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Error allows Rangers to edge Indians

May 25, 2008 - 9:50 PM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Indians keep finding new ways to lose ballgames.

The Texas Rangers took advantage of right fielder Ben Francisco's error in the 10th inning to defeat the Indians, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon.

Expected to contend for the American League Central Division crown, Cleveland has now dropped eight of its last nine to fall four games under .500.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia started the winning rally by drawing a two-out, 10-pitch walk off Masa Kobayashi (2-2).

Ramon Vazquez followed by lining what looked like a routine single to right, but Francisco let the ball go between his legs and roll all the way to the wall. The slow-footed Saltalamacchia scored all the way from first with Vazquez ending up on third.

"It's not a good feeling at all," Francisco said. "I just got it in between hops. It can't go through your legs. That's the last place it can go. It can't happen in that situation."

Francisco had a chance to win the game for the Indians in the ninth, but flied out to right with a runner on second to end the inning.

Jamey Wright (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win and C.J. Wilson worked a perfect 10th to pick up his 10th save in 12 opportunities.

Texas is now 8-0-1 in its last nine series and has not lost a set since the end of April.

"We just got to keep this thing going," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Ian Kinsler's solo shot off C.C. Sabathia in the sixth tied the game. Kinsler led off the inning by blasting Sabathia's 1-1 offering over the left-field wall.

"It was a fastball down the middle," Sabathia said. "He is a good hitter and he did what you are supposed to do with that kind of ball."

It was the only mistake Sabathia made. The burly lefthander held Texas to five hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two, but once again was a victim of the Indians' lack of offense.

Sabathia has recovered from his awful start to the season to post a 1.61 ERA in his last seven starts. However, he has only a 3-3 record during that span.

"It's tough to say," said Sabathia about the lack of support. "The hitters are so good, I just try to keep it close and hope these guys can explode. I don't worry about a slim margin of error. I just worry about going out there and doing my job."

Cleveland's hitters are batting a woeful .208 in the month of May, with the club averaging only 3.4 runs per game.

"If you don't get angry, there's something wrong," Indians slugger Travis Hafner said. "It's on the players. "Nobody can give us a magic potion. We have to do it ourselves. You can't feel sorry for yourself. This game will kick you in the butt if you do."

The Indians scratched a run across in the first on Martinez's RBI single, but failed to score in the second when they had the bases loaded with one out.

Texas starter Doug Mathis, who was rocked for nine runs in his last start, got Francisco to hit a soft grounder back to the mound for the force at home. Hafner flew out to left to end the inning and Mathis cruised from there.

"Once I got the first out, I knew I was I going to get out of it," Mathis said. "I knew getting out of the jam was big."

Mathis scattered seven hits in six innings while striking out one. Despite the strong start, he is more than likely heading back to Class AAA Oklahoma when Kevin Millwood returns from the disabled list on Friday.

"I thought it was going to get out of control in the second, but he really pitched his butt off," Washington said. "He really stepped up."