Mon Mar 31 19:19:39 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Tribe uses three-run eighth to overcome Thome, ChiSox in opener

---

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Franklin Gutierrez went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk, as the Cleveland Indians held off the Chicago White Sox, 10-8, in the season opener for both teams at Progressive Field.

Casey Blake had a three-RBI double in the eighth inning that decided the game for the Indians, who won the AL Central last season and advanced to the American League Championship Series.

Victor Martinez collected two hits for Cleveland before leaving in the second inning with a leg injury. C.C. Sabathia, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, gave up five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Making his fifth Opening Day start, Sabathia struck out seven in the no-decision.

Rafael Betancourt (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits, to get the win.

Jim Thome, a former Indian, hit a pair of two-run homers for the White Sox, who met Cleveland in the season-opener for the fourth consecutive season. Jermaine Dye hit a solo shot as part of his 3-for-4 day.

Mark Buehrle was roughed up in his sixth career season-opening start, as he gave up seven runs in the second inning, and lasted just 1 2/3 frames overall. Octavio Dotel (0-1), who Chicago signed as a free agent this offseason, gave up Blake's double and took the loss.

After clawing back from a five-run deficit to tie the game, the White Sox looked poised to take the lead in the top of the eighth. Doubles by Joe Crede and Juan Uribe, followed by an intentional walk of Nick Swisher, loaded the bases with no outs.

But a pair of questionable calls helped Cleveland escape without letting in a run. Orlando Cabrera grounded to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, whose throw home forced Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach to vacate his position in front of the plate. Crede appeared to slide under Shoppach's tag, but the home plate umpire called him out.

Then, Thome grounded to second for what looked like a double-play ball. Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera threw to Peralta for the first out, but Peralta couldn't get the ball out in time to throw to first. However, the umpire called Orlando Cabrera for interference, though his feet were touching the bag as his arms came into contact with Peralta.

The Indians took advantage in the bottom half of the inning. Shoppach and Peralta led off with back-to-back singles, and after Dotel got two outs, he walked Gutierrez to load the bases.

Blake then ripped a double high off the fence in left -- about a foot below the top -- to clear the bases, and put Cleveland on top, 10-7.

Dye homered in the top of the ninth, but Joe Borowski closed out the game.

Thome got the White Sox on the board in the first, with one out and Orlando Cabrera -- who was acquired by Chicago in an offseason trade -- on first with a walk. Sabathia left a breaking ball up and a little in, and Thome crushed it overthe fence in right for a 2-0 Chicago lead.

Buehrle was sharp in the bottom half of the inning, getting the Indians to go down in order. But he did a complete reversal in the second inning, as Cleveland batted around and put up seven runs, ending the pitcher's day.

Martinez, Peralta, and Ryan Garko led off the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases with none out. After Asdrubal Cabrera grounded into a fielder's choice to drive in Martinez, Gutierrez delivered a big blow with a three-run homer to left field.

Grady Sizemore followed with a solo homer two batters later, pushing Cleveland's lead to 5-2. The rally continued as Travis Hafner doubled in Jason Michaels, and Martinez drove in Hafner with an RBI single.

Martinez's second hit of the inning gave the Indians a 7-2 lead, and chased Buehrle from the game. But Martinez also ended the inning, inadvertently, as he was tagged out while trying to advance to second on a wild pitch.

After a pitch that fell out of the glove of A.J. Pierzynski, Martinez took off for second, but staggered as he approached the base and fell down. Martinez was able to leave the field by himself, but left the game and replaced by Shoppach. He is day-to-day with left hamstring tightness.

The White Sox began their comeback the very next inning, as Thome hammered his second two-run homer. Chicago scored once in the sixth, and in the seventh, Paul Konerko sliced a double down the right-field line two drive in two and tie the game at 7-7.

Game Notes

Thome's two homers give him 509 for his career, two fewer than Mel Ott for 21st all-time. He was also the first White Sox player to hit two homers on Opening Day since Sammy Sosa did it in 1991...Cleveland improved to 57-51 in season-openers, while Chicago fell to 55-53...Konerko made his eighth straight Opening Day start at first base, a team record...Swisher, who was acquired by the White Sox in a January trade with Oakland, went 2-for-4 with two runs scored...Peralta was 2-for-4 for Cleveland... Sabathia's fifth Opening Day start tied him for third-most in club history with Hall of Famer Bob Lemon