By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 9, 2011
. UP NEXT
at Indians
Tonight-Thursday
What's new: The Indians are baseball's biggest surprise, sprinting to an AL-best 22-11 record. Their success has been a team effort, with an unheralded rotation, a power-armed bullpen and a deeper-than-you-think offense. … OF Shin-Soo Choo is one of the best players you haven't heard of, C Carlos Santana is a rising star, DH Travis Hafner is back to being good. … RHP Jeanmar Gomez was sent down, RHP Carlos Carrasco might be recalled to start Wednesday.
Key stat: The Indians have the best differential in the majors, scoring 48 more than they've allowed.
Connections: Rays C Kelly Shoppach and 1B coach George Hendrick played for the Indians, hitting coach Derek Shelton was a coach. … Indians closer Chris Perez is from Bradenton; RHP Mitch Talbot, traded for Shoppach, is on the DL.
Series history: Indians lead 67-38 overall, 39-14 in Cleveland, where the Rays had an 18-game losing streak until winning twice last year.
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer