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Apr. 27--CLEVELAND -- Jeremy Sowers' first four opponents this season with the Buffalo Bisons were Norfolk, Toledo, Syracuse and Pawtucket. Pretty big jump he took Saturday, making his season debut in the big leagues against the New York Yankees.
"It's a very intimidating franchise to play," Sowers admitted after the Cleveland Indians' 4-3 win in Progressive Field. "But somehow you have to convince yourself that they're just like everybody else. Hitters get out and even the best teams still lose quite frequently."
Sowers got his first big league win against the Bronx Bombers here July 3, 2006. But he got crushed by them in the Bronx early last season en route to going 1-6 and getting sent back to Triple-A.
Sowers blanked the Yankees for the first five innings Saturday, leaving with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth and the Tribe leading, 3-0. He finished with a no-decision after Jorge Posada's pinch triple cleared the bases and tied the game.
"I had too many 3-0 counts that I had to get myself out of," Sowers said. "However I made some good pitches when I needed to and that was something I was not able to do very well last year.
"The big step is when guys get on base, I'm not giving in. When guys get on base, I'm finding ways to get out and leave guys in scoring position instead of that two-out, two-strike hit that seemed to happen last year."
Sowers' line was 5x innin 3/4 1/3 , seven hits, three strikeouts and one walk. Pretty good showing but he said he had no idea if it would earn him another start.
The likely scenario, however, is that Sowers returns to Buffalo to start Thursday or Friday against Charlotte in Dunn Tire Park so the Tribe can activate fellow Herd lefty Aaron Laffey for Monday's series finale against the Yankees.
"I thought Jeremy threw the ball well today. He did a great job," said manager Eric Wedge. "He commanded his fastball. He worked from behind and made it a little difficult for himself but he still made pitches when he needed to and moved his fastball around very effectively."
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With the left-handed Sowers on the mound, the Yankees had about $45 million in reserves on the bench as Robinson Cano (batting just .152), Posada, Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui all sat out. All but Matsui eventually got in but the starting lineup included Shelley Duncan, Morgan Ensberg, Jose Molina and Alberto Gonzalez.
"You can't play your regulars every day," said manager Joe Girardi. ". . . There's no reason to have the extra guys if you're not going to play them."
Strange Brew 
