beyond the infield in fair territory.

Lindor grounded to first three times and struck out swinging.

Brantley grounded to second, first, third and short.

Napoli struck out looking, struck out swinging, walked and struck out swinging.

Corey Kluber unravels early, Cleveland Indians start series with a dud in 7-1 loss to Houston Astros

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Kluber's night went downhill faster than an alpine skier. The Indians' hopes at a series-opening triumph went with him, as the Astros prevailed, 7-1, on Monday at Minute Maid Park. Watch video

HOUSTON -- Corey Kluber painted the outside corner with precision, as Houston's hitters watched his heater whiz past for strike after strike.

Then, Kluber's night went downhill faster than an alpine skier. The Indians' hopes at a series-opening triumph went with him, as the Astros prevailed, 7-1, on Monday at Minute Maid Park.

Kluber struck out the side in the first inning on 12 pitches. Jose Altuve and George Springer stood idly by as third strikes sailed into Yan Gomes' glove. Kluber didn't allow a hit in the second inning, either.

He couldn't survive the third.

The Astros pounced on the right-hander for five runs on five hits and two walks in the frame. He sauntered back to the dugout after he issued a free pass to Carlos Gomez. By that time, the damage was irreparable. Altuve delivered a two-run double to left. The diminutive second baseman scored on Colby Rasmus' two-run single. After each run, the train perched high atop the left-field wall blared its horn. 

"I just didn't really locate pitches," Kluber said. "The first few guys, I fell behind them. I had to try to get back in the zone to be in the count and they took advantage of pitches that weren't well-located."

Kluber tossed 54 pitches -- 31 for strikes -- in 2 2/3 innings. The effort matched the shortest outing of his big league career that wasn't truncated by a rain delay. Kyle Crockett, Jeff Manship, Joba Chamberlain, Tommy Hunter and Dan Otero pieced together the remaining frames.

Just five days earlier, Kluber (2-4, 4.14 ERA) tossed a complete-game shutout against the Tigers. In fact, over his previous three starts, the 30-year-old had posted a 1.13 ERA, having allowed three earned runs on 12 hits and two walks across 24 innings.

The third-inning outburst, though, proved to be plenty of backing for Astros right-hander Mike Fiers. He held the Indians to one run on three hits over seven innings.

"He never let us really get anything going," said Tribe manager Terry Francona. "We hit a couple balls hard at people, but he kept us off stride the entire way."

Jose Ramirez doubled with two outs in the second. In typical fashion, his helmet flew off of his head and he accidentally kicked it from behind while chugging along toward second base. Ramirez was stranded there. Rajai Davis doubled to left to start the sixth and scored on Jason Kipnis' groundout for the Tribe's only run.

What it means

The Indians (15-14) have dropped four consecutive road games. They were swept by the Phillies in Philadelphis before the returned to Cleveland and took five of six from Detroit and Kansas City.

The Indians have yet to climb to three games above the .500 mark this season. They never reached that mark last year.

First come, first serve

The Indians are 2-10 when they do not score first.

Baseball buddies

Carlos Correa bested Francisco Lindor in this season's first installment of the battle of shortstop pals from Puerto Rico. Correa went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a diving catch in the shallow outfield grass. Lindor did not register a hit in four trips to the plate.

Dormant bats

The Indians matched a season-low with only three base knocks. They mustered only three hits in a 6-0 loss to the Mets on April 17.

They came, they saw

An announced crowd of 20,222 watched the affair at Minute Maid Park.

What's next

The Indians and Astros will reconvene at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday evening, as right-handers Trevor Bauer (2-0, 5.14 ERA) and Chris Devenski (0-1, 1.46) will duel. Bauer held Houston hitless over six innings in his first start of the 2015 campaign. He walked five and tallied 11 strikeouts before he departed, having tossed 111 pitches. Devenski, a rookie, has never faced the Tribe.

What does the list of Browns starting QBs say about the franchise? -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

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Cleveland sports fans wonder about the label "franchise QB," J.R. Smith's standing with NBA refs and former Indians' pitcher Bartolo Colon's source of power -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

Stephen Curry wins NBA MVP as LeBron James finishes third: Fans and media react to the results

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Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry was named NBA MVP on Tuesday afternoon, becoming the first player to be unanimously selected as the winner.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry was named NBA MVP on Tuesday afternoon, becoming the first player to be unanimously selected as the winner. 

Curry, the league leader in scoring, beat out San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard, who finished second in the voting. Cavaliers star LeBron James was voted third. 

Oklahoma City's star tandem of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The results predictably led to plenty of social media chatter, with fans and media members sharing their thoughts. 

Can the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to rely on the three-pointer?

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The Cavaliers have been making threes at a record-setting pace this postseason. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have been making three-pointers at a record-setting pace this postseason, first in a four-game sweep against the Pistons and then in another four-game sweep against the Hawks. They even set the single-game record for three pointers against Atlanta.

Is this three-point barrage sustainable? Bud Shaw and Michael Reghi weighed in as part of our weekly series of sports videos. They talked about why the Cavaliers are able to get so many clean looks and more.

Stipe Miocic finally gets the title shot he wanted, against Fabricio Werdum in UFC 198: DMan's World

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Stipe Miocic pleaded for a chance to fight for the UFC heavyweight title and he will finally get that chance on Saturday in Brazil when he fights champion Fabricio Werdum.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Heavyweight Stipe Miocic pleaded for UFC President Dana White to give it to him, and now it finally is here: a title shot.

Northeast Ohio's Miocic (14-2-0) faces champion Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) as the headliner of UFC 198 on Saturday at 10 p.m. on FS1. The event unfolds in Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. Werdum is Brazilian.

No. 2 Miocic thought the fight would happen Feb. 6, when he replaced injured Cain Velasquez on short notice. But Werdum pulled out because of injury.  

Before leaving for Brazil, Miocic checked in briefly by phone.

DMan's World: When did you ramp up your training for the rescheduled fight?

Stipe Miocic: The past 6-7 weeks have been really hard, really intense. I've got a great team, and we've put in so much work. I'm as prepared as I'll ever be.

DW: How is your training divided?

SM: Sparring three times a week, grappling twice a week. I don't do a lot of weight training. I do a lot of plyometrics, explosion work.

DW: What is the biggest challenge Werdum presents?

SM: His experience. He's fought the best guys in the world. He's got a lot of experience -- but so do I.

DW: Werdum is a multiple Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion. How much does that concern you?

SM: He's good on the ground -- but so am I. It's just that no one has really seen it. If it comes down to it, I'll show anyone I can go to the ground. Ask my guys if I can go to the ground.

DW: Werdum has said that you will keep pressing forward seeking to strike, and that he can counter with various kicks. Your response?

SM: I like to strike. I'm aggressive, and I want to hit the guy across from me with my fists. It's no secret. But that doesn't mean I'm one-dimensional. As I said, I can go to the ground if needed. Wherever the fight goes, I'm comfortable. I'll do whatever it takes to win.

DW: Are you mentally prepared for the "homefield'' advantage Werdum will enjoy?

SM: Yes, because I've been in this type of situation. It seems like I'm always fighting in somebody's backyard. I fought a Brazilian guy in Brazil, a New Zealand guy in Australia, a European guy in the U.K. I'll fight anybody, anytime, anywhere. I embrace the challenge. The crowd's not in the cage; Werdum is.

DW: In the run-up to this fight, unlike some others, I haven't heard or read much smack coming from you or Werdum. Am I missing something?

SM: No, you aren't. I'm not really a talker. What I'm good at is fighting in the cage. I let my fights do the talking. I'm not going to say something just to get headlines. I respect Werdum, and he respects me. We're professionals who have jobs to do. No reason to get into anything before the fight.

DW: You have talked about wanting to bring a title back to Cleveland --

SM: I love Cleveland. As you know, I am a huge Cleveland sports fan, and bringing back a title might start a fire that could spread elsewhere. I'm very confident that I'm going to go in there and win that belt, because I have the best coaches and teammates in the world. I've been waiting for this day for a long time, and I know I've got Cleveland with me.


LeBron James has a much bigger trophy to land than the league MVP award -- Bud Shaw's Spinoffs

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LeBron James finished third in the MVP voting. It's probably a sign that he got more from the other Big Two this season, so why would Cavs fans complain on his behalf?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Signs that 52 years without a title might be getting to you:

1) You're so anxious to win something you argue that LeBron James should've been MVP over Steph Curry.

2) You really care that James didn't win the MVP, when even James doesn't care that LeBron James didn't win the MVP.

3) You marvel at the Cavs' three-point shooting in the playoffs, believing it could propel them to the NBA title, but you think a guy who made 402 three-pointers in a record 73-win season isn't worthy of the league MVP.

The NBA writers made it unanimous for Curry. For good reason.

* If the Cavs did what the Warriors did in winning a title last year and then winning a NBA record 73 games this season, there'd be a dozen or so new statues outside The Q.

And maybe even one on I-77 halfway to Canton in honor of Joe Harris.

* Tracy McGrady told ESPN that Curry's unanimous selection was evidence of how "watered down" the league has become.

And here I thought the evidence was Vince Carter still averaging 6.6 points at age 39.

* Not sure I follow McGrady's logic. Watered down, as in Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James aren't fabulous talents?

If I were James I'd feel a lot more disrespected by that comment than by finishing behind Curry.

* Curt Schilling, fired by ESPN, blasted the network for being outwardly bigoted and intolerant. Give him this much: he should know what outwardly bigoted and intolerant sounds like.

I'd listen intently to two topics if Schilling is addressing them: pitching and how to give your employer no choice except to fire you.

Curry is first repeat NBA MVP since LeBron

* Members of the 1983 North Carolina State NCAA Championship basketball team finally made it to the White House 33 years after defeating Houston in one of the great finishes of all time.

The school wouldn't cover the expense of sending the players to meet with President Ronald Reagan. The late Jim Valvano represented the team. A donor offered to pay for the players to go to the White House back in 1983. But that would have been a violation of NCAA rules.

Lucky for the NCAA it doesn't embarrass easily.

* Former Browns safety T.J. Ward says the media isn't giving the Broncos' defense credit.

He means since last February when every media outlet in the country gave the Broncos so much credit for propping up Peyton Manning you would've thought we were watching  sequel of "Weekend at Bernie's."

Defending the pick-and-roll essential for the Cavs

* Penn State's president is critical of the media for unsubstantiated reports that former head coach Joe Paterno knew of child abuse allegations against assistant coach Jerry Sandusky as early as the 1970s.

"I am appalled by the rumor, innuendo and rush to judgment that have accompanied the media stories surrounding these allegations," Eric Barron said on the school's website.

He may have a point. But "appalled" in this case should not be used capriciously.

* Overstatement, Part II: Former Cowboys personnel man Gil Brandt loved the Minnesota Vikings draft. So much that he gave it an "A."

So much that he said this: "Anything less than an A for the Vikings is criminal."

Whereas most football fans would simply like to criminalize the act of giving any draft grade 48 hours after the draft ends.

* Adrian Peterson told MMBQ the Vikings "can win everything."

The only explanation for that kind of optimism about a team that has never won a Super Bowl is that he's been reading Gil Brandt's draft grades.

* PGA golfer Zac Blair was disqualified for using an illegal club after putting with a bent putter. It became bent after Blair missed a putt and hit himself in the head with it. Blair issued a statement saying he was sorry for the "mishap."

Mishap? That sounds like he meant to hit somebody else in the head with his putter.

* Krispy Kreme has been sold for $1.35 billion.

I speak for sportswriters everywhere when I say we don't get enough credit for that company's success.

* Headline: "Goff Impresses Rams coaches in early workouts."

Like a report of unsuccessful surgery, let me know when a headline says, "Coaches find no redeeming quality for No. 1 overall pick in early workouts."

* Pacers president Larry Bird, who hails from French Lick, Indiana, knew firing head coach Frank Vogel didn't look especially good for the organization after the Pacers took Toronto to seven games.

"We're Hoosiers," Bird said at the press conference. "We treat people - other than today - we usually treat people pretty good."

Take that...self?

* Voters in McKinney, Texas have signed off on public financing of a $62 million high school football stadium. The stadium will house three high school football teams.

So that makes it, you know, totally cost-effective.

* The project has some critics.

But wait until they see the 12,000-seat stadium packed for school plays, spelling bees and Shakespeare festivals.

Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves on historic tracks: 30 teams in 90 seconds -- MLB power rankings

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The 2016 Cubs certainly seem like the type of team that could end a title drought. They're off to a 24-6 start. Watch video

HOUSTON -- Just 100 years ago, a Chicago Cubs team established the gold standard with a 116-36 record. They lost to the Chicago White Sox in 1906, but the Cubs captured the World Series the next two years.

That was the last time the Cubs have claimed the World Series title. The 2016 Cubs certainly seem like the type of team that could end that drought. They're off to a 24-6 start.

The Braves, on the other hand, sit at 7-23, a team that isn't hiding its status as a bottomed-out rebuilder. Atlanta lacks offensive punch and the Braves are, incredibly, 1-15 at home.

Here are the latest batch of power rankings. In the video above, we (successfully) rank all 30 teams in 90 seconds, with a quick note on each club.

30. Atlanta Braves (7-23)

Thirty games in, and only four different players have hit a home run for Atlanta. The Braves have slugged only seven in all, six of which have been solo shots. 

29. Minnesota Twins (8-23)

Twins starting pitchers are 3-16 with a 5.05 ERA.

28. Cincinnati Reds (14-19)

Their bullpen owns a 6.43 ERA. Why even have a bullpen at that point?

27. Los Angeles Angels (13-18)

Things will only get tougher with Garrett Richards now on the shelf.

26. San Diego Padres (13-19)

Closer Fernando Rodney has yet to allow a run.

25. Milwaukee Brewers (13-19)

Brewers starters have compiled a 6.29 ERA.

24. New York Yankees (12-18)

Third baseman Chase Headley has a .437 OPS and no extra-base hits in 94 plate appearances.

23. Oakland Athletics (14-19)

Sonny Gray has a 6.00 ERA.

22. Houston Astros (13-20)

The diminutive Jose Altuve already has nine home runs, only six shy of his career high.

21. Colorado Rockies (15-17)

Ryan Raburn has a 1.071 OPS in 52 plate appearances.

20. Detroit Tigers (14-17)

Justin Verlander has the second-lowest ERA of any Tigers starter. He's at 5.40. Jordan Zimmermann (1.10 ERA) has tried to keep this team afloat, though it seems to be sinking quickly, with seven straight losses.

19. Arizona Diamondbacks (16-18)

Zack Greinke, the $206 million man, has surrendered 25 earned runs in 43 2/3 innings. Last year, he didn't allow his 25th earned run until Aug. 6.

18. Philadelphia Phillies (18-14)

Their record is impressive, considering they have been outscored by 27 runs this season.

17. Tampa Bay Rays (15-15)

Only two Rays regulars are batting better than .240.

16. Miami Marlins (17-14)

Ichiro stands 52 hits shy of 3,000 for his major-league career.

15. Toronto Blue Jays (17-17)

Remember Gavin Floyd? He has been a reliable reliever for Toronto, with a 1.88 ERA and only seven hits allowed and 16 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.

14. Kansas City Royals (15-16)

Their rotation has been miserable outside of newcomer Ian Kennedy (2.13 ERA). Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera, however, have combined for 25 scoreless innings of relief.

13. Cleveland Indians (15-14)

Danny Salazar has limited the opposition to 18 hits in 37 2/3 innings.

12. Los Angeles Dodgers (16-16)

Clayton Kershaw has a 64-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

11. St. Louis Cardinals (16-16)

Familiar with Aledmys Diaz? He boasts a .396/.431/.688 slash line in 102 plate appearances.

10. San Francisco Giants (17-17)

Matt Cain and Jake Peavy have allowed 59 earned runs in 65 innings.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates (17-15)

Every member of the starting lineup has an average better than .280 -- except for Andrew McCutchen.

8. Texas Rangers (18-15)

Super youngsters Nomar Mazara (21 years old, .800 OPS) and Rougned Odor (22 years old, .870 OPS) have carried the offense.

7. Baltimore Orioles (18-12)

Is it time to place Manny Machado in the Mike Trout/Bryce Harper arena?

6. Seattle Mariners (19-13)

Robinson Cano (.966 OPS, 12 home runs, 33 RBI) is earning his paycheck.

5. Washington Nationals (20-12)

There is a clear divide in the NL after the Cubs swept Washington over the weekend.

4. Boston Red Sox (19-13)

Former Tribe farmhand Steven Wright has baffled the opposition with his knuckleball to the tune of a 1.52 ERA in six starts. The Indians traded Wright to Boston for journeyman first baseman Lars Anderson in 2012.

3. Chicago White Sox (23-10)

Jose Quintana has allowed seven earned runs in seven starts.

2. New York Mets (20-11)

Matt Harvey is the only Mets starting pitcher with an ERA higher than 2.86.

1. Chicago Cubs (24-6)

They would need a 92-40 finish to match the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Mariners for most wins in a season. That would mean a .697 winning percentage the rest of the way, which would be a dropoff from their .800 winning percentage thus far.

MLB power rankings for April 26

Kyrie Irving reminds LeBron James of Dwyane Wade in playoffs this spring

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LeBron James is averaging the fewest points of his career in the postseason, but he's got a teammate worthy of sharing the ball in Kyrie Irving.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - LeBron James is so high on Kyrie Irving right now that he didn't scoff when asked to compare his Cavaliers teammate to one of his best friends, the great Dwyane Wade.

"I mean, they're both special in their own right," James said of Irving and Wade, when asked if the 24-year-old Irving reminded him at all of the 34-year-old Wade (who has three championships).

"Obviously Wade is a little older and has experienced a little bit more but as far as the fourth quarter, they both thrive on that in their life," James said. "They love the pressure situation and are not afraid to take the shot or if they miss a shot they're not afraid to take the blame either. So I've been fortunate to play with two great guys."

Irving continues to shine in this postseason in a way almost no one, save for Wade, ever has before on a James-led team. And Irving will remain a key to Cleveland's playoff success in the conference finals, whether the opponent is Wade's Heat or the Toronto Raptors.

LeBron's thought of a Cavs-Heat playoff matchup

Through two playoff series, Irving leads the Cavs in scoring - averaging 24.4 points per game to James' 23.5. No James teammate has ever led in scoring this late in the playoffs; in Cleveland's first-round sweep of Detroit Irving became the first since Wade to lead a James team in scoring for an entire series.

The difference: Wade led the Heat in scoring when Miami lost the 2011 Finals to Dallas and James suffered through his worst series as a pro. The Cavs haven't lost a game in these playoffs with Irving co-piloting the ship.

James has yet to score 30 points in a playoff game this year. It's the first time in his career he's gone two consecutive series without a 30-point game, and the eight-game drought in the playoffs is his longest.

But telling this story makes it sound as though James isn't playing well, which is far from true. He leads the Cavs with 7.3 assists per game and is behind only Kevin Love (which means he's ahead of Tristan Thompson) with 8.8 rebounds per game. He's also shooting 49.7 percent from the field and about 32 percent from 3-point range, and is averaging 2.4 steals per contest.

It's just that Irving - and to a slightly lesser extent, Love (18.9 points, 12.5 rebounds in the playoffs) - are playing as well, if not better, than any teammate James has had in the playoffs.

Irving is averaging 6.4 points in the fourth quarter during these playoffs - 6th highest in the league. Wade is 7th (6.3 ppg) and James is 8th (6.1).

In clutch situations, or when the game is within five points over the final five minutes, Irving and James are both averaging 2.3 points (Wade leads the NBA, averaging 6.7 points under those circumstances).

James still dominates the ball in clutch situations - he has a usage rate of 40 percent, compared with 28.8 percent for Irving - but some of Irving's best, late moments have come earlier in the fourth quarter.

For instance, in Game 3 of the now-complete Eastern semifinal series with Atlanta, Irving scored eight of his 12 fourth-quarter points in the first three minutes of the period, when the Hawks led by as many as nine and James was on the bench.

Irving's fearless jumpers off the dribble invoke visions of Wade, who obviously has re-established himself as one of the game's great closers during these playoffs. His bullish drive to the basket to tie Game 4 Monday against Toronto and force overtime in an eventual win is just one example.

Irving hasn't always been as good against the Heat, at least since James left Miami to return to the Cavs two seasons ago. He's averaging 19.6 points, 4.8 assists, and shooting 45.2 percent in six games against the Heat dating back to last season, but that includes Cleveland's three home wins.

In the Cavs' four road losses in Miami over the same time frame, Irving played poorly defensively (and took just eight shots with four turnovers) in a blowout loss in March, shot 5-of-15 in a loss on South Beach in March of 2015, and didn't play when the Cavs lost there in early December.

Love has had three awful games there over the same time frame, including games of five and seven points in terrible losses on the road to the Heat this season.

In six games against Miami since rejoining the Cavs, James is averaging 25.3 points on 54.7 percent shooting.

Cleveland, of course, could wind up playing the Raptors - the other East semifinal is tied at 2 and Game 5 is in Toronto. Regardless of the opponent, it would be a smoother ride if Love keeps this up and Irving continues to remind James of Wade.

Starting lineups, Game 30: Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros

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Trevor Bauer tossed six hitless innings at Minute Maid Park last year. What will he do for an encore on Tuesday? Here are the starting lineups.

HOUSTON -- Trevor Bauer tossed six hitless innings at Minute Maid Park last year. What will he do for an encore on Tuesday? Here are the starting lineups.

Pitching matchup: RHP Trevor Bauer (2-0, 5.14 ERA) vs. RHP Chris Devenski (0-1, 1.46 ERA)

Lineups

Indians

1. CF Rajai Davis

2. 2B Jason Kipnis

3. SS Francisco Lindor

4. 1B Mike Napoli

5. DH Carlos Santana

6. LF Jose Ramirez

7. 3B Juan Uribe

8. RF Lonnie Chisenhall

9. C Chris Gimenez

Astros

1. 2B Jose Altuve

2. RF George Springer

3. SS Carlos Correa

4. LF Colby Rasmus

5. DH Preston Tucker

6. 1B Tyler White

7. CF Carlos Gomez

8. 3B Luis Valbuena

9. C Erik Kratz

On lessons learned from Jabaal Sheard's departure and how they might apply to Cleveland Browns' Emmanuel Ogbah

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Can the Browns maximize the talents of Ogbah in ways they couldn't with Jabaal Shead in a 3-4 scheme?

BEREA, Ohio -- Jabaal Sheard turned 27 on Wednesday. It's hard to imagine him receiving a better gift than the one Bill Belichick presented him last year.

The Patriots signed the former Browns edge rusher in free agency, gave him a chance to play in the postseason and, most importantly, found a way to maximize his diverse talent.

The point here is not to criticize past Browns regimes for letting Sheard walk, but searching for lessons that can be gleaned from his success in New England. Especially as the club welcomes rookie Emmanuel Ogbah, who like Sheard was a high second-round pick.

Is the 6-foot-4, 273-pound Oklahoma State product an outside linebacker? Is he a defensive end? Is the edge rusher, who covers 40 yards in an impressive 4.63, something of a hybrid? The Browns will start supplying answers this weekend as rookie minicamp opens Friday.

Ogbah like Sheard played as a defensive end in college. Coach Hue Jackson considers the youngster a three-down outside linebacker.

"I think it all takes care of itself if you draft really good players that have versatility and that can play in either (the 3-4 or 4-3) scheme," the coach added.

Sheard didn't need to make the transition to outside linebacker until his third year in the league so the Ogbah comparison is hardly apples to apples. He registered 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons, but just seven over his final two campaigns as he dealt with a position change in a 3-4 base defense and a nagging foot injury in 2014.

The 6-2, 254-pounder probably was never fully appreciated for setting the edge against the run, playing through pain and generating pressure on the quarterback even if it didn't result in a sack. The Browns attempted to replace Sheard with Scott Solomon.

I'll just leave that right there.

The Patriots signed Sheard to a two-year, $11 million deal with $5.5 million guaranteed. It proved to be a shrewd acquisition as the Pitt product collected eight sacks and 58 pressures last season. He also finished third among edge rushers, according to PFF, against the run. The analytics website ranked him as its 59th best player in 2015.

The Patriots rotated Sheard at defensive end with Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich, while also deploying him as an interior rusher in sub packages.

Belichick addressed Sheard's value and versatility late last season.

"We put Chandler inside some in the past and we've done that some this year, but Jabaal has actually played in there more," Belichick said. "That's something that, as I said, in Cleveland, he primarily played on the left side. ... He was on right end, too, but primarily on the end of the line. You rarely, if ever, saw him inside, and this year when we put him in there early in the season and in training camp he had some very productive plays ...

"Jabaal in particular has been able to do some things he hasn't done before like playing inside and playing some pass-coverage responsibilities. He's done very well in picking that up and giving us a lot of production."

Finding creative ways to use skilled defenders is more important than ever in a league where 63.4 percent of all plays last season featured sub packages. That figure was 43.4 percent in 2008, according to PFF.

"For us, we are ever-evolving," Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton said prior to the draft. "The league evolves. I don't know if there is a real difference, other than maybe (the) philosophy of how you call the game. I go back to our players. If our big guys will run for us and our little guys will hit, we'll be OK."

Related: Emmanuel Ogbah overcomes late start to his career

Ogbah definitely qualifies as a big man who can run. But can a player his size drop into coverage? Last season, former defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil attempted to use Paul Kruger more in coverage and the results were not good for anyone involved. The edge rusher's sack totals plummeted from a career-high 11 in 2014 to just 2.5 a year ago.

Sometimes, the best schemes and intentions aren't enough to spur more production. We've seen that in some ways with Barkevious Mingo. Still, the Browns must get more from their edge rushers who include Kruger, Nate Orchard, Mingo and Ogbah. It's unclear whether rookie linebacker Joe Shobert will play inside or outside.

The development of Ogbah, who recorded 22.5 sacks over his final two seasons at Oklahoma State, will be fascinating to watch. His detractors question his consistency and ability to stop the run.

The Browns never quite figured out how to maximize Sheard's talent in a 3-4 scheme -- some blame falls on the players around him -- then watched the edge rusher leave as he reached the prime of his career.

There are lessons to be learned here. Some might even apply to Ogbah.

Live updates and chat: Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros, Game 30

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The Indians and Astros continue their three-game series at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday evening. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat in the comments section.

HOUSTON -- The Indians and Astros continue their three-game series at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday evening. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat in the comments section.

Game 30: Indians (15-14) vs. Astros (13-20)

First pitch: 8:10 p.m.

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, Indians Radio Network

Pitching matchup: RHP Trevor Bauer (2-0, 5.14 ERA) vs. Chris Devenski (0-1, 1.46 ERA)

Fact du jour: Last season, Bauer tossed six hitless innings in Houston, with five walks and 11 strikeouts.

'Too much, too fast': Michael Brantley's surgically repaired shoulder not bouncing back in ideal fashion

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"I'm kind of kicking myself a little bit," Francona said. "I think we might have gone a little too far, too much too fast."

HOUSTON -- When Michael Brantley launched a home run into the stands at Goodyear Ballpark in his first big-league action of the spring, it seemed too good to be true for the Indians.

And it was.

After only two spring appearances, the Indians tapped the brakes on Brantley's recovery from off-season shoulder surgery. He was speeding toward an Opening Day return. Instead, he took a detour and made a late-April season debut.

Well, it appears as though the Indians might have still proceeded a bit too swiftly with their left fielder. Brantley will likely be sidelined until at least Friday, as his shoulder battles fatigue from his recently increased workload.

Tribe manager Terry Francona omitted Brantley's name from his lineup on Tuesday. Brantley did not take batting practice. He also is expected to miss Wednesday afternoon's series finale at Minute Maid Park. The club hopes the two days off plus Thursday's scheduled off-day will provide Brantley's shoulder a necessary reprieve. Brantley did not undergo an MRI.

"I'm kind of kicking myself a little bit," Francona said. "I think we might have gone a little too far, too much, too fast. I didn't want to do that and I think we probably did. We're going to give him [Tuesday] and probably [Wednesday] with the day off [Thursday], just to allow him to bounce back like we want him to. It's hard to do that, but I think it makes sense.

"We just want to make sure he isn't playing two, sitting two and not being the kind of hitter he can be. I don't think that's fair to him. We talked about it for a while. I don't think he's thrilled, but I think it makes sense."

A timeline of Michael Brantley's recovery

Brantley has appeared in 11 games (10 starts) this season. He played every inning for four straight days from May 3-6. After a day of rest on Saturday, he played on Sunday and Monday. Brantley has posted a .231/.279/.282 slash line in 43 plate appearances.

Is it simply a case of soreness?

"I would say it's probably more the bouncing back," Francona said. "Recovery is probably the biggest thing. I'm sure everybody out there that has had surgery is probably going to have some soreness. I think that happens."

The former All-Star underwent surgery in early November, about seven weeks after he injured his shoulder on a diving attempt in the outfield in Minnesota. He was initially assigned a recovery timetable of five to six months.

"We watch these guys pretty carefully and get to know their mannerisms," Francona said. "We sat and talked a little bit. I just thought it made sense."


Cleveland Indians to push Cody Anderson back a few days, keep rest of rotation in line

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Tribe manager Terry Francona said Anderson might sit in the bullpen later this week, and could even make a relief appearance, depending on the situation. It's only a temporary stay, however.

HOUSTON -- Cody Anderson might find himself in the bullpen. For a few days, at least.

With an off-day approaching on Thursday, the Indians opted to push back Anderson's next start until Monday. Tribe manager Terry Francona said Anderson might sit in the bullpen later this week, and could even make a relief appearance, depending on the situation.

It's only a temporary stay, however. Anderson will start against the Reds at Progressive Field on Monday. Here is how the rotation shapes up for the next week.

Wednesday: Danny Salazar

Friday: Josh Tomlin

Saturday: Corey Kluber

Sunday: Trevor Bauer

Monday: Anderson

Tuesday: Salazar

"He's not being skipped," Francona said. "He's just being moved back a few days. That'll keep everybody else [in line]."

In five starts with Cleveland, Anderson has posted a 7.56 ERA. He has surrendered 21 runs on 40 hits over 25 innings. The Indians optioned the right-hander to Triple-A in late April, though they assured him he would return to the big-league club after a 10-day stint in Columbus.

Anderson returned to the active roster on Saturday and allowed four runs on six hits in five innings against the Royals. He also suffered from leg cramps. Francona said Anderson felt sore the day after his outing.

The 25-year-old has served up seven home runs, only two fewer than he allowed in 91 1/3 innings last season.

"He's pressing a little bit," Francona said.

Anderson's brief bullpen retreat could replace his normal between-start side sessions.

"I think it'll be good for him just to sit out there and be one of the guys for a couple days," Francona said. "If he comes in and pitches an inning, [great]. If he doesn't pitch, he'll throw a side day to get him ready."

Lake Erie Monsters fall to Grand Rapids Griffins, 5-4

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The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three unanswered goals to stave off elimination with a 5-4 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL Playoffs on Tuesday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- Andreas Athanasiou scored with 1:55 remaining to lift the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 5-4 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League Central Division finals on Tuesday at Van Andel Arena.

It was the Monsters first loss in the playoffs after six straight wins.

The Griffins staved off elimination with the win, their first in the best-of-seven series. Lake Erie, leading 3-1, will be home for Game 5 on Saturday at 7 in Quicken Loans Arena.

The Monsters led, 4-1, before the Griffins scored three unanswered goals against Joonas Korpisalo, who suffered his first playoff loss. Korpisalo finished with 28 saves.

Grand Rapids switched goals after the Monsters had grabbed a 4-1 lead. Jared Coreau took over for starter Tom McCollum in the second period and stopped all 13 shots he faced to earn the win.

The Monsters opened the scoring at 8:33 of the first period on a power play, Michael Chaput scoring, assisted by Daniel Zaar and Alex Broadhurst.

Grand Rapids tied it at 13:32 of the first on a goal by Tyler Bertuzzi, but Lake Erie came back just 54 seconds later with a score by Sonny Milano, off assists from Ryan Craig and Jaime Sifers.

The Monsters then scored two straight in the second period to build a 4-1 lead. Lukas Sedlak scored at 8:36 and Oliver Bjorkstrand scored at 13:31.

But Grand Rapids roared back to tie the score with three straight goals in just over five minutes. Anthony Mantha got the first on a power play with 55 seconds left in the second period, then Louis-Marc Aubry scored at 3:12 of the third, followed by a goal from Robbie Russo at 4:40.

Jeremy Lucas' grand slam leads Akron RubberDucks to 4th straight win

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RubberDucks starter Shawn Morimando, a left-hander, remains undefeated on the season.

jeremy lucas.jpegJeremy Lucas 

AKRON, Ohio -- Jeremy Lucas hit a grand slam in the first inning, and starter Shawn Morimando ensured that would be enough as the RubberDucks defeated the Erie SeaWolves, 4-2, Tuesday night at Canal Park.

Morimando, a left-hander, remained undefeated on the season (6-0, 1.96 ERA) by holding Erie to six hits and two runs over eight innings, striking out six.

After Morimando retired the SeaWolves in the top of the first, the RubberDucks took advantage of some control problems from Erie starter Matt Crouse (0-2, 4.88). Leadoff hitter Clint Frazier singled, and with one out, Bradley Zimmer and Nellie Rodriguez walked to load the bases.

Lucas, batting as the designated hitter, then sent the ball over the left-field fence to give Akron a 4-0 lead.

Crouse settled down after the first, giving up only five hits over five innings, but the damage was done. Erie's Dean Green hit a solo shot in the second to make it 4-1, and Green brought in the SeaWolves' other run in the sixth with an RBI single.

Erie would not threaten again, with Ben Heller pitching a hitless, scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save.

The RubberDucks had only seven hits in the game, with second baseman Yhoxian Medina going 2-for-3.

The RubberDucks have won four straight and nine of their past 10, and are 22-9 in the Class AA Eastern League.

Go here to see a box score from the game.

Trevor Bauer on fire as Cleveland Indians blank Houston Astros: DMan's Report, Game 30

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Trevor Bauer (7 IP, 3 H), Mike Napoli (2-for-4, RBI double, run) and Jason Kipnis (2-for-4, triple, run) helped the Indians defeat the Astros, 4-0, Tuesday night in Houston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Trevor Bauer allowed three hits in seven innings and Mike Napoli went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and run as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Houston Astros, 4-0, Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Streak busted: The Indians (16-14) had dropped four straight on the road. They lost, 7-1, Monday night in the opener of this three-game series.

Hard core: One start does not a career make....but Bauer was absolutely tremendous. This is the type of outing that shows he has the ability to excel as a starting pitcher; whether he can be consistent remains the question.

Bauer can't expect, nor does he need, to be as nasty every time as he was Tuesday. Seventy-five percent would suffice.

Bauer gave up three hits (bloop single, clean single, bloop double), walked three and struck out seven. He threw 60 of 104 pitches for strikes. He shut down a lineup capable of damage, one that knocked around Corey Kluber on Monday.

Bauer relied on a fastball/cutter/curve/changeup combination. All four were plus-pitches -- one of the few times in his career when that has happened. His only issue was occasionally being a tad quick to the plate and flying open, which led to decreased control and the walks.

The two-seam fastball set up everything. Bauer moved it around the zone and off the plate, and it featured serious late movement.

The essence of Bauer's start was captured in four pitches.

*Wicked 1-2 curve (79 mph) to Erik Kratz for swinging strikeout in third inning.

*Wicked 1-2 curve (81) to hitting machine Jose Altuve for swinging strikeout to end fifth.

With a runner on third and the Indians leading, 2-0, Bauer opened with a cutter (90 mph) on the outer third. Altuve, geared for a fastball, swung and missed. Altuve took a fastball (95) high, then swung through a fastball (95) above the belt. Bauer flipped the curve in the dirt and in the lefty batter's box, and Altuve was fooled badly. 

*Comeback 0-2 fastball (94) to Carlos Correa, 2015 AL rookie of the year, for called strikeout in sixth.

With a runner on first, none out and the Tribe still leading by just two, Bauer opened with a fastball (93) for a called strike. Bauer crossed up Correa with a changeup (88) for a called strike. Correa never took the bat off his shoulder as the second fastball zipped to the outer third.

*Comeback 1-2 fastball (93) to lefty Colby Rasmus, who ranks among AL leaders in RBI, for called strikeout in sixth.

Bauer opened with a fastball (92) high. Rasmus swung through back-to-back changeups (87, 87), which set him up for the fastball in. The pitch started at Rasmus's hip, he gave up on it, and it veered to the edge.

Happy to help: Where Bauer's performance is concerned, credit catcher Chris Gimenez with an assist. He called a great game and erased a runner attempting to steal second.

Gimenez, as noted by Fox Sports Time Ohio reporter Andre Knott, caught Bauer in spring training in 2014. After Gimenez was acquired from Texas last week, his first start was a game in which Bauer pitched. On May 5 in Cleveland, Bauer allowed three runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings as the Tribe defeated the Tigers, 9-4.

During the game, Fox Sports Time Ohio played an interview with Gimenez, who said of Bauer: "You've got to try to simplify it as much as possible -- I mean, as much as humanly possible for him. He's going to throw what he wants to throw, but the more you can kind of talk him into easing into that, I think the better off he's going to be.''

High praise: In the seventh inning, Fox Sports Time Ohio analyst Rick Manning said of Bauer: "He is locked in, folks. He's throwing strikes, he's getting ahead in the count. He knows exactly what he wants to do and is doing it....This is the best game I've seen him pitch in quite a while.''

Chillax, Valby: Former Indian Luis Valbuena, in a 1-1 count in the seventh, took a fastball inside at the letters. The pitch deflected off Gimenez's mitt and went to the backstop.

Valbuena did not even jump out of the way, and the pitch was only close to his hands. No matter: He glared at Bauer.

Fox Sports Time Ohio play-by-play voice Matt Underwood noticed that personnel in the Indians dugout barked at Valbuena, who always has thought he is (much) better than he is. Valbuena will stand and admire pop-ups to short.

Manning said: "Get in the batter's box and hit. He's not throwing at you.''

Valbuena flied to right.    

Numbers deceive: Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor went 1-for-4, but don't be fooled: He swung well.

Here is a breakdown of his plate appearances Tuesday:

First inning vs. RHP Chris Devenski (runner on first, one out) -- 93 fastball down and in; 80 changeup low; 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 77 curve foul; 82 changeup foul; 93 fastball inside; 93 fastball foul; 80 changeup foul; 93 fastball foul; 76 curve foul; 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 76 curve, LODP 3.

Skinny: The 15-pitch plate appearance would have been productive no matter what the out looked like. As it turned out, Lindor lined into tough luck.

Third inning vs. Devenski (none on, one out) -- 89 fastball foul; 91 fastball, liner to center.

Quality plate appearance: Yes. Lindor zipped it directly to Carlos Gomez.

Sixth inning vs. Devenski (none on, none out) -- changeup low; 77 curve swinging strike; 90 fastball, grounder to second.

Skinny: Sharply hit grounder fielded by Jose Altuve moving to his right. Altuve's jump-throw denied Lindor a hit.

Eighth inning vs. RHP Josh Fields (runner on third, one out) -- 94 fastball lined foul; 80 curve called strike; 80 curve, RBI single to center.

Skinny: Great plate coverage on pitch down and outer third. Softest-hit ball of night bounced over mound and past drawn-in middle infielders to drive in Jason Kipnis.

Lindor bounced back from an 0-for-4 on Monday night that included three grounders to first (none hit hard) and a strikeout.

Houston has a problem in Trevor Bauer, who again blanks the Astros in Cleveland Indians' 4-0 win

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In two career starts in Houston, Bauer has racked up 13 scoreless innings and 18 strikeouts. Watch video

HOUSTON -- Trevor Bauer had some unfinished business to complete in downtown Houston.

A year ago, he waved goodbye to the Minute Maid Park mound before he could finish his bid for a no-hitter. He didn't keep Houston hitless in his latest spectacle, but he did keep the Astros off the scoreboard again.

Bauer's brilliance paved the way for the Indians' 4-0 victory on Tuesday evening. The right-hander, who tossed six hitless frames in the teams' opening series last season, limited the Astros to three harmless base knocks over seven innings this time around.

In his third start of the season, Bauer tallied seven strikeouts, including at least one in each of the first six innings. He induced 18 swinging strikes, as he mixed a biting two-seam fastball with a variety of plunging breaking balls.

With a runner on second and two outs in the fifth, Bauer bounced a curve in the dirt. Altuve waved at the wayward offering for the third swinging strike of the at-bat. Bauer slapped his hand in his glove as he retreated to the dugout.

Houston's George Springer walked to begin the sixth, but Bauer fanned Carlos Correa and Colby Rasmus before Preston Tucker's flyout ended the threat.

Bauer heaved three consecutive pitches past Correa, who froze at the plate like a deer in headlights and watched home-plate umpire Dan Iassogna rule each toss a strike. Bauer twice shook off catcher Chris Gimenez before the third delivery. He then planted a fastball that ran back toward the outside corner of the plate. Upon the punchout, he pounded his hand in his glove and he shouted. After Rasmus swung and missed at a pair of pitches, Bauer tossed the same fastball for strike three on the inside portion of the plate to the left-handed hitter.

For his final act, Bauer mowed down the Astros in order in the seventh. After Luis Valbuena flied out to seal Houston's fate in the inning, he slammed his helmet into the dirt near first base. In two career starts in Houston, Bauer has racked up 13 scoreless innings and 18 strikeouts.

Bauer didn't need much backing on Tuesday. The Indians tagged Astros rookie Chris Devenski for two runs in the second. They tacked on two more in the eighth.

Mike Napoli scored the Tribe's first run on a mad dash from third base on a fielder's choice by Juan Uribe. Lonnie Chisenhall followed with an RBI double to right field.

Francisco Lindor poked a single up the middle, past the glove of fellow Puerto Rican shortstop Correa, to bring home Jason Kipnis in the eighth. Kipnis had socked a one-out triple over Carlos Gomez's head in center. Napoli then doubled home Lindor with a shot off the top of the left-field wall.

What it means

The Indians (16-14) climbed back to two games above the .500 mark. They have not stood three games above the .500 mark since the end of the 2014 campaign.

First things first

The Indians moved to 14-4 when scoring first.

The at-bat that wouldn't end

Lindor battled Devenski in a 15-pitch heavyweight bout in the first inning. The at-bat included 11 foul balls, five pickoff attempts -- Kipnis had singled in the previous plate appearance -- and one lost piece of lumber that flew into the stands. Ultimately, Lindor lined out to first baseman Tyler White, who stepped on the bag to double up Kipnis.

Goodbye, helmet

Jose Ramirez lost his helmet on two occasions during Tuesday's game. He has, unofficially, lost the equipment nine times on the basepaths this season. The helmet flew off as he scurried to first on a sacrifice bunt in the second. It happened again as Ramirez dove into second base on an unsuccessful stolen-base attempt in the fourth.

Leap year

Davis skied a Devenski pitch to right with one on and one out in the fifth, but Springer made a leaping catch in front of the warning track to prevent the Indians from inflicting any damage.

That'll leave a mark

Ramirez was plunked by a pitch in the right wrist to start the seventh, but he remained in the game.

They came, they saw

An announced crowd of 23,976 watched the affair at Minute Maid Park.

What's next

The Indians and Astros will reconvene at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon for the series finale. Right-handers Danny Salazar (3-2, 1.91 ERA) and Doug Fister (2-3, 4.60) will battle before the Tribe returns to Cleveland for a weekend series against Minnesota. In his last outing, Salazar held Kansas City scoreless over 7 2/3 frames. This season, he has limited the opposition to 18 hits in 37 2/3 innings. He has walked 16 and struck out 43. Salazar has not allowed a home run since April 8.

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