CLEVELAND — Right around the time Travis Hafner, the Indians’ top run producer over the past three seasons, went on the disabled list in late May, Cleveland’s flat-lining offense began to show a pulse.
When the team’s top hitter, catcher Victor Martinez followed suit less than two weeks later, it got even better.
Don’t try to figure it out. It’s been that kind of season.
What’s fact is that with two of its top offensive weapons on the shelf, Cleveland, a run-challenged club even with Martinez and Hafner, is scoring more than anyone in the majors in June, with 95 runs through 15 games — an average of 6.3 per game. The Indians, who struggled collectively at the plate through the first two months of the season and own the American League’s worst average (second-lowest in the big leagues) as a result, are batting .287 in 15 June games.
“It’s good, because everybody is contributing,” said first baseman Ryan Garko, who has his average up to .269 thanks to a recent hot spell. “We knew it would come, especially when it warmed up in (Progressive Field). Hopefully we can keep it going.”
“I just think they’re settling in and gaining their own identity,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge, who, thanks to injuries and performance issues, has repeatedly altered his lineup. “It doesn’t always come early on in the year. When things play out like it has for us this year, sometimes it takes a little bit longer, because we’ve had a lot of adversity come our way.
“We’ve got a different group of characters than we’ve had in years past. They’re in a good place. They’re getting better. We just need to keep working to be more consistent.”
That seems to be the rallying cry for these new Indians, who are without two members of their rotation and three regulars from the opening-day lineup. While 15 games is a nice stretch, it figures to take more of the same to stay afloat in the Central Division.
“We’ve been doing a little more offensively,” said catcher Kelly Shoppach, who will be filling in for Martinez through at least July. “We still have to get a grip on maintaining that kind of consistency, but we’ve at least gotten to the point that we’re trying to get to offensively.”
“We’re taking some steps,” said center fielder Grady Sizemore, who owns a team-leading 17 home runs (second in the AL) with five in his last five games. “We’re getting the big hits when we need them. We’re swinging the bats better lately, but we need to turn it into something that’s an every-day type of thing.”
Last year, Cleveland was among the major league leaders in runs, receiving contributions from nearly everyone in its lineup to win its first division title since 2001. That’s what made the extended slump to start this season so surprising, and unbelievable to those in the Indians clubhouse — many of whom were around for the successful run in ’07.    
“There’s no way everybody in here’s going to hit .220,” said defending AL Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia, who also sputtered out of the gate, but has since returned to form. “We’ve got guys in here that are all-stars and have been in some tough situations and playoff games. You gotta know these guys are going to bust out and score some runs.”
Indians hitters’ latest uprising came with Sabathia squaring off against four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux, whom Cleveland beat 7-3 behind 11 hits and two homers to win the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday. It gave the Indians their second consecutive series win and a 4-2 record on the homestand (five wins in their last seven games) that pulled them within 5½ games of the sagging first-place White Sox, who have lost four of their last six.
“We had some tough at-bats late in the ballgame,” Wedge said. “I think that’s something that these guys have gotten much, much better with. As long as we, to a man, keep doing that, we’re going to be OK.”

Ace-like achievement

Sabathia was named American League player of the week after going 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two starts, including a shutout of the Minnesota Twins last Wednesday. Since April 22, Sabathia is 5-5 with a league-best 2.22 ERA in 11 starts. He leads the AL with 97 strikeouts and is third with 99 1/3 innings pitched.

Fickle finger of fate?

Second baseman Josh Barfield was scheduled to have his strained left middle finger examined by Dr. Tom Graham in Baltimore on Monday. Barfield replaced a demoted Asdrubal Cabrera and played in three games, going 0-for-6, before being injured on a check swing last Tuesday.
His replacement, Jamey Carroll, has flourished in his absence, hitting .400 in June with 13 hits in his last 21 at-bats to raise his average from .218 to .287.

Roundin’ third

Sizemore is the only Indian among the vote leaders for the July 15 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, ranking 12th. He is batting .266 with 17 homers, 40 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 67 games.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. 

TONIGHT

WHO: Cleveland vs. Colorado
TIME: 9:05
WHERE: Coors Field
PITCHERS: Byrd (3-6, 4.89 ERA) vs. Reynolds (1-4, 6.69)
TV/RADIO: Ch. 3; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

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