#277---DET @ NYA, 4/2/2011

 

The Yankees pounded Brad Penny for eight runs over 4 1/3, with three-run homers from Mark Teixeira and Russell Martin (facing reliever Brad Thomas but scoring two of Penny’s runners) the big blows. Brayan Villarreal made his major league debut in the sixth, and the first batter he faced was A-Rod.  He took him deep to center-left for homers #1/7 for Villarreal and #614/696 for Rodriguez. 

That made it 10-3; Victor Martinez’ two-run shot in the eighth got Detroit closer, and in the ninth the Tigers had made it 10-6 with runners at the corners and two outs after a throwing error by Derek Jeter that should have ended the game. Mariano Rivera was summoned to face Miguel Cabrera, and got a three-pitch save: two fouls and a grounder to second on what must have been the most Jeterian of swings.

#276---CHA @ CLE, 4/18/2010

The Indians bombed Gavin Floyd for seven runs as he failed to record an out in the second, with Shin-Soo Choo’s grand slam as the big blow. Over seven innings the ChiSox bullpen allowed just two hits and two walks, but their offense only scored four runs so it was for naught. Random notes:

* Juan Pierre stole three bases

* Alexei Ramirez had three hits

* Omar Vizquel started at third for the White Sox 

* Michael Brantly hit ninth for the Indians behind Luis Valbuena, Mark Grudzielanek (who was DHing), and Mike Redmond 

#275---SF @ SD, 4/11/2009

 

Henry Blanco’s two homers and Adrian Gonzalez’ bases clearing double provided all the support Jake Peavy would need. Peavy struck out ten over 8 1/3, his complete game bid ended on Fred Lewis’ double in the ninth, with Heath Bell recording the last two outs for the save. 

#274---CLE @ ATL, 3/28/2008

 I don’t have much to say about this one, although I have always had a soft spot for exhibition games played in major league parks. Maybe it was the excitement with which my neighbor talked about going to the first game played at Jacobs Field in 1994, or the cold Indians/Cubs game I watched from the home run porch a few years later. 

Grady Sizemore, en route to his best season, had an interesting day, with a double, triple, and hit by pitch twice. Fausto Carmona probably gave us all reason to believe he’d continue his 2007 form as he allowed one run over six innings with one walk, two strikeouts, and ten outs on groundballs. Spoiler: he would not continue his 2007 form.

#273---SD @ LA, 4/15/2007

Chris Young did not have his control, walking five Dodgers (including opposite number Randy Wolf twice) and coughing up five runs in just 2 1/3. Andre Ethier had a big day at the plate (three hits, a homer, four RBI), Wolf hit the minimum qualifications for a quality start, and Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito combined to allow just one walk in three innings of relief.

But the most interesting aspects of the scoresheet come from Rafael Furcal’s trips to the plate. He started the game by reaching on catcher’s interference, and drew a walk in the eighth which was aided by an automatic third ball (indicated by the “a” preceding my normal “D” on the left side of the scorebox) called on Doug Brocail.

#272---SEA @ CLE, 4/13/2006

The Indians got to Felix Hernandez for five runs in 4 2/3, including homers by Ben Broussard and Ronnie Belliard. Unfortunately, Jason Johnson was pitching for Cleveland, and he allowed three runs in the fifth (including an Ichiro homer) and walked the bases loaded in the sixth before being bailed out by Rafael Betancourt. But in the seventh Betancourt walked namesake Yuniesky (not an easy thing to do) and surrendered the tying homer to Jose Lopez before Scott Sauerbeck and Guillermo Mota allowed two more runs across. Kenji Johjima’s two-run double in the ninth gave the Mariners nine, and their bullpen shut the Tribe out, including a six-out save by JJ Putz.

Carl Everett had a game after my heart, grounding out his first time up, followed by a double and then walks in his final three plate appearances.  

#271---CLE @ CHA, 4/4/2005

Mark Buehrle and Jake Westbrook each pitched eight fine innings on opening day, but the Sox scored the game’s only run in the seventh on a double by Paul Konerko and infield hit by Aaron Rowand. Westbrook allowed five hits and one walk with three strikeouts, while Buehrle was perfect through four, allowing just two hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Shingo Takatsu pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save, and the game was over in snappy one hour, fifty-one minutes.

#270---NYN @ ATL, 4/8/2004

This was a wild early season game between division rivals, with the fifth through seventh innings producing thirteen of the eighteen runs scored in the games, Atlanta’s four-run sixth being decisive. The highlight of that inning is probably 45 year old Julio Franco’s bases loaded pinch-hit walk against 42 year old John Franco. A few offensive performances that stood out were Ty Wigginton (three hits, four RBI, one HR), Marcus Giles (four singles), and Johnny Estrada (three hits, four RBI).  

#269---CLE @ KC, 4/5/2003

 Runelvys Hernandez flummoxed the Indians, allowing just two hits and one walk over seven innings with three strikeouts and making just 85 pitches. Fortunately for Cleveland, the two hits were consecutive two out doubles by John McDonald and Milton Bradley that plated a run in the third. They had no further luck against the Kansas City bullpen, with Jason Grimsley and Mike MacDougal each recording perfect innings with two Ks.

The Royals scored three runs, with the go ahead run coming on a little league home run by Michael Tucker in the third, scoring on an Omar Vizquel throwing error after he’d tripled to center. Despite twelve hits (including three each from Brent Mayne and Carlos Febles at the bottom of the lineup), Kansas City managed just three runs, with two runners cut down at the plate.

#268---MIN @ CLE, 4/11/2002

The Indians battered Kyle Lohse for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings, punctuated by a two-run homer by Jim Thome and a three-run homer by Omar Vizquel. Bartolo Colon wasn’t particularly sharp, allowing 4 runs over 5 2/3 and striking out just two Twins. When the starters exited, the scoring was done; the pens combined for 8 1/3 scoreless innings.

One of those relievers, Jack Cressand, was tossed along with his manager Ron Gardenhire for intentionally hitting Ricky Gutierrez leading off the fifth. These division rivals did not have a friendly relationship in 2002 – see #215 for the entertaining culmination.