--C Kelly Shoppach is making the most of his increased playing time. He recently became the first catcher ever to have five extra base hits in a game, and nine of his last 11 hits have been either doubles or home runs. Shoppach is hitting over .300 since he took over as the everyday catcher when starter C Victor Martinez went on the disabled list June 12.
"Playing every day helps," said Shoppach of his offensive surge. "Now I know if I have a bad night I'll be back out there the next day with a chance to correct my mistakes." --RHP Paul Byrd could still be a candidate to be traded now that he has turned around his season. In his first 17 starts the 37-year-old Byrd was 3-10 with a 5.53 ERA. In his last three starts: 3-0, with a 0.90 ERA. He admitted that he had begun to worry about his prolonged slump. "When you get to be my age you begin to ask yourself, 'Have I lost my mojo? Have guys figured me out?'" said Byrd. "I don't know too many ways to change what I do."
--C Victor Martinez, on the DL since June 12 and recovering from arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow, could go out on a minor league rehab assignment by the end of the week, according to Indians head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff.
--LHP Jeremy Sowers has pitched five perfect innings in each of his last two starts, retiring all 30 batters he has faced in that span. Unfortunately for Sowers, he hasn't won either of those games, mostly because the Indians have only scored a total of three runs.
--RHP Matt Ginter, who gave up five runs in six innings in his 6-2 loss to the Twins Sunday, is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 30 -- Number of consecutive hitters LHP Jeremy Sowers has retired in the first five innings of his last two starts. Sowers pitched five perfect innings in both of those starts, but didn't get a win in either game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's helped me get strike one. Guys come up and say, 'Who is that out there? Is it Byrd? And I quick-pitch them and get strike one." -- RHP Paul Byrd, speaking of the benefits of having recently shaved off his mustache.
