#432---BOS @ NYA, 4/3/2005

 

A number of oddities stand out at the jump for this major league season opener. The defending world champion Red Sox. Randy Johnson pitching for the Yankees. David Wells pitching for the Red Sox. Rueben Sierra batting cleanup for the Yankees. 

New York got four runs in 4 2/3 innings off Wells while Johnson started his Yankee career looking like he might still be in Cy Young form, going six innings and allowing one run on five hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Hideki Matsui was the game’s standout hitter, going 3-5 with a homer and three runs scored and driven in (one of those runs scored coming on a Wells balk in the third). 

#431---CLE @ CIN, 3/27/2004

This is a Grapefruit League Indians/Reds matchup, something much less common than their frequent Cactus League tilts as co-tenants. The Tribe did not take many regulars to Sarasota and were knocked around 10-2, the worst element being an Ernie Young throwing error that turned Wily Mo Pena’s pinch-hit triple into a little league homer.  

#430---CLE @ KC, 4/4/2003

 

The Royals got four runs off Jason Davis in the third and another tally in the fourth, which was all they would need. The Indians bullpen (Billy Traber, three innings in his MLB debut and Chad Paranto, two innings) shut out the Royals, whose offense consisted of eight singles and five walks. The Indians were stymied by Chris George for 6 2/3 innings, and didn’t do much against their bullpen either, although Matt Lawton did double for the game’s only extra-base hit.

#429---CLE @ DET, 4/7/2002

CC Sabathia took a no-hit bid into the eighth, but Randall Simon lined the first pitch of the inning into center and later scored on an Andre Torres single, Detroit’s only run of the game. They did load the bases with one out in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but Bob Wickman was summoned and got Simon to ground into a double play.

There were four total triples into the spacious Comerica gaps, with the Indians getting them from Matt Lawton, Milton Bradley, and the unlikely Jim Thome.

#428---BAL @ CLE, 4/7/2001

Bartolo Colon (8 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 3 W, 5 K, 101 pitches) and Pat Hentgen (8 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 W, 3 K, 107 pitches) were both in fine early season form, and this game went to extras knotted at two. Both teams had chances in the tenth, as Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs before David Segui hit into a fielder’s choice. Cleveland used two walks and a Jerry Hairston error to load them with one out, but Ellis Burks was gunned out at the plate trying to make Jolbert Cabrera’s fly a game-winning sacrifice. In the tenth, Greg Myers doubled home two with a grounder down the right field line off Steve Reed. Obscure Baltimore reliever Ryan Kohlmeier issued two walks to bring Ellis Burks to the plate as the winning run. Burks to this point was 3-3 with a walk (his two run homer had provided the only Tribe tallies), but he struck out to end it.

#427---Harrisburg @ Akron, 9/4/2000

This was a one-game playoff in the Eastern League. There were not many future big leaguers on the field with Aeros starter Danys Baez the most notable. Akron scored a run in the first but it was bad news for the home team from there, with Harrisburg getting two in the third and fourth to knock Baez out. They would make it five straight innings with runs in the fifth-seventh and roll 8-1.

#426---ANA @ CLE, 8/31/1999

 This was wild late ‘90s baseball at its best (childish “Do You Believe in Miracles” scrawling aside). Troy Glaus hit two two-run homers and Tim Salmon one to help stake Anaheim to a 7-4 lead entering the eighth inning. Sean DePaula entered for Cleveland in the eighth making his major league debut and walked three of the five hitters he faced, allowing four runs. The Angels added another and had a seemingly comfortable 12-4 lead, enough so the Indians threw up the white flag by batting Alex Ramirez for Manny Ramirez.

But they did score 1,000 runs on the season. Mark Petkovsek was greeted with five straight hits, making it 12-6 and leaving bases loaded, nobody out for Shigetoshi Hasegawa. He induced two quick popouts but Omar Vizquel singled to make it 12-7. Bases still loaded, two outs, closer Troy Percival in. Robbie Alomar singled in two more to make it 12-9 and stole second on the first pitch to Harold Baines, pinch-hitting for pinch-hitter Alex Ramirez. He singled home two. Jim Thome was walked, likely pitched around. Percival got ahead of Richie Sexson 0-2, then threw a wild pitch to put go ahead run in scoring position. Sexson blasted the next pitch over the wall in left. 14-12 Tribe.

Percival drilled David Justice in the ribs on an 0-1 pitch, leading to Justice charging the mound and throwing his helmet at Percival. They were ejected along with Anaheim skipper Terry Collins. In the ninth, the Angels got two singles with two outs to get the tying runs on base, but Paul Shuey induced Todd Greene (pinch-hitting for Trent Durrington, of whom I have no recollection) to bounce into a fielder’s choice at third.

#425---ANA @ CLE, 4/11/1998

The Angels top three hitters (Darin Erstad, Frank Bolick who I disrespected at the time by misspelling and now by having to look up, and Tim Salmon) combined to go 6-13 with a walk and four homers, but that was essentially all their offense as the other six spots went 2-17 with four walks. The Indians had more balanced contributions up and down their lineup to win 8-5, highlighted by two-run homers from Jim Thome and Brian Giles (the former was announced as a 453 foot shot).

In addition to having to look up Frank Bolick (who appeared in 21 games, with this his only homer of the season and his only other major league action having come in 1993 with Montreal), I don’t remember Phil Nevin as a catcher, but he did start 64 games behind the plate this season and 20 with the Padres in 1999, but just four other times in his twelve year career. Although I suppose this does shed light on why he is now (as I write this in January 2023) the manager of his former team. 

#424---CLE @ TOR, 5/17/1997

Jim Thome’s two-out fourth inning grand slam off Woody Williams was the key blow as the Indians routed the Blue Jays 8-1 north of the border. The Tribe drew seven walks, which helped as the teams were even with nine hits but Toronto’s were scattered. Albie Lopez started for Cleveland and delivered five shutout innings, with Steve Kline soaking up three innings and allowing one run in middle relief (one of those subtle differences in how the game is played that old scoresheets bring to light), and Jose Mesa finished it off.

#423---COL @ CLE, 2/28/2025

There wasn’t a lot of offense in this very early spring tilt as Colorado managed just six hits, the biggest being Sean Bouchard’s game-tying homer off Kolby Allard to lead off the sixth. In the eighth, Justin Lawrence struggled with command, walking two and hitting one to open the inning, but he got Petey Halpin to hit a comebacker which turned into a force at the plate and struck out Korey Huff. But Milan Tolentino drilled a single up the middle to plate two and provide the winning runs for Cleveland.

#422---Iowa @ OSU, 4/14/2024

Iowa took advantage of a Buckeye error to plate a run in the first, but it was all Scarlet & Gray from there as they launched four homers, including three in the fifth to roll to an 11-1 walkoff victory. On this Sunday getaway day, a run rule was in place, and so three walks and a double play that couldn’t be turned plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the margin swelled to ten

#421---SF @ CLE, 3/2/2023

Relatively chilly temperatures were a recurring theme in the Cactus League in 2023 and it was only 52 degrees when the Giants visited Goodyear to face the Guardians (incidentally, a matchup of the only two teams with “G” nicknames in modern MLB). San Francisco took a 1-0 lead off Cal Quantrill in the first, but Cleveland scored three in the third (capped by Josh Naylor’s two-run double) off Tristan Beck. From there the parade of relievers held each side to just one more run. 

#420---CLE @ KC, 3/28/2022

The Royals blasted Cleveland starter Adam Scott for six runs in the first and two in the second, yet totaled seven runs in the first as Scott re-entered the game in the second. The Guards would also re-enter Tobias Myers who was roughed up in the fourth. Kansas City had a whopping nineteen runs after four innings, then got just one hit over the last four innings. Homers from Amed Rosario, Daniel Johnson, and Mike Rivera were the highlights for Cleveland, which was only out-hit 19-17. That’s the Cactus League for you.

#419---CLE @ DET, 4/1/2021

Snowflakes were in the air for Opening Day in Detroit. Shane Bieber, coming off a Cy Young season, surrendered Miguel Cabrera’s 488th career homer in the first and another run in the second, which was all the Tigers would need. Bieber struck out ten and walked three over six innings, while Matt Boyd shutout the Tribe for 5 2/3 frames. Roberto Perez hit a two-run homer off Gregory Soto in the ninth, but Cleveland left the tying run at first base.

#418---CLE @ PIT, 7/18/2020

I liberally mix spring training exhibitions and regular season games, but usually it’s safe to assume a July game is the latter. Not in 2020, though, as the Indians traveled to Pittsburgh for an exhibition and came away with a 5-3 win on the strength on a four-run eighth highlighted by Christian Arroyo’s three-run double. 

#417---CIN @ CLE, 3/23/2019

Jessie Winker and Jose Iglesias each hit two homers off Trevor Bauer for the “visiting” Reds (who of course shared the Goodyear complex with the Indians), but the Indians got a big day from Kevin Plawecki (double, triple, homer, 4 RBI) and won 8-5.  

#416---ARI @ CLE, 3/23/2018

A run-of-the-mill spring training game made noteworthy to me by the appearance of Tre’ Gantt as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth. He did not come to the plate nor get any action in the field, but nice to see nonetheless.

#415---CHA @ CLE, 3/25/2017

 

The White Sox took advantage of the last spring Arizona environment to launch five home runs, accounting for six runs, through eight innings, but it wasn’t enough as they trailed 7-6. Indians reliever Joe Colon had two outs in the ninth and the bases were loaded for White Sox batter Hayes (?), who launched a game-winning grand slam. 

#414---Eastern League All-Star Game, 7/13/2016

This AA All-Star Game was a rout, with the Eastern Division rolling over the Western Division (which included the host Akron RubberDucks). There wasn’t a ton of future MLB star power on display, but certainly some household names including Raimel Tapia, Jorge Alfaro, Rhys Hoskins (three-run homer in the first), Rowdy Tellez, Clint Frazier, Nick Pivetta.  

#422---Iowa @ OSU, 4/14/2024

Iowa took advantage of a Buckeye error to plate a run in the first, but it was all Scarlet & Gray from there as they launched four homers, including three in the fifth to roll to an 11-1 walkoff victory. On this Sunday getaway day, a run rule was in place, and so three walks and a double play that couldn’t be turned plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the margin swelled to ten.

I usually don't pay too much attention to the dates scoresheet post here - I don't do anything cute like post spring training scoresheets during spring training or playoff scoresheets in October. But this game was played exactly one year ago today.

#413---CLE @ HOU, 4/6/2015

This Opening Day game matched reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber against eventual Cy Young winner for this season Dallas Keuchel, and it did not disappoint as a sharply pitched affair. Kluber carried a no-no into the sixth but when he did allow a two-out single to Altuve, he swiped second and scored the game’s first run on a George Springer single. Keuchel had only allowed one hit himself through six, but the Indians answered with a pair of singles to open to seventh. It was to no avail as Keuchel, Tony Sipp, and Luke Gregerson combined to retire the last nine Cleveland batters (Gregerson needed just five pitches in the ninth). The Astros added a run in the eighth for the final 2-0 margin.

#412---CLE @ SEA, 6/27/2014

I kept score of this game off the radio using my modified LL Bean-style scoring. It was a good but not particularly notable game as all runs were single tallies, Seattle in the first, fourth, and seventh, Cleveland in the third and ninth. 

#411---Louisville @ Columbus, 8/8/2013

Daisuke Matuszaka was pitching for the Clippers in 2013, never making it to Cleveland, but he pitched very well this rainy night (I didn’t note the time on the sheet, but I believe there was a delay of at least an hour before first pitch) against the Bats, allowing one run, two hits, two walks, and fanning five over seven innings. Another former big league name that never made it to Cleveland contributed as Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer. Vinnie Pestano, also trying to find himself, recorded a 1-2-3 ninth to finish the game.

#410---CLE @ COL, 4/1/2012

 A lot of runs were scored in this very late Spring Training game, including Travis Hafner’s first inning grand slam, but the real fireworks came when ex-Rockie Ubaldo Jimenez plunked Troy Tulowitzki (almost surely intentionally) in the bottom of the first, leading to Tulo being replaced by a pinch-runner. Colorado eventually led 10-5 after six, powered by a pair of homers (two-run and three-run) from Tyler Colvin, but Shelley Ducan hit Cleveland’s second grand slam in the sixth and the Tribe prevailed 12-10.

#409---Norfolk @ Columbus, 7/31/2011

 

The Clippers trailed the Tides 5-1 after five, but got solo homers in the sixth and seventh and a two-run homer in the eighth to tie it up. Not much happened in extra innings; Columbus had runners at first and second with one out in the twelfth and Norfolk runners at first and second with two out in the thirteenth. In the bottom of the thirteenth, Shelley Duncan led off with a walk, then stole second on the first pitch to Nick Johnson and took third on the catcher’s throwing error. Johnson and the next Clipper batter were intentionally passed and pinch hitter Beau Mills hit one to the track in left for a long walkoff single.

For me, the most notable aspect of the game was Matt Angle returning to Columbus as Norfolk’s leadoff hitter. He had a good game, going 3-5 with a walk, although his good v. evil confrontation with Zack Putnam never really came to fruition as he dropped down a sac bunt.

#408---Trenton @ Akron, 5/3/2010

 This was a wild Eastern League slugfest without a lot of notable future big leaguers. Akron trailed 6-0 but put up their first five-spot in the third. Trenton answered with a pair of two-run innings, but Akron plated five more in the fifth (the first six batters reached) and it was 10-10. But Trenton had the haymaker with a seven-run sixth (an inning started by Kerry Wood) capped by Brandon Laird’s two-run homer. Wood was on a rehab assignment and was lit up for five runs in 2/3 of an inning. Laird had the biggest offensive performance on a night of big offensive performances (4-5, 4 R, 3 RBI, 3 D, HR, W). 

#407---Binghamton @ Akron, 8/31/2009

I suppose the three most notable future big leaguers in this game were Reuben Tejada (3-4, 3 RBI, D, SB), Ike Davis (2-5, 2 RBI, HR), and Carlos Santana (3-4, 2 RBI, D, W), and they all had big games. Aeros leadoff hitter Jose Costanza reached base all five times, scoring four runs, and Akron won an entertaining slugfest 10-7. 

#406---ATL @ WAS, 3/30/2008

This was the MLB season opener and the first game at Nationals Park. Washington got off to a good start, with two-out RBI hits from Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns giving them a 2-0 lead off Tim Hudson. That was literally all they would get off Hudson as he retired the last nineteen batters he faced, leaving the game after just 78 pitches through seven.

Chipper Jones’ homer cut it to 2-1 in the fourth, but the Braves managed little offense with just two baserunners in the fifth through the eighth. Facing Jon Rauch with one out in the ninth, Mark Teixeira doubled, advanced to third on Jeff Francoeur’s groundout, and scored the tying run on a Paul LoDuca passed ball on the first pitch to Brian McCann. Meanwhile, Will Ohman had a 1-2-3 eighth and Peter Moylan set down the first two Nats in the ninth, running Atlanta’s streak to twenty-four retired. But Ryan Zimmerman ended that and the game with a homer to centerfield.

#405---NYA @ BOS, 4/22/2007

All eyes immediately jump to the bottom of the fourth, where Jarret Wright induced six consecutive flyballs. The first two were secured by Bobby Abreu and Melky Cabrera; the next four, hit by Manny Ramirez, JD Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek, were over the fence. My note says that at the time this was the fifth occurrence of four straight homers, with JD Drew having hit the second homer in one of the other skeins. 

Despite that, the Yankees held a 5-4 lead entering the seventh until Mike Lowell hit a three-run dinger off Scott Proctor. Boston held on for a 7-6 win. One oddity was Andy Pettitte’s sixth-inning relief appearance – not sure what the story was there as he was a rotation stalwart in 2007, leading the league with 34 starts.

#404---CLE @ CHA, 4/2/2006

I believe this is the only time the Indians were ever given the privilege of participating in the first MLB game of the season, a Sunday Night affair at the defending world champion White Sox and the opening salvo in what was expected to be a season-long divisional race. The game and the season both turned out to be disappointing (both for the Tribe, the latter for the ChiSox). 

Chicago started getting to CC Sabathia in the bottom of the third; they had scored two runs and had a runner at first with one out when Sabathia had to leave due to an injury after delivering a strike to Jim Thome. Danny Graves, a former top prospect for Cleveland making his return as a veteran bullpen piece, would allow another run and wriggle out of a bases loaded jam. The Tribe answered back in the fourth with a three-run shot from Eduardo Perez, but the game was delayed by rain in the middle of the fourth for nearly three hours. When it finally resumed, Jim Thome answered with a three-run shot off Fernando Cabrera and Chicago put up third straight three-spot in the fifth, cruising to a 10-4 win. The game finally ended at 2:13 Eastern time.

#403---CHN @ SD, 6/4/2005

For this game I used a scoresheet that incorporates some of the concepts of Reisner Scorekeeping, but maintaining a 9x9 grid and eschewing the use of diamonds. Each line in the scorebox labeled 1, 2, 3 is to note the lineup slot of the runner on the respective base and what happens to them during the course of the plate appearance. For example, looking at Jerry Hairston’s box in the top of the fourth, the #8 hitter was on second base and the #7 hitter was on third. Hairston singled, advancing the runner from second to third (-->3) and the runner from third to score (-->H). The boxed X indicates a run scored. 

As for the game, the visitors got seven in the fifth to roll to a 11-5 win credited to Greg Maddux. Maddux had yielded just an unearned run through five, but Brian Giles singled and Phil Nevin homered to leadoff the sixth. Maddux completed that frame and then was pulled having allowed three runs on eight hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. 

An interesting side note is that I posted this scoresheet to my old Baseball Scoresheets site circa about 2005 and didn’t really think about it again for fifteen years. Then one day I happened to see it being used by a poster on the BaseballScorecards subreddit. Sometimes people actually stumble across your obscure vanity sites. Someone may some day even stumble across this post. 

#402---DET @ CLE, 3/13/2004

The Tribe led this spring training game 2-1 on Casey Blake’s homer, then put together a three-run rally with two outs in the sixth against a bunch of Tigers pitchers that I would have to google to identify. 

#401---CLE @ DET, 3/1/2003

 

There were a lot of runs in this early spring training game, with the Indians getting three-run homers from Travis Hafner and Jhonny Peralta to power a 13-8 win. Their third base coach must have been easing into the season as well as they had two consecutive runners nailed at the plate in the fourth. Some fun names show up here (Eugene Kingsale and Hiram Bocachica), but Steve Avery’s sad comeback attempt with his hometown team is also on display (although he did make nineteen appearances out of the pen in the regular season to close his MLB career after not having appeared in any of the previous three seasons).

#400---CLE @ ANA, 3/31/2002

No one knew it at the time, but this was Opening Day for the Angels’ World Championship season. It did not get off to a fine start as they were whitewashed 6-0 by Bartolo Colon. Cleveland got more than enough runs, jumping Jarrod Washburn for four in the first. Colon was brilliant, going the distance on just 98 pitches, allowing five hits and two walks while fanning five

#399---BAL @ CLE, 4/6/2001

The Orioles got to Dave Burba for three in the third, while through four the Indians had just two baserunners against Jose Mercedes. They scratched home a run in the fifth, then tied it in the sixth on back-to-back homers from Juan Gonzalez and Jim Thome. Burba finished a solid outing (7 IP, 6 H, 1 W, 9 K, 108 pitches) working around a Brooks Fordyce double in the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, the Indians got four walks (including a pinch-hit walk from Marty Cordova in his Tribe debut) off Mercedes, BJ Ryan, and Calvin Maduro to take a 4-3 lead. Paul Shuey and Bob Wickman made that hold up, with the only blemish a two-out walk to David Segui in the eighth.

There was a eight minute fog delay between the fifth and sixth because what’s early April baseball without a weather delay?

#398---SEA @ ANA, 10/1/2000

I followed this game on whatever MLB had for a gametracker in 2000, using their scoresheet (and showing my devotion to ignoring Disney’s edict by crossing out “Anaheim” to write in “California”). The reason this game held such interest for me is that the Indians needed a Seattle loss to force a wildcard playoff. 

Things stared off well, with the Angels plating two off Aaron Sele in the first. But that’s all they would get, scattering just five hits and a walk the rest of the way off Sele, Arthur Rhoades, and Kaz Sasaki. A-Rod homered in the fourth, Mike Cameron doubled home the tying run in the fifth, and David Bell homered to give them the lead in the seventh. Raul Ibanez delivered a two-run double, and the Mariners secured the wildcard berth 5-2.

#397---CLE @ ANA, 4/6/1999

The Indians struck first on this Opening Day in Anaheim on Kenny Lofton’s triple and Omar Vizquel’s homer in the third. Anaheim got one in the third and  back-to-back solo shots from Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson in the fourth before Cleveland singled their way to three in the fifth. When the teams came back on the field for the sixth, Anaheim’s marquis free agent signing Mo Vaughn was out of the game with an inkle injury, putting a damper on things for the home crowd, but three straight Angel singles in the seventh made it 5-4 and drove Jaret Wright from the box, and Darin Erstad greeted Ricardo Rincon with a game-tying sac fly. Tim Salmon led off the bottom of the eighth with a hit off Steve Karsay, but was out when hit by Garret Anderson’s hit. But Troy Glaus doubled with two outs to give Anaheim the lead, and Troy Percival made quick work of the Tribe, needing just eight pitches to retire the heart of the order for the save in a 6-5 victory. 

#396---ANA @ CLE, 4/10/1998

The Indians had a pair of two-run innings off Allen Watson to lead 4-1 entering the fifth, but Anaheim got four straight hits off Bartolo Colon and drove him from the game with the bases loaded and two outs after laboring with 105 pitches. Paul Shuey got out of it the Indians would take the lead back in the seventh on a two-out David Justice single off Mike Holtz. Up 5-4 in the ninth, Mike Jackson hit Dave Hollins, fanned Tim Salmon, and allowed a double to Jim Edmonds. Tim Naehring hit for Cecil Fielder and grounded to Jackson, who caught Hollins in a 1-5-2-6-5 out. But on an 0-2 pitch Garret Anderson singled to tie the game. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Omar Vizquel and Kenny Lofton both singled and both were caught stealing. Eric Plunk retired Anaheim in order in the tenth, while Troy Percival, on for a second inning, gave up a hit to Manny Ramirez and a walk to Brian Giles. With two outs, Jim Thome launched a three-run homer for a very entertaining 8-5 Cleveland victory.

#395---CLE @ TOR, 5/16/1997

Roger Clemens plunked Marquis Grissom to open the game, and he was singled home by Matt Williams, but the Rocket held the Tribe in check for the next six frames. The Blue Jays got to Orel Hershiser in the sixth as Carlos Delgado tripled home the tying run and scored on a sac fly. Hershiser got two groundouts to start the seventh, but Otis Nixon singled and Alex Gonzalez homered and it was 4-1 Toronto. Clemens was lifted in the eighth and Matt Williams took Dan Pleasc deep to cut it to 4-2, but Ed Sprague answered with a homer off Eric Plunk to leadoff the bottom of the eighth. The Indians mustered a walk but nothing else as Mike Timlin got the save in the ninth.

#394---Portland @ Akron-Canton, 8/7/1996

I kept score of this game on the ballpark scorecard sold at Thurman Munson Stadium, where the Akron-Canton Indians were playing their last season before moving into their new digs in downtown Akron with their new name (Aeros). The Indians scored single runs in the first and fifth to take a 2-0 lead off Sea Dog starter Livan Hernandez, but the visitors put up a seven spot in the eighth en route to a 7-3 victory. 

Hernandez was already famous a high-profile Cuban defector, and was quite gracious in signing autographs for young fans after the game, including one scrawled on my ticket stub in pencil. Other future big leaguers in this game included Luis Castillo, Todd Dunwoody, Kevin Millar, Mike Redmond, Bruce Aven, Richie Sexson, Alex Ramirez, Einar Diaz, Kevin Tolar, and Felix Heredia.

#393---OSU @ MSU, 4/8/2024

Only seven innings were required for OSU to defeat MSU as a ten-run rule after seven was in place for a doubleheader. Every Buckeye reached based safely, with eight of the nine starters collecting a hit and all ten who appeared either drove in or scored a run. A six-run seventh pushed the game into run rule territory, with Mitchell Okuley's two-run triple the biggest blow in the frame.