Nature intervenes

Somebody up there took pity on the Indians last night.
In the fifth inning, right after last night's game against the Royals became official, the rains came and didn't let up all evening. After several hours of waiting, the Indians were awarded a rain-shortened 6-2 win, snapping a season-high five-game losing streak and giving the win column a little more breathing room in front of a fast-encroaching loss column. The Indians are now 48-45.
Starting pitcher Cliff Lee, teetering on the brink of another mid-season collapse, was working on his fourth straight shaky outing when he gave up two runs in the first. But he settled down long enough for the offense to erupt for their biggest output since an 8-7 win over the Yankees on July 9. The six-run outburst included two homers from Ben Broussard, alleviating concerns that he had been kidnapped by aliens and replaced with a cardboard cutout.
Lee finished with four scoreless innings to gain his 10th win of the season and keep his ERA below four (now 3.88).
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After the game, the Indians announced the trade of Jody Gerut to the Cubs for outfielder Jason Dubois. It's a swap of extra outfielders. The Indians get a right-handed bat with more pop than Gerut's, and the Cubs get a left-handed bat who hits for a higher average than Dubois.
I think highly of Gerut. His intelligence separates him from the stereotype of the country-bumpkin ballplayer, and he is a very hard worker. Never considered a top prospect, he worked hard to not only make it to the majors, but be a good player once he got there. Gerut gets to go home to his native Chicago and play for the Cubs now. Good luck to him.
Back on the homefront, the Indians get a guy who has been productive in his minor league career, and has some major league experience. Last year, splitting time between the Cubs and the minors, Dubois his 31 homers. Dubois, 26, has spent most of this season with the Cubs, hitting .239 with seven homers and 22 RBI in 52 games.
Dubois is the latest in a long line of attempts by general manager Mark Shapiro to land a productive right-handed power bat. So far, the search has ranged from Shane Spencer to Ryan Ludwick to Jose Hernandez to Juan Gonzalez. Needless to say, it hasn't gone well.
Media reports say Dubois is expected to replace Gerut on the 25-man roster.