Indians-White Sox: Cleveland Wins Home Opener

On the schedule, there was no mention of a fireworks display.  Tell that to both offenses though. The Tribe knocked off the White Sox, 10-8. 

Casey Blake delivered a key two-out double with bases loaded and the score tied 7-7, propelling the Indians to victory.

In a game pitting two lefties, Cleveland’s ace C.C. Sabathia and White Sox Mark Buehrle, you’d have thought this would play out as a 2-1 game.  By the end of the third, it was 7-4 and Mark Buehrle was gone. 

The White Sox started off the first with a two run homer by Jim Thome, with a man on.  They mirrored that same inning in the third, with Thome going deep yet again.  Sandwiched in between, the Tribe broke out for a seven spot and kicked Buerhle to the curb in bottom of the second. 

The scoring was highlighted by a three run homer by Guetierrez, and Sizemore homered to right. 

Sabathia lasted until the 5^th, when he got chased after only getting one out and putting men on the corners.  Lewis relieved, striking out two, but giving up one in the process, making it a 7-5 Cleveland lead. 

In the seventh, the Sox tied the game 7-7, scoring two with nobody out. 

With bases loaded, and Betancourt on the mound, Peralta fielded a single and threw home.  Shoppach appeared to miss the tag, but the runner was called out.  Break number one for the tribe. 

Again, with bases loaded, the White Sox hit into a controversial double play.  The hit went to second, the throw to shortstop Peralta. Peralta stepped on the bag and was interfered with, making Thome an automatic out at first. 

The bottom of the eight proved the difference-maker on Blake’s double, with bases loaded. 

Joe Borowski came on in the ninth, and looked just like last year, making the game interesting by giving up a score before retiring the side: The Tribe wins the home opening 10-8.  Betancourt gets the win, Borowski the save.