Indians’ Final Game Emblematic of Tumultuous Season

The Cleveland Indians’ 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers last night wasn’t a positive note on which to end the 2011 season, but it was an exceptionally fitting one. Just as the Indians got off to a hot start this year, keeping the Tigers’ potent offense off the board and scoring first. By the middle of the fourth inning, Cleveland had a 3-0 lead, and things were looking good—just as they did in mid-May. But reality started settling in. Detroit got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, and after six Cleveland’s lead had completely evaporated. Heading into the eighth, the Tribe trailed, 4-3. Then the Indians looked poised to mount a comeback, as they have been want to do all season. Travis Hafner got the rally started with a one-out double, and two batters later the bases were loaded. But while they managed to tie it up on Jack Hannahan’s sacrifice fly, the Tribe couldn’t take the lead, and Jhonny Peralta’s home run in the bottom of the innin...