Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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Hafner’s Two Bombs, Blake Grand Slam Lead Assault

Not only did they get the game in, but we won it impressive fashion,

Despite dreary weather all afternoon, the rain held off long enough for the Indians to defeat Minnesota 11-6 in impressive fashion in the teams home opener. Casey Blake’s grand slam home run in the fifth inning off Kyle Lohse broke a 4-3 game wide open. Ironically, Lohse surrendered a grand slam to Travis Hafner in the Indians 2004 home opener as well.

Speaking of Hafner, he hit two home runs yesterday, solo jobs in both the sixth and eighth innings that helped seal the win for the good guys. Through four games, Hafner is hitting .353 with three home runs already.

Paul Byrd went six innings in his Indians debut, allowing six hits and three walks. Byrd was very effective through four innings before allowing a two run double to Joe Mauer in the fifth and a two run homer to Justin Morneau in the sixth. Byrd left the game with the Indians holding a 8-5 lead, and the performance was good enough for his first win as an Indian. Matt Miller pitched two innings of effective relief, allowing just one hit … Morneau’s second homer of the day, this one a solo shot. Fernando Cabrera rebounded from a shaky opener to look dominant in the ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced to finish the Twins off.

Grady Sizemore, Jason Michaels, and Victor Martinez also continued their hot starts for the Tribe as well. Sizemore was 3 for 5, scored two runs, and made a couple great plays in center field. Michaels was 2 for 5 and is hitting .444 on the young season, And Victor was 2 for 5 and drove in his fourth and fifth runs of the season.

The Indians have now won three straight since their loss in the opener to the White Sox. They take on the Twins today at 5:05 in game two of the series down at The Jake.