09/17/08 1:12 AM ET
Lee seeks revenge vs. Twins in finale
Cleveland (74-77) vs. Minnesota (82-69), Wed., 7:05 p.m. ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
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CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (22-2, 2.36 ERA)
Lee notched his 22nd win on Friday with another strong outing against the Royals. He went 8 1/3 innings before running into trouble in the ninth, allowing five runs on 11 hits. At 22-2, Lee is the first pitcher to be 20 games over .500 since Bob Welch was 27-6 in 1990. In three starts against Minnesota this season, Lee is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Lifetime, he is 7-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 15 starts against the Twins. MIN: RHP Scott Baker (9-4, 3.57 ERA)
Baker was extremely effective in the first game of the Twins' doubleheader on Saturday, holding the Orioles to just one run on four hits over six innings. The right-hander was all set to come back out for the seventh, but a long top of the inning prevented Baker from running back out to the mound. Baker will be throwing on short rest, but manager Ron Gardenhire seemed convinced that of all the young pitchers on his staff, Baker would be best equipped to handle it. Baker is 1-1 in three starts against the Indians this season, allowing seven earned runs in 18 combined innings. Tidbits
Lee is the ninth pitcher since 1956 (the year the Cy Young Award was initiated) to stand at least 20 games above .500 at any point in a season. Each of his eight predecessors (Don Newcombe in 1956, Whitey Ford in '61, Sandy Koufax in '63, Denny McLain in '68, Ron Guidry in '78, Dwight Gooden in '85, Roger Clemens in '86 and Welch in '90) won the Cy Young that season. ... Grady Sizemore hit his first home run in 20 games on Tuesday. ... Cleveland Indians Charities and the Cleveland Indians Wives Association raised $50,000 for Providence House and $20,000 for the Domestic Violence Center through the "Mystery Ball" and "Shirt Off the Players' Backs" auctions. The money will officially be presented before Wednesday's game. ... Victor Martinez's 11th-inning homer in Tuesday night's 12-9 win over the Twins was the first walk-off homer of his career. Tickets
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Thursday: Off-day
Friday: Indians (Fausto Carmona, 8-7, 5.16) vs. Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 12-6, 3.58), 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday: Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 3-8, 5.70) vs. Tigers (Justin Verlander, 10-16, 4.78), 7:05 p.m. ET
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.












