Written by Cris Sykes

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The Cleveland Indians continued their hot start on Sunday, by besting former AL Cy Young award winner Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins 3-2.  The win finished off a three game sweep of the division rival Twins.

The Indians got the second straight strong outing by Jake Westbrook, who ran his record to 2-0.  During the horrible start to the 2005 season, Jake did not get his second win until May 29th.  Westbrook pitched 7 1/3 dominant innings, allowing only a first inning infield single and a third inning base hit before retiring 14 consecutive Twins.  He was lifted after allowing a one-out walk in the 8^th inning.  Guillermo Mota replaced Westbrook and gave up a two out single to Shannon Stewart allowing the Twins to get on the board.  Bob Wickman gave up his usual run to make it close in the 9^th, before getting Tony Batista to fly-out to center to end the game. 

The Indians offense showed early patience facing Santana.  They continually worked the count and forced Santana to throw a lot of pitches, including a 36 pitch first inning.  Unfortunately for the Tribe, they were unable to break through in that inning, when Eduardo Perez grounded out to short with 2 outs and the bases loaded.  Perez would get his revenge in the 4^th though, as he hit a rocket over the wall in left center to get the Indians on the board.  Perez has started two games this year, against the two lefties the Indians have faced, and he has homered in both of those games. 

The Indians added two more runs in the 6^th, courtesy of Aaron Boone.  Like Westbrook, Boone’s early struggles from ’05 have been turned around in ’06.   With the bases loaded, Boone double to center, driving in Peralta and Victor Martinez for a 3-0 lead.

The Indians completed the first week of the season 5-1, and are tied with the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.  More importantly, they have done it against what most people believe are their two closest competitors in the Central, beating the White Sox and Twins.  After a day off Monday, the Seattle Mariners come into Jacobs Field for a three game series.  All three games are scheduled for a 7:05 PM start.