Indian Givers Cleveland Takes Back Game From Reds 5-4

By Mark Schmetzer

Two errors and three walks helped the Cincinnati Reds to four gift runs in the opening game of the Battle of Ohio but Cleveland took the game back.

Actually after Travis Wood put the Indian hitters on the reservation, through five innings.  Wood got a bit generous himself.

Young Alex White, the Indians first pick in the 2009 draft, allowed just a double to Jay Bruce but walked three Reds with one out in the third.  Joey Votto hit a hard ground ball to firstbaseman, Matt LaPorta.  With his eyes getting big, the young firstbaseman threw wildly to secondbase and two runs scored.  An error by veteran and former Red, Orlando Cabrera allowed another unearned run to score.

The Reds and Wood took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning.  Wood got LaPorta for the first out but former Red first round pick (1998) Austin Kearns singled sharply to center field.  Jack Hannahan singled to right.  Michael Brantley singled and went to second when Bruce bobbled the ball.  Wood walked Asdrubal Cabrera to load the bases.  Then Wood hit Shin-Soo Choo to force in the third run.  It was the last thing Wood did.

Big Logan Ondrusek entered the game and walked in a run by giving Carlos Santana a pass.  Shelly Duncan hit a sacrifice fly to left.

Both bullpens battled.

Bill Bray got the first two outs but Choo tripled to left.  Santana was walked intentionally.

Dusty Baker went to his late inning hammer, Nick Masset, who has shaken his early season problems and  has pitched well, since April.

Cleveland manager, Manny Acta, called on Ezequiel Carrera, who was called up from Columbus because Travis Haffner was placed on the disabled list.

Carrera in his first major league at bat put down a drag bunt and eluded the tag by Votto, who fielded the bunt halfway up the firstbase line.  Choo scored the winning run.

Chris Perez walked pinch hitter, Freddie Lewis.  Drew Stubbs hit a fly to deep right against the fence for the first out.  Jonny  Gomes lined a ball of the handle and Perez doubled Lewis off first.

The Indians and Reds have split the 70 inter league games since the leagues began playing each other in the regular season in 1997.