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Late inning heroics Consecutive homers in ninth lift Tribe over Rangers 2-1
Posted: Sunday April 16, 2000 05:35 PM
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jim Thome's one-out homer into the Indians' bullpen followed Manny Ramirez's shot in the ninth inning as Cleveland rallied Sunday to beat the Texas Rangers 2-1. The two drives -- the 201st career homers for both players -- came off John Wetteland (0-1) and helped Chuck Finley win his home debut for the Indians, who were held to two hits through eight innings. Despite striking out 13 and pitching a five-hitter, Finley (1-0) looked like he was going to be a hard-luck loser when he walked off the mound to a standing ovation in the ninth. But Ramirez and Thome took care of things, giving Finley his first win with Cleveland and giving Indians rookie manager Charlie Manuel his first home win. Ramirez, who had struck out in his first three at-bats, drove a 3-2 pitch from Wetteland over the wall in deep center for his third homer. Thome came to the plate looking to win it with one swing and he did, lining a 2-2 pitch over the wall. Wetteland had converted his previous 18 save opportunities. The Indians poured out of the dugout to greet Thome, who had to fight his way through a greeting party at home plate as his teammates pounded on him. Texas starter Esteban Loaiza pitched 7 1-3 shutout innings and struck out a career-high 10 for the Rangers, who were looking for their first sweep in Cleveland since 1992. Finley, signed during the offseason as a free agent, broke his own major league record by striking out four batters in one inning for the third time in his career. He already was the only pitcher to strike out four batters in one inning twice. Loaiza, pitching on nine days' rest, didn't allow a hit until the fifth, when David Justice doubled with one out. Loaiza then retired nine straight, striking out five in a row in one stretch before Travis Fryman singled with one out in the eighth. Jeff Zimmerman put the potential go-ahead run on with a two-out walk but struck out Omar Vizquel to end the Indians' best threat before they came back in the ninth. Following Justice's double, Texas third baseman Tom Evans made a nice stop on Fryman's grounder to get the second out, and Loaiza escaped trouble when he shook off getting drilled in the mid-section by Einar Diaz's liner and threw to first. Finley, who used to marvel at Cleveland's defense as an opponent, got some help from Roberto Alomar in the first. Alomar made a diving stop behind second base on Ivan Rodriguez's grounder and from the ground flipped the ball to Omar Vizquel who turned the double play. Notes: Finley entered with an 8-17 record and 4.73 ERA against Texas. ... Hall of Famer Bob Feller threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the 60th anniversary of his opening day no-hitter in 1940 at Chicago's Comiskey Park. ... The Indians are continuing sales of group tickets for September dates despite saying last week that the entire 2000 home schedule was a complete sellout. ... Texas CF Rusty Greer's surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle went as expected in Dallas on Sunday. The team said Greer would be in a walking cast for 5-7 days and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. ... Finley, who struck out 10 in his first start, had his 29th career double-digit strikeout game.
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