=== Cleveland Indians Team Report - June 16 === (My Sportsbook) - The Cleveland Indians will try to end a four-game losing streak Tuesday as they start a three-game series against the lowly Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Tribe has dropped nine of its last 12 games. Cleveland is in fourth place in the AL Central, 12 games behind the front-running Minnesota Twins. On Sunday, Cleveland lost 4-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Jacobs Field. Brandon Phillips and Jhonny Peralta both had two hits, while Coco Crisp and Milton Bradley each added an RBI in a losing cause. Billy Traber (2-3) has yet to win as a starter this season and hasn't earned a victory since May 19. Traber gave up two runs and four hits in a career high 5 1/3 innings of work. The Indians today agreed to terms with first baseman Michael Aubrey, who was selected by the team with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. The 21-year-old Aubrey batted .420 with 18 homers and 79 RBI in 63 games this season at Tulane. C.C. Sabathia is scheduled to get the start on the mound Tuesday for the Indians. The lefthander is coming off a victory against San Diego last Wednesday, when he allowed 10 hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings. He has just one defeat (5-1) in his last 10 starts and that came June 5 at Colorado. The Indians lost the first six times Sabathia took the mound this season, but since then the Tribe is 6-1 when he takes the hill. Sabathia won his only start versus Detroit this year by going six innings on May 21 before leaving with a twisted ankle. He is now 5-1 in eight career starts against the Tigers. |
