CLEVELAND, Ohio — Not much beats a block party in the heat of summer. Cold beer, icy colas, hot sun, maybe a few games of cornhole and great music can turn any celebrant into a wizard of ahhhs.

The Indians and country star Brad Paisley decided to throw just such a shindig on Saturday, and invited 25,000 or so of their closest friends to the inaugural Indians Music Festival.

For the second time in its storied 17-year history, Progressive, nee Jacobs, Field was home to a concert. When Jimmy Buffett played the field on Aug. 12, 1995, it heralded the onset of a happy era for Tribe fans. Not sure yet if that’ll turn out to be the case for Paisley’s H20 World Tour. But worst-case scenario, it’s taking a bit of sting off a Tribe swoon that’s threatening to become the baseball equivalent of a constellation: the Big Dipper.

The good thing about parties like this is always reconnecting with old friends. A year ago, Dave Baker took his talents to . . . well, not South Beach, but south, nonetheless. The guitarist for the local band, the Spazmatics, went to Nashville to seek fame and fortune. Four months ago, his buddy Seth Hajek, who played locally with the dance band Disco Inferno, followed.

Saturday, they were back in town as part of the backing band for newcomer Ashley Gearing, one of seven acts on the side stage in Gateway Plaza.

Joey DePasquale, the frontman for Disco Inferno, head-bobbed in the crowd, listening to his pals and snapping photos on his iPhone. Now to be honest, some in the local music scene have a hard time with country, and truth be told DePasquale looked a little bemused watching his buddies. But he acknowledged the music does come from the heartland, and its appeal crosses all genres.

And generations.

Skyllar Friebel, a 6-year-old from Stow, chose Paisley for her first concert. Shy and sporting more blond curls than a rotini pasta factory, she giggled and allowed how Paisley’s “Water” song was her favorite.

Dad Tim and mom Kim Long aren’t sure if they’re going to go to anymore shows this season, but they did say something that would be music to the ears of Indians President Mark Shapiro: A downtown Cleveland show beats one at Blossom Music Center for accessibility.

In an earlier interview, Shapiro acknowledged the financial straits created by a 6-4-3 double play of the slumping economy and losing baseball. Filling the stands has been tough of late, so things like the Music Festival and Snow Days are the Tribe’s attempt to capitalize on the gem that is Progressive Field.

Leanne Ceepo, 15, of North Olmsted, and Nicole Kettel, 14, of Lakewood, were positively ancient compared to Skyllar. The two members of the Cleveland Edges ice skating team were in the nosebleeds against the fence in Section 558, Row X, about as far from the stage set up in deep left-center field as you can be. Only the guys who change the bulbs in the toothbrush-looking light standards get higher.

The seats were a gift from Leanne’s mom. Now some of us might be upset that mama didn’t get ‘em better seats. Not those two. They were thrilled to be there, being big fans of Paisley and OMG! OMG! OMG! Blake Shelton (who along with Jerrod Niemann opened the main stage for Paisley).

Leanne and Nicole are used to defending their taste in music to their friends at Lakewood and North Olmsted high schools. But the reality, at least according to them, is that the music is starting to appeal to an older crowd — 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds.

Just the right age to enjoy a good ol’ block party.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Indians have lost 13 of their last 17 games — including today’s 4-0 loss to the Yankees in New York – making their record 34-28 after a 30-15 start.

Indians pitchers have struggled during the slide, giving up 6.1 runs per game.

When they’ve pitched somewhat effectively, they’ve had little margin of error.

Cleveland has scored three runs per game in the 17-game stretch, hitting .227.

In the 13 losses, the Indians have totaled 24 runs, or 1.8 per game, and have hit .199. The Tribe has been shut out five times, scored one run in one game and two runs in four other games.

Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, center fielder Grady Sizemore and catcher Carlos Santana must be consistent run-producers for Indians’ pitchers to not feel they need be perfect.

If even two of the three would produce….

It may be somewhat unfair to expect Sizemore to carry a load, as he’s coming back from micro-fracture (left) knee surgery. And, maybe too much was put on Santana too soon, given that his big league experience was essentially one-third of a season going into 2011.

Hitters go through slumps, and Choo, Sizemore and Santana still have time to put together solid seasons. It’s mid-June, though, so the Indians need at least a couple of them to bust loose soon.

Sizemore, Santana and Choo hit in the third, fourth and fifth spots in the batting order on Saturday, going hitless in 11 combined at bats.

Breaking down what Choo, Sizemore and Santana have done at the plate:

Shin-Soo Choo

After three impressive seasons, Choo is hitting .232 in 2011.

Sometimes, a relatively low batting average doesn’t reflect a hitter’s positive impact on a lineup. Not so with Choo this spring. He has just eight doubles, one triple and five home runs.

His 23 RBI in 228 at bats — one per every 9.9 at bats — is what a banjo-hitting ninth hitter or slap-hitting leadoff batter might post.

Choo has struck out 59 times and has 23 walks.

Choo reached his peak 2011 batting average of .250 on May 30. Since then, the left-handed hitter is 6-of-40 (.150) with one double, one run, one RBI and two walks in 10 games.

In his last 16 games, Choo has one RBI in 60 at bats. That RBI wasn’t even an official at bat: he drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 11-7 loss to the Yankees, cutting the New York lead to 11-5.

Grady Sizemore

The first results of Sizemore’s return from surgery defied logic. In his first 11 games, from April 17 through April 29, he hit .378 with four homers and eight doubles in 45 at bats.

Since then, Sizemore is hitting .181 (15-of-83) with six doubles, three homers, eight RBI, 29 strikeouts and four walks.

It was unreasonable, of course, to expect Sizemore to maintain anything resembling his roaring start.

After his first 45 ABs, Sizemore went 5-of-33 (.152) with two doubles and two homers in eight games to begin May. He then missed 13 games with a bruised right knee. Since coming back from that injury, Sizemore is 10-of-50 (.200) with four doubles, one homer, 20 strikeouts and four walks.

Overall this season, Sizemore is hitting .250 in 128 at bats. His extra-base production remains impressive, with 14 doubles and seven homers, though much of that was accomplished during his early surge. Sizemore has 39 strikeouts to just seven walks.

The left-handed hitter had standout seasons for the Indians from 2005-08, making the American League all-star team from 2006-08. Besides his other numbers, Sizemore averaged 29 stolen bases in the four years from 2005-08. This season — with the knee issues – he has not yet stolen a base, trying just once.

In 2009, 2010 and this season, Sizemore has totaled just 692 at bats because of his injuries. He has hit .241 during the span with 166 strikeouts — the whiffs being no surprise because even at his best, Sizemore struck out at a high rate.

Carlos Santana

The switch-hitting Santana has a .228 batting average with 12 doubles, seven homers and 26 RBI in 197 at bats. To his credit, he is among the league leaders with 43 walks, partially offsetting the low average.

Santana made his major league debut last June 11 and stormed out of the blocks, hitting .345 (20-of-58) with nine doubles, four homers and 13 walks in his first 18 games with the Indians.

Santana then cooled off, going 19-of-92 (.207) with four doubles, two homers and, impressively, 24 more walks before his season ended on Aug. 2, when he was catching and suffered a left knee injury on a home plate collision. He had surgery four days later.

Since Santana’s first 18 major league games, he is hitting .221 in 289 at bats, with 16 doubles, nine homers and 67 walks.

Trio’s 2011 totals

Choo, Sizemore and Santana are hitting a combined .235 this season, totaling 130 hits in 553 official at bats.

They have combined for 34 doubles, one triple and 19 home runs. They have 66 RBI. The one RBI per every 8.38 at bats is unacceptably low for hitters who now usually bat in the middle of the order.

The trio has combined for 75 runs scored, 73 walks and 138 strikeouts. Their combined slugging percentage is .403 and their on-base percentage is .330.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Indians have lost 13 of their last 17 games — including today’s 4-0 loss to the Yankees in New York – making their record 34-28 after a 30-15 start.

Indians pitchers have struggled during the slide, giving up 6.1 runs per game.

When they’ve pitched somewhat effectively, they’ve had little margin of error.

Cleveland has scored three runs per game in the 17-game stretch, hitting .227.

In the 13 losses, the Indians have totaled 24 runs, or 1.8 per game, and have hit .199. The Tribe has been shut out five times, scored one run in one game and two runs in four other games.

Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, center fielder Grady Sizemore and catcher Carlos Santana must be consistent run-producers for Indians’ pitchers to not feel they need be perfect.

If even two of the three would produce….

It may be somewhat unfair to expect Sizemore to carry a load, as he’s coming back from micro-fracture (left) knee surgery. And, maybe too much was put on Santana too soon, given that his big league experience was essentially one-third of a season going into 2011.

Hitters go through slumps, and Choo, Sizemore and Santana still have time to put together solid seasons. It’s mid-June, though, so the Indians need at least a couple of them to bust loose soon.

Sizemore, Santana and Choo hit in the third, fourth and fifth spots in the batting order on Saturday, going hitless in 11 combined at bats.

Breaking down what Choo, Sizemore and Santana have done at the plate:

Shin-Soo Choo

After three impressive seasons, Choo is hitting .232 in 2011.

Sometimes, a relatively low batting average doesn’t reflect a hitter’s positive impact on a lineup. Not so with Choo this spring. He has just eight doubles, one triple and five home runs.

His 23 RBI in 228 at bats — one per every 9.9 at bats — is what a banjo-hitting ninth hitter or slap-hitting leadoff batter might post.

Choo has struck out 59 times and has 23 walks.

Choo reached his peak 2011 batting average of .250 on May 30. Since then, the left-handed hitter is 6-of-40 (.150) with one double, one run, one RBI and two walks in 10 games.

In his last 16 games, Choo has one RBI in 60 at bats. That RBI wasn’t even an official at bat: he drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 11-7 loss to the Yankees, cutting the New York lead to 11-5.

Grady Sizemore

The first results of Sizemore’s return from surgery defied logic. In his first 11 games, from April 17 through April 29, he hit .378 with four homers and eight doubles in 45 at bats.

Since then, Sizemore is hitting .181 (15-of-83) with six doubles, three homers, eight RBI, 29 strikeouts and four walks.

It was unreasonable, of course, to expect Sizemore to maintain anything resembling his roaring start.

After his first 45 ABs, Sizemore went 5-of-33 (.152) with two doubles and two homers in eight games to begin May. He then missed 13 games with a bruised right knee. Since coming back from that injury, Sizemore is 10-of-50 (.200) with four doubles, one homer, 20 strikeouts and four walks.

Overall this season, Sizemore is hitting .250 in 128 at bats. His extra-base production remains impressive, with 14 doubles and seven homers, though much of that was accomplished during his early surge. Sizemore has 39 strikeouts to just seven walks.

The left-handed hitter had standout seasons for the Indians from 2005-08, making the American League all-star team from 2006-08. Besides his other numbers, Sizemore averaged 29 stolen bases in the four years from 2005-08. This season — with the knee issues – he has not yet stolen a base, trying just once.

In 2009, 2010 and this season, Sizemore has totaled just 692 at bats because of his injuries. He has hit .241 during the span with 166 strikeouts — the whiffs being no surprise because even at his best, Sizemore struck out at a high rate.

Carlos Santana

The switch-hitting Santana has a .228 batting average with 12 doubles, seven homers and 26 RBI in 197 at bats. To his credit, he is among the league leaders with 43 walks, partially offsetting the low average.

Santana made his major league debut last June 11 and stormed out of the blocks, hitting .345 (20-of-58) with nine doubles, four homers and 13 walks in his first 18 games with the Indians.

Santana then cooled off, going 19-of-92 (.207) with four doubles, two homers and, impressively, 24 more walks before his season ended on Aug. 2, when he was catching and suffered a left knee injury on a home plate collision. He had surgery four days later.

Since Santana’s first 18 major league games, he is hitting .221 in 289 at bats, with 16 doubles, nine homers and 67 walks.

Trio’s 2011 totals

Choo, Sizemore and Santana are hitting a combined .235 this season, totaling 130 hits in 553 official at bats.

They have combined for 34 doubles, one triple and 19 home runs. They have 66 RBI. The one RBI per every 8.38 at bats is unacceptably low for hitters who now usually bat in the middle of the order.

The trio has combined for 75 runs scored, 73 walks and 138 strikeouts. Their combined slugging percentage is .403 and their on-base percentage is .330.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Indians have lost 13 of their last 17 games — including today’s 4-0 loss to the Yankees in New York – making their record 34-28 after a 30-15 start.

Indians pitchers have struggled during the slide, giving up 6.1 runs per game.

When they’ve pitched somewhat effectively, they’ve had little margin of error.

Cleveland has scored three runs per game in the 17-game stretch, hitting .227.

In the 13 losses, the Indians have totaled 24 runs, or 1.8 per game, and have hit .199. The Tribe has been shut out five times, scored one run in one game and two runs in four other games.

Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, center fielder Grady Sizemore and catcher Carlos Santana must be consistent run-producers for Indians’ pitchers to not feel they need be perfect.

If even two of the three would produce….

It may be somewhat unfair to expect Sizemore to carry a load, as he’s coming back from micro-fracture (left) knee surgery. And, maybe too much was put on Santana too soon, given that his big league experience was essentially one-third of a season going into 2011.

Hitters go through slumps, and Choo, Sizemore and Santana still have time to put together solid seasons. It’s mid-June, though, so the Indians need at least a couple of them to bust loose soon.

Sizemore, Santana and Choo hit in the third, fourth and fifth spots in the batting order on Saturday, going hitless in 11 combined at bats.

Breaking down what Choo, Sizemore and Santana have done at the plate:

Shin-Soo Choo

After three impressive seasons, Choo is hitting .232 in 2011.

Sometimes, a relatively low batting average doesn’t reflect a hitter’s positive impact on a lineup. Not so with Choo this spring. He has just eight doubles, one triple and five home runs.

His 23 RBI in 228 at bats — one per every 9.9 at bats — is what a banjo-hitting ninth hitter or slap-hitting leadoff batter might post.

Choo has struck out 59 times and has 23 walks.

Choo reached his peak 2011 batting average of .250 on May 30. Since then, the left-handed hitter is 6-of-40 (.150) with one double, one run, one RBI and two walks in 10 games.

In his last 16 games, Choo has one RBI in 60 at bats. That RBI wasn’t even an official at bat: he drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 11-7 loss to the Yankees, cutting the New York lead to 11-5.

Grady Sizemore

The first results of Sizemore’s return from surgery defied logic. In his first 11 games, from April 17 through April 29, he hit .378 with four homers and eight doubles in 45 at bats.

Since then, Sizemore is hitting .181 (15-of-83) with six doubles, three homers, eight RBI, 29 strikeouts and four walks.

It was unreasonable, of course, to expect Sizemore to maintain anything resembling his roaring start.

After his first 45 ABs, Sizemore went 5-of-33 (.152) with two doubles and two homers in eight games to begin May. He then missed 13 games with a bruised right knee. Since coming back from that injury, Sizemore is 10-of-50 (.200) with four doubles, one homer, 20 strikeouts and four walks.

Overall this season, Sizemore is hitting .250 in 128 at bats. His extra-base production remains impressive, with 14 doubles and seven homers, though much of that was accomplished during his early surge. Sizemore has 39 strikeouts to just seven walks.

The left-handed hitter had standout seasons for the Indians from 2005-08, making the American League all-star team from 2006-08. Besides his other numbers, Sizemore averaged 29 stolen bases in the four years from 2005-08. This season — with the knee issues – he has not yet stolen a base, trying just once.

In 2009, 2010 and this season, Sizemore has totaled just 692 at bats because of his injuries. He has hit .241 during the span with 166 strikeouts — the whiffs being no surprise because even at his best, Sizemore struck out at a high rate.

Carlos Santana

The switch-hitting Santana has a .228 batting average with 12 doubles, seven homers and 26 RBI in 197 at bats. To his credit, he is among the league leaders with 43 walks, partially offsetting the low average.

Santana made his major league debut last June 11 and stormed out of the blocks, hitting .345 (20-of-58) with nine doubles, four homers and 13 walks in his first 18 games with the Indians.

Santana then cooled off, going 19-of-92 (.207) with four doubles, two homers and, impressively, 24 more walks before his season ended on Aug. 2, when he was catching and suffered a left knee injury on a home plate collision. He had surgery four days later.

Since Santana’s first 18 major league games, he is hitting .221 in 289 at bats, with 16 doubles, nine homers and 67 walks.

Trio’s 2011 totals

Choo, Sizemore and Santana are hitting a combined .235 this season, totaling 130 hits in 553 official at bats.

They have combined for 34 doubles, one triple and 19 home runs. They have 66 RBI. The one RBI per every 8.38 at bats is unacceptably low for hitters who now usually bat in the middle of the order.

The trio has combined for 75 runs scored, 73 walks and 138 strikeouts. Their combined slugging percentage is .403 and their on-base percentage is .330.

By Rick Freeman

AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch after he homered, Bartolo Colon pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning before he hurt himself, and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0 on a misty, windy Saturday afternoon.

Curtis Granderson hit his 20th homer of the season and Rodriguez got plunked by Indians starter Mitch Talbot a day after the teams’ benches cleared, adding another chapter to what has been a testy homestand for the Yankees.

It was the sixth time a Yankees batter has been hit this homestand.

“I thought it was a little fishy,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Probably with what happened last night, (the umpires’) antennas are up.”

Talbot was ejected after hitting A-Rod, but the Yankees didn’t respond in kind.

Instead, they sent Cleveland to its 13th loss in 17 games and left the Indians barely clinging to first place in the AL Central for one more day.

Colon (5-3), famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, was working on a gem against his first big league team. He limped off in the top of the seventh after retiring Shin-Soo Choo covering first base.

The Yankees said Colon strained his left hamstring. He struck out six over 6 2-3 innings to win for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five.

The Yankees made it 3-0 in the seventh when Jorge Posada singled into the right field corner. Choo had trouble coming up with the ball and Nick Swisher came home.

The Indians got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the eighth, but David Robertson struck out Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore to end the threat.

Mark Teixeira homered off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth to make it 4-0.

A-Rod opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a line-drive shot into a strong wind blowing in from left field for only the second hit off Talbot (2-3). Granderson then hit his 20th homer of the season deep to right in the sixth.

Teixeira flied out before Talbot hit Rodriguez in the backside. It was a homer by Granderson that preceded the benches-clearing incident the previous night, too.

Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez. While A-Rod writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, possibly suggesting that he slipped on the wet dirt.

Teixeira left Tuesday night’s game against Boston after getting on the right kneecap by a first-inning pitch from Jon Lester, and Red Sox ace Josh Beckett plunked three New York stars Thursday night: Jeter, Rodriguez and Granderson.

“I’m tired of it,” Girardi said. “Our guys get hit entirely too much. We’re a club that hits home runs and people don’t necessarily like that.”

Notes: Granderson tied Toronto’s Jose Bautista for the AL lead in homers. Teixeira is one behind with 19. … Brett Gardner got the Yankees’ first hit off Talbot with a bunt single in the third inning. He was thrown out at second on a pitchout, and Talbot caught him trying to steal third in the fifth. … In the second inning, the Yankees’ Robinson Cano hit a liner foul and it hit a police officer stationed in the photo well. He disappeared from view briefly, then reappeared to applause, and his fellow officer smacked him on the back as he triumphantly showed the ball. … The Indians received Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips from Montreal in the 2002 deadline trade for Colon.

© 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

NEW YORK, New York — It would have been easier if Fausto Carmona simply answered the media’s questions after Friday night’s loss to the Yankees. He told Jeff Sibel, Indians manager of media relations, that he was too emotional to do so and wanted to wait until Saturday morning.

With coaching assistant Francisco Morales interpreting, Carmona met with reporters Saturday and said he didn’t intentionally hit Mark Teixeira in the second inning after giving up a homer to Curtis Granderson in the Indians 11-7 loss on Friday.

Teixeira, Yankee manager Joe Girardi and the rest of the Yankees thought he did. Both teams came onto the field with Girardi and Teixeira yelling at Carmona and Carmona challenging Teixeira to come to the mound if he was that upset.

At one point manager Manny Acta and Girardi were yelling at each other.

“It’s part of the game,” said Carmona. “I know it didn’t look good after the home run, but it’s part of the game. That’s not the last time Teixeira is going to get hit by a pitch and that’s not the lat time I’m going to miss a pitch.”

Teixeira told reporters after the game that he was yelling at Carmona, “For three years you’ve been pitching me down and away. Now you come up an in on me?”

Said Carmona, “Teixeira says I was throwing him away, so I tried to change the plan. As much as Teixeira knows me, I know him, too.”

Carmona said he was not surprised at the reactions of Teixeira and Girardi.

“I was ready for anything,” he said. “I just threw a pitch and hit him.”

Carmona answered a couple of questions about why he didn’t talk to reporters Friday and then ended the interview by saying, “I’ve got to go work.”

He allowed six runs on eight hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out two in 93 pitches. Carmona is 3-8 with a 5.71 ERA.

Dazed: Travis Buck was in the locker room Saturday morning, but it was doubtful that he would play against the Yankees. On Friday afternoon, Buck and his wife, Summar, were passengers in a New York city cab that hit another vehicle.

Buck and his wife were examined at a hospital and released, but Buck said he still had a headache and was suffering from whiplash. Summar Buck hit her head on the glass partition separating the back and front seat of the cab and was at the team hotel.

“She got it worse than me, but has been taking care of me,” said Buck.

Buck said the cab was going about 40 mph when it “T-boned a van that was making a turn in front of it.”

The Bucks said they got out of the Cab and walked back to the team hotel in Manhattan.

“The driver kept saying, “You pay now, you pay now,’” said Buck. “It was about a $5 cab ride.”

Today’s lineups:

Indians (34-27): LF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), CF Grady Sizemore, 1B Carlos Santana (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), DH Matt LaPorta (R), 2B Cord Phelps (S),  3B Jack Hannahan (L), C Lou Marson, RHP Mitch Talbot (2-2, 4.18).

Yankees (34-27): SS Derek Jeter (R), CF Curtis Grandson (L), 1B Mark Teixeira (R), 3B Alex Rodriguez (R), 2B Robinson Cano (L), RF Nick Swisher (S), DH Jorge Posada (S), LF Brett Gardner (L), C Francisco Cervelli (R) and RHP Bartolo Colon (4-3, 3.39).

Him vs. me: Curtis Granderson is hitting .400 (2-for-5) with a homer against Talbot. Orlando Cabrera is 3-for-8 against Colon. Choo has a homer against him.

Umpires: H Dan Iassogna, 2B Bucknor, 3B Muchlinski, 3B Dale Scott. Scott, crew chief.

Next: RHP Josh Tomlin (7-3, 3.71) faces New York’s Freddy Garcia (4-5, 3.86) on Sunday at 1:08 p.m. Channel 3/STO will carry the game on TV. WTAM/1100 will broadcast the game on radio.