#296---CLE @ TEX, 5/9/2003

 

Another Indians/Rangers game from May, this one played in Arlington, again featuring a big game from Omar Vizquel (three singles and a double) and a homer from Matt Lawton (he also tried for another triple, but was out stretching at third in the eighth). The bottom of the Tribe ordered also contributed heavily, with a double from John McDonald (who entered after Travis Hafner was pulled in the third), a two-run double from Tim Laker, two hits and a walk from Casey Blake, and two doubles from Brandon Phillips. Note RA Dickey’s 3 1/3 innings in long relief, allowing two inherited runners to score and surrendering Lawton’s homer, but fanning five. 

#295---TEX @ CLE, 5/5/2002

 

Omar Vizquel had a huge game out of the leadoff spot, rapping out five hits (first two singles, then three doubles) and CC Sabathia went 6 2/3 allowing two runs with six Ks and two walks to lead the Tribe to a 9-2 win over the Rangers and Kenny Rogers, who allowed six runs in four innings. Matt Lawton was also a notable standout with a triple and a homer.

#294---CLE @ TB, 5/4/2001

Cleveland led 8-2 after seven, powered by Ellis Burks’ three-run homer and a solid start from Bartolo Colon. In the eighth, the first three Devil Rays reached off Ricardo Rincon and Steve Reed, and Russ Johnson’s triple made it 8-6. Rich Rodriguez was summoned to fan Ben Grieve, and Paul Shuey did the same to Greg Vaughn. Fred McGriff led off the ninth with a single, but Aubrey Huff hit into a double play rather than seize the mantle of hero (he’d already singled, doubled, and homered) and Randy Winn  bounced out to end it.

The Tampa Bay pitchers were Albie Lopez, Brian Rose, Jeff Wallace, and Doug Creek, in case you like me were struggling to place any of those names. 

#293---DET @ CLE, 5/16/2000

Luis Polonia and Juan Gonzalez homered off Charlie Nagy in the first, but Cleveland came right back against Hideo Nomo with a three-run first. They knocked Nomo out after two innings and three batters with seven runs on the board, the coup de grace coming on Travis Fryman’s three-run homer. Detroit’s three-run fourth made it 7-5, and from that point on the teams mostly traded runs to an 11-9 finish, Steve Karsay retiring all four batters he faced to earn the save. Both teams tallied fourteen hits, so there were plenty of offensive standouts, including Juan Gonzalez’ two homers, Omar Vizquel’s two triples, and Travis Fryman’s three hits.