(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians can retake a division lead tonight
when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the middle portion of a three-game
interleague series at Progressive Field.
The Indians won Monday's topsy-turvy opener, 10-9, and moved within a half-
game of the lead in the American League Central Division, where they trail
the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox entered Monday's game with a 1 1/2-game advantage, but dropped
the opener of their crosstown series with the Chicago Cubs, 12-3.
Lonnie Chisenhall went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI to help the
Indians on Monday, while Casey Kotchman also homered and knocked in three runs
and Shin-Soo Choo added a solo shot and an RBI double.
Cleveland had lost five of six coming in, including three straight in
Cincinnati last week.
The Reds followed that Battle of Ohio series by taking three in a row against
the Mets in New York, but watched starter Mat Latos surrender seven runs in
just four innings on Monday.
His counterpart, Derek Lowe, also gave up seven runs over five frames. Joe
Smith (5-1) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief, and Chris Perez
converted his 22nd consecutive save despite giving up a run in the ninth.
"Our offense picked us up tonight," Perez said. "They swung the bats really
well."
Joey Votto and Jay Bruce both went deep for the Reds, while Scott Rolen, fresh
off the disabled list, went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Cleveland leads the all-time series between the teams, 40-39.
Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin gets the start in game two, with a chance to
continue a string of alternating wins and losses.
The Texas-born 27-year-old lost his first decision of the season to the White
Sox on April 9 and has since followed with a win (at Seattle), a loss (to
Kansas City), a win (against Kansas City), a loss (to Minnesota), a win (at
St. Louis) and a loss (at Cincinnati).
The meeting with the Reds on June 14 was the second of his career and saw him
allow six runs on 10 hits in four innings of a 12-5 loss.
In 56 2/3 overall innings, he has given up 68 hits and 36 runs while walking
13 batters, striking out 36 and allowing a .296 opposition batting average.
Right-hander Mike Leake will start for the Reds tonight and face the Indians
for the second straight outing.
He pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and three runs in the June 14
slugfest, but failed in a second straight attempt to pick up win No. 3 on the
season.
Leake opened 2012 with five consecutive losses, but has bounced back with wins
over Atlanta and Houston in six starts since his last defeat.
He's allowed 11 hits and seven runs in 10 1/3 career innings against
Cleveland.
The Sports Network