If there was one play to sum up how the Indians' games have gone against the Tigers in September, it wasn't Bryan Shaw giving up home runs on Saturday or Sunday, it was C.C. Lee's wild pitch.
In other words, anything that could go wrong against Detroit did.
In the eighth inning on Sunday and the Tribe behind 4-3, Lee was trying to intentionally walk Ian Kinsler to load the bases and set up a force play for Cody Allen. That all went out the window on the second pitch of the at-bat when Lee uncorked a wild pitch which allowed Don Kelly to score. It was the second wild pitch of the inning for Lee.
Catcher Chris Gimenez was setting up for Lee to throw it far left. Instead with Lee's sidearm delivery it went high right down the middle.
"I actually never had it happen before, but I've seen it on TV. I always told myself I'd never want to be that guy -- now here we are," Gimenez said. "It's just one of those things that had to happen, and unfortunately, happen today.
"Obviously, it's a huge part of the game. I feel bad for him. He was trying to work through some stuff right there and that's not really much of a confidence booster for him, but he's gotta learn from it and come back."
In his two appearances in Detroit, Lee went only two thirds of an inning and allowed five runs (all earned) on three hits with three walks and a strikeout.
The blown saves over the weekend marked the first time that the Indians have lost consecutive games that have included one or more blown saves since July 3-4 of last season against Kansas City. The bullpen leads the AL in wins (32) and is seventh in ERA (3.64) but they are also second in the AL in blown saves with 21. Houston leads with 23.
All of it adds up to a week in which the Tribe went 2-5 and likely fell out of contention for the final Wild Card spot. They trail Kansas City by five with 13 games remaining along with finishing up the Aug. 31 suspended game that they lead over the Royals 4-2.
GOOD WEEK
Michael Brantley was 10 for 25 with a home run and five RBI. He has hits in 19 of the last 21 games and is sixth in the AL in batting average at .320.
Carlos Santana hit .346 for the week 9 for 26 and became the first Indians player since Shin-Soo Choo did it at Seattle on Aug. 23, 2011, in a day-night doubleheader. The last time it was done in a traditional doubleheader was Casey Blake on June 30, 2003, at Kansas City. Santana is just one of five players in club history to draw 100 walks with at least 25 home runs in a single-season, joining Travis Hafner (2006), Jim Thome (six times), Andre Thornton (1982) and Al Rosen (1950).
Scott Atchison had three scoreless appearances (2 2/3 innings) while Mark Rzepczynski made four appearances without allowing a run (two-thirds on an inning).
BAD WEEK
Shaw leads the American League in appearances (74) but more are focusing on the two home runs he allowed. It is the first time in his career he has allowed homers on back-to-back days. Of the six home runs he has allowed this season, four have been two-run shots.
Jason Kipnis was 5 for 24 and had a beef with a fan on Twitter.
Michael Bourn showed some hustle in leading off Saturday's game with a double but he was just 6 for 27 on the week.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"You guys can watch the scoreboard, that's your jobs. Ours is to go out and win baseball games and that's what we're going to do." -- Trevor Bauer
THE WEEK AHEAD
Cleveland at Houston
First pitch: 8:10 p.m. Today-Thursday
Probables -- Monday: RH Zach McAllister (3-6, 5.97) vs. RH Collin McHugh (9-9, 2.79); Tuesday: RH Corey Kluber (15-9, 2.45) vs. RH Nick Tropeano (1-0, 3.60); Wednesday: RH Carlos Carrasco (7-5, 2.86) vs. LH Brett Oberholtzer (5-11, 4.51); Thursday: RH Danny Salazar (6-7, 4.22) vs. RH Scott Feldman (8-11, 3.95)
Season series: Indians took two of three last month at Progressive Field.
Of note: Jose Altuve is the first player since Ty Cobb in 1917 with over 200 hits, 40 doubles and 50 steals in a single season. ... Houston is 7-4 since Tom Lawless took over as manager on Sept. 1. ... Tribe has gone 7-8 all-time at Minute Maid Park but have won two straight and four of the last seven. ... Indians are 22-22 on the road since June 7 after winning only nine of their first 29. They are 13-14 since the All-Star break.
Cleveland at Minnesota
First pitch: 8:10 p.m. Friday; 7:10 p.m. Saturday; 2:10 p.m. Sunday
Season series: Indians lead 9-7 but are 3-3 in games at Target Field.
Of note: Indians are batting only .264 against the Twins this season.
