CLEVELAND – Cliff Lee`s bid to repeat as the American League`s Cy Young Award winner is likely over. And he has his offense to thank for much of it.
Despite reversing his fortunes after a slow start to the season – 1.70 ERA over his last five outings – Cleveland hitters haven`t followed suit, helping Lee to just one win over the span.
In Lee`s five losses – an American League-high through Friday and two more than he had all of last year – the Indians have scored a total of six runs, getting shut out twice. In the left-hander`s seven starts in 2009, Cleveland is averaging 2.4 runs per game.
“When you`re the No. 1 facing No. 1`s, you`re going to go through stretches where your offense struggles to score runs, `cause you`re facing the best,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge. “You`ve just got to handle it.
“All you want to do is give your team a chance to win. He`s doing that and then some.”
Lee (1-5, 3.45) has run into quality pitching from his counterpart over his past two outings – each against Detroit`s ace, Justin Verlander. Despite pitching well, Lee lost both times, with Verlander allowing just a run in his two wins – the latest a shutout Friday night in which the right-hander became the first pitcher to blank the Indians with 10 or more strikeouts since Roger Clemens did it for Boston in 1992.
“My job is to go out and keep my team in the game and put up zeroes,” Lee said. “I feel like I`ve been doing that for the most part. That`s all I can control.”

In the fold?

There was still no confirmation that the Indians had signed reliever Luis Vizcaino to a minor league contract, but the right-hander was in the clubhouse Saturday, a day after throwing in the bullpen at Progressive Field.
Wedge was asked what the plans were for Vizcaino, an 11-year veteran who was released by the Cubs in April.
“We`ll watch him throw again (today) and go from there,” Wedge said.
The Indians are searching for assistance in their bullpen, which ranked second-to-last in the American League with a 6.58 ERA through Friday.

Viewing pleasure

Wedge was asked if he was able to put aside his bias to enjoy what was a well-played game between the Tigers and Indians on Friday night, a 1-0 Detroit victory that included center fielder Curtis Granderson robbing Grady Sizemore of a game-winning home run in the ninth inning.
“It was about to be a lot of fun, just until I saw Mr. Granderson pull it back,” he joked.

Minor details

Indians utility infielder Jamey Carroll (left hand) started at second base and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Friday in his first rehab game for Triple-A Columbus.
• Double-A Akron catcher Carlos Santana entered Saturday batting .391 (9-for-23) with a homer and six RBIs over his last seven games. The prized bounty from the Casey Blake trade with the Dodgers last season was hitting .269 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 24 games for the Aeros through Friday.

Roundin` third

Aaron Laffey entered Saturday inducing a major league-high 11 double plays.
• Asdrubal Cabrera  saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end Saturday as he went 0-for-4. He entered the game batting .340 (16-for-47) with five RBIs over the 10-game span.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or  cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

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