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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) – The pitch was low and away. Juan Gonzalez hit
it high and far -- one-handed.
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| Gonzalez |
Gonzalez led off the eighth inning with a jaw-dropping,
tiebreaking home run Thursday night as the Cleveland Indians
salvaged the series finale with a 6-5 win over the Anaheim Angels
before the smallest crowd at Jacobs Field in nearly six years.
Gonzalez reached way outside and pulled a 1-2 pitch from
Shigetoshi Hasegawa (1-2) over the 19-foot-high wall in left field. It was Gonzalez's 18th career homer in 41 games at the Jake, and although it wasn't the longest, it was perhaps the most impressive.
"It was my best pitch," Hasegawa said. "Other hitters on that pitch strike out or they just don't swing."
Players in both clubhouses were awed by Gonzalez's show of strength.
"He's so strong," Ellis Burks said. "That was a pitcher's
pitch. And that's a big wall. I've admired Juan for a couple years
playing against him. I always wondered what it would be like to
play with him. So far, I'd have to say he's definitely legit."
Gonzalez seemed unfazed by his ability to hit an impossible pitch 384 feet.
"It was a slider," Gonzalez said. "I hit it with one hand. The ball goes out of the yard. We win."
Gonzalez's ability to hit at Cleveland's home park helped pursuade the
Indians to pursue him as a free agent this past winter to replace Manny
Ramirez. Gonzalez, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract, is
batting .354 with 49 RBI in 178 at-bats at the Jake and has hit
six of his eight homers this season at home.
He's fit in nicely in the Indians' lineup and even better in the
clubhouse.
"He just smiles," said Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel. "I call him, 'Cacique,' that's 'big man' or 'big chief.' That's the only Spanish I know except for beer. He is an amazing player."
Only 29,427 fans attended, the smallest crowd since the Indians drew 27,749 for a May 10, 1995, game against Kansas City.
Paul Shuey (1-1) got the win, working a hitless eighth in relief of starter Chuck Finley. Bob Wickman pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Tim Salmon hit a two-run homer and had four RBI for the Angels, who scored three runs in the first off Finley.
However, the left-hander handled his former teammates -- except for Salmon -- over the next six innings. He allowed three earned runs and five hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out seven.
After Salmon's two-run homer tied it 5-5 in the third, Finley
retired 14 of the next 15. Salmon is 7-for-11 with four homers in
his career against Finley.
"I can't explain it," Salmon said of his dominance over Finley. "When he makes his pitch, you see how nasty he is. Maybe I elevate my game against a great pitcher. I have no idea why I hit him."
Angels starter Pat Rapp looked like he was going to have a short
night as well. He gave up five runs in the first, but settled down
and pitched five scoreless innings of two-hit ball before leaving
after six.
After scoring just three runs on 20 hits in the first two games
of the series, the Indians had five players get RBI when they
scored five times on four hits in the first against Rapp.
Salmon kept Cleveland's inning alive by dropping Russell
Branyan's two-out line drive to right. Catcher Eddie Taubensee, who
had a rough inning behind the plate in the first, put Cleveland up
5-3 with a run-scoring single.
Taubensee made a high throw to first base, was charged with
interference and a passed ball as the Angels took a 3-0 lead in the
first off Finley.
Salmon hit a two-run double and Troy Glaus had a sacrifice fly
before Burks took extra bases away from rookie Shawn Wooten with a
leaping catch at the wall in left for the final out.
Game notes
The Indians already have played nine one-run games, going 5-0 at home. ... Finley, not known for his fielding, made a lucky,
behind-the-back snag on Benji Gil's comebacker in the fourth. ... Indians RHP Charles Nagy, trying to come back from elbow surgery, will throw in the bullpen Friday and is expected to be sent to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday. ... Wooten, a former catcher and third
baseman, is borrowing Scott Spiezio's glove while he plays first base. "I charge rent," Spiezio said. ... Kenny Lofton scored his
865th career run in the first, tying him with Hall of Famer
Napoleon Lajoie for fourth on the Indians' career list. Only Earl
Averill (1,154), Tris Speaker (1,079) and Charlie Jamieson (942)
are ahead of Lofton. ... Angels OF Darin Erstad left with lower back spasms and is day to day.
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RECAPS
Kansas City 6
Tampa Bay 0
Detroit 8
Baltimore 2
Boston 2
Minnesota 0
Cleveland 6
Anaheim 5
Seattle 7
NY Yankees 3
Oakland 16
Chi. White Sox 6
Montreal 4
St. Louis 3
Milwaukee 12
NY Mets 8
Chicago Cubs 7
Colorado 2
Cincinnati 7
San Francisco 5
San Diego 11
Philadelphia 0
Arizona 13
Atlanta 6
Los Angeles 6
Pittsburgh 3
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