Sizemore Helps Tribe Set A Record

When Grady Sizemore got hit by a pitch in the third inning, it was a one-game rarity and season-long given. It gave the Indians a man on base against Boston's Jon Lester -- and was the 101st time a Cleveland batter was hit this year, an MLB record. Break out the icebags to celebrate. Otherwise, the Indians bunched all of their hits together, all two of them, in the sixth inning of a 6-1 loss.

Lester, who pitched a no-hitter in May, held the Tribe hitless until the sixth. That's when Josh Barfield hit a leadoff double, and moved to third on a balk. After Sizemore lined out, Jamey Carroll singled home Barfield.

So much for Cleveland's offensive highlights -- unless you include a second-inning walk by Kelly Shoppach and a wild pitch that sent Carroll to second base, where he was stranded in the sixth.

Indians starter Jeremy Sowers (4-9, 5.58 ERA) gave up five runs over the first two innings. The lefty yielded seven hits and five runs over six innings overall, walking three and striking out only one. Tom Mastny (10.80 ERA) gave up one run over two innings -- a seventh-inning homer to Kevin Youkilis.

At least Mastny's ERA went down.

So did the Indians, for the third straight time in the four-game series following a seven-game winning streak.

The Indians dropped back under .500 at 79-80 and finish the season with three games in Chicago against the White Sox, who need all the wins they can get. The White Sox (86-72) lost three straight at Minnesota and fell into second place, a half game behind the Twins (87-72) in the AL Central. Minnesota finishes with three games at home against the Kansas City Royals.

If the Chisox and Twins remain finish play Sunday still within a half game of each other, Chicago must make up a rainout against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. If the outcome of that game leaves Minnesota and Chicago tied, the Twins will have to travel to Comiskey Park for a one-game playoff Tuesday to determine the AL Central winner.