In their last three games, the Indians' bullpen hasn't been the club's biggest problem. Now it's a lack of hitting. On Sunday, the Indians lost 5-3 to Detroit, getting swept in the three-game series with the visiting Tigers.
The Indians only scored three runs in the three games. They were shut out in the first two games, and ran their streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 20 before finally scoring a run in the second inning Sunday. The current hitting slump has affected virtually everyone in the lineup, with the exception of catcher Victor Martinez and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. The two most troubling slumps belong to center fielder Grady Sizemore and shortstop Jhonny Peralta.
Sizemore's average is down to .227 with a .313 on-base percentage. He is not getting on base and scoring runs with his typical regularity. When Sizemore isn't getting on base and scoring runs, the Indians offense tends to struggle.
Peralta is off to such a poor start that he was dropped down to the No. 8 spot in the order Sunday. That's a major demotion for Peralta, who hit No. 4 for most of the second half of last season.
Ironically, the Indians' offensive slump comes at a time when their pitching, which had been their biggest problem, is improving. Indians pitchers had a 3.33 ERA in the series with Detroit, but the Indians lost all three games.
TIGERS 5, INDIANS 3: The Indians snapped their streak of consecutive innings with scoring a run at 20, but didn't do much else offensively, getting swept in the three-game series with the visiting Tigers. RHP Anthony Reyes gave up five runs in five innings to take the loss.
