=== Travis Hafner - the cyclist ===

By John Agovino, MLB Analyst

Indians team report

(My Sportsbook) - It has been an up and down season for the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe began the second half of the season losing eight out of nine, but since have posted an 11-8 record. Cleveland looks to be in its winning mode again, capturing six of its last seven including yesterday's matchup against the Minnesota Twins.

The 8-3 victory in the finale at the Metrodome was impressive, but Travis Hafner was able to outshine his team by putting his mark in the Indians' history books. Hafner, who has been hurt for most of the season, recorded a cycle for the Tribe. He was the first to achieve the feat since 1978 when Andre Thornton accomplished the task against the Red Sox.

In his first at-bat of the game, the designated hitter smack a solo home run off Brad Radke. In the fourth, Hafner assaulted Radke again, this time with a double. Against Radke again in the seventh inning, Hafner legged out and infield single, leaving the 6'3, 240 pound player only needing a triple for the cycle. You wouldn't expect someone of Hafner's size to be able to leg out a three-base hit, but he did exactly that in the eight inning with a shot toe the gap in right-center field.

"I don't think I can ever think triple," said Hafner, whose thick frame and heavy legs make him a candidate to turn triples into doubles and doubles into singles. "The ball just happened to go to the right part of the ballpark."

"We knew it on the bench that all he needed was a triple," Tribe pitcher Brian Anderson told the Lorain Morning Journal. "We tried to pick out a spot in the stadium where he would have to hit it so he could get it. Then as soon as he hit it, the guys on the bench all jumped up and yelled. We were just hoping he would have enough gas left in his tank to get to third."

Hafner has only played 58 games this season for the Tribe, mainly do to a wrist injury, but since his return in the middle of July, the 26-year-old has played well. Hafner is 27-for-88, with four home runs and 17 RBI, since being recalled from the minors.

With Hafner's achievement the Indians recorded a victory. All the Indians can look forward to now is playing the role of spoiler, which they have done against the Twins this season, winning eight of their 11 contests.

"It's very exciting for us to come into this place, against a team in the middle of a division race, and win three of four," Anderson told the Lorain Morning Journal. "The way we played in this series was very impressive."

The Indians have outscored the Twins 66-39 in their 11 matchups this season and have an ERA of only 3.08 against Minnesota. The Tribe will play the Twins eight more times before the season's end, giving them a great opportunity to knock the Twins out of contention for the playoffs.

WHO'S HOT

Hafner is 7-for-15, with five runs, one home run, and five RBI in his last three games.

Casey Blake is 6-for-20, with four runs, two homers, and four RBI during his four-game hitting streak.

WHO'S NOT

Jason Davis is 0-3 in his last eight outings, and has not won since June 29th against the Cincinnati Reds.

COMING UP

The Indians will open up a four-game set tonight at the Jake against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, followed by a short two-game set against the Twins.