Indians Get Home Win in Milwaukee

Snow follows the Cleveland Indians _ only it doesn't matter much at their temporary home field in Milwaukee, where there's a retractable roof. After sitting through a weekend's worth of snow

Wednesday, April 11th 2007, 7:37 am

By: News On 6

Snow follows the Cleveland Indians _ only it doesn't matter much at their temporary home field in Milwaukee, where there's a retractable roof. After sitting through a weekend's worth of snow in Cleveland without playing a game that counted, the Indians finally got to play a home opener of sorts, beating the Los Angeles Angels 7-6 Tuesday night under the retractable roof at Miller Park _ some 450 miles away from Jacobs Field.

Ten inches of snow were predicted for Milwaukee overnight.

``We brought it with us,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

The Indians brought their mascot, Slider, and paid for superfan John Adams to bring his big drum _ a fixture at Indians home games. There was a definite touch of Milwaukee, as the chorizo won the sausage mascot race that was held after the sixth inning, just like during Brewers games.

``I think it's great,'' Adams said. ``They started a little too early. I know a lot of people from Cleveland (who) live in Chicago came racing up after work.''

In other games it was New York 10, Minnesota 1; Texas 12, Tampa Bay 9; Oakland 2, Chicago 1; Kansas City 6, Toronto 3; Boston 14, Seattle 3; and Detroit 3, Baltimore 1.

At Milwaukee, C.C. Sabathia (2-0) gave up three runs _ one earned _ in seven innings, striking out seven. Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his second save, allowing Casey Kotchman's RBI single. The game ended when pinch-runner Erick Aybar was thrown out trying to steal second by catcher Kelly Shoppach _ the second time in five games that Aybar, representing the tying run, was thrown out for the last out of the game trying to steal second.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he left the decision to steal up to Aybar on both plays.

``But I wouldn't have given him the option if we didn't have a good chance to be successful,'' Scioscia said.

Cleveland scored four runs in the first four innings _ including home runs by Shoppach and Casey Blake. The Indians chased starter Ervin Santana (1-1) during a three-run fifth inning. Santana gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Yankees 10, Twins 1

Alex Rodriguez homered in his fourth straight game, increasing his major league-leading total to six.

Andy Pettitte (1-0) gave up four hits in six shutout innings at the Metrodome for his 150th victory with the Yankees, his first since 2003.

Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer in the fifth off Boof Bonser (0-1), who gave up seven runs _ six earned _ and six hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Rangers 12, Devil Rays 9

Frank Catalanotto hit a three-run homer in a seven-run third inning at Texas, and Kenny Lofton reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a homer, three runs scored and three RBIs.

Catalanotto went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, and Ian Kinsler also homered for the Rangers (4-4), who reached .500 for the first time this season.

Scott Feldman (1-0) threw 2 1-3 innings of two-hit shutout relief for his first major league victory.

Devil Rays starter Jae Seo (0-1) gave up 10 runs _ five earned _ and eight hits in three innings.

Ty Wigginton had four RBIs for Devil Rays, who lost their fourth straight.

Athletics 2, White Sox 1

Mark Ellis singled off the wall in left against Bobby Jenks (1-1) with the bases loaded in the ninth at Oakland after pinch-hitter Todd Walker tied the game on an RBI single.

Huston Street (1-0) pitched one perfect inning for the win. The A's have scored two or fewer runs in each of their last five games, the longest such streak for the club since Aug. 20-24, 1980.

Juan Uribe hit a fifth-inning RBI single for the White Sox.

Royals 6, Blue Jays 3

Alex Gordon, in a 1-for-24 slide, hit his first career home run to back Zack Greinke (1-1), who held the Blue Jays to a run in six innings. Joakim Soria pitched two perfect innings for his first career save as visiting Kansas City stopped a three-game losing streak and Toronto's three-game winning streak.

Josh Towers (0-1) allowed six runs _ three earned _ and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out six and walked none. Last year, he lost his first nine decisions and finished 2-10 with an 8.42 ERA.

Red Sox 14, Mariners 3

In the first game of the year at Fenway Park, the Red Sox pelted World Series star Jeff Weaver (0-1) with seven runs in the first two innings.

Jason Varitek and Kevin Youkilis each had three of Boston's 14 hits, and J.D. Drew homered in his first official Red Sox at-bat at Fenway Park. Josh Beckett (2-0) pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, striking out eight and allowing one run while retiring his last 15 batters.

Tigers 3, Orioles 1

Nate Robertson (2-0) allowed four hits in 7 1-3 scoreless innings, and visiting Detroit scored the go-ahead run in the sixth on a throwing error by second baseman Brian Roberts.

Jaret Wright (0-2) left with a stiff right shoulder after facing two batters in the sixth inning.

Joel Zumaya gave up a home run to Corey Patterson in the eighth, and Todd Jones worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save.