AMERICAN LEAGUE Indians shell Eldred en route to 8-4 win

A bunch of RBI singles, Russell Branyan's two-run homer and Chuck Finley's pitching keyed Cleveland.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- The Chicago White Sox's "Man of Steel" has discovered Kryptonite.
Playing the role of the wicked green stuff that gives Superman fits was the Cleveland Indians batting attack sparked by a bunch of RBI singles.
In the first non-sellout at Jacobs Field since June 7, 1995, the Indians pounced on White Sox starter Cal Eldred Wednesday with a five-run second-inning en route to an 8-4 victory, the first of the season.
Eldred, who had a screw inserted in his right elbow after missing the second half of last season, became the first major leaguer to pitch with such a metallic boost.
The 33-year-old right-hander who dominated the Indians last year didn't survive the fifth inning.
Branyan connects: Russell Branyan's two-run homer into the right-field bullpen boosted the Tribe's lead to 8-2 and retired Eldred.
"He wasn't as sharp tonight as he was last year," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "He wasn't as aggressive and didn't have command on both sides of the plate."
Manuel also had seven left-handed batters in his lineup, two more than he averaged last year.
A lead-off walk to Jim Thome in the second inning began Eldred's woes.
Ellis Burks and Jacob Cruz singled off second baseman Ray Durham's glove to load the bases.
"We joked in the dugout that maybe he needs a bigger glove," Manuel said.
Eldred then struck Eddie Taubensee with the next pitch for an RBI that sliced Chicago's brief lead to 2-1.
Kenny Lofton singled, scoring Burks and Cruz to put the Indians ahead for keeps. Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar followed with RBI singles for a 5-2 lead.
Lofton injured: Lofton strained his right calf rounding second on Vizquel's hit and was replaced by Jolbert Cabrera.
"He might miss a day or two," Manuel said of the Indians centerfielder. "Maybe not."
The five runs gave new life to Indians starter Chuck Finley, who pitched 61/3 and gave up the four Chicago runs. The victory was Finley's fifth consecutive since a loss to Boston on Sept. 12.
"I feel real comfortable pitching here," Finley said. "You see the plate real well and our offense seems to hit real well here."
Sandy Alomar's first hit as a White Sox put Chicago ahead 2-0 in the second inning.
With two outs, Herbert Perry (another former Indian) drew a walk off Finley. Alomar sent the first pitch onto the left-field home-run porch.
Early deficit: Finley said he wasn't too worried about the early deficit.
"I've seen this offense for a year now and I know how it can explode."
After struggling in Florida, Finley said a change of scenery helped.
"In spring training [it seemed] I was backing up the bases most of the six weeks I was there," Finley said. "It's amazing how, when you get a little adrenaline, you put on a big-league uniform and get into a big-league stadium, everything comes together."
Magglio Ordonez's sixth-inning solo homer produced the White Sox's third run.
Back-to-back one-out singles by Julio Ramirez and Ray Durham chased Finley in the top of the seventh inning. Ramirez scored on a sacrifice fly for Chicago's final run.
Relievers: Steve Karsay and Bob Wickman allowed no runs in Finley's relief. Branyan, who is filling in for injured third baseman Travis Fryman after a strong spring training, hit his second homer in two games after striking out in his first two at-bats.
"I've been trying to concentrate on slowing things down, really see the ball and lay off pitches," Branyan said. "Tonight, I swung at some pitches up in the zone. I made an adjustment later on.
"I'm trying to stay with the approach from spring training and not get carried away, not get too jumpy, not get too quick and start chasing pitches out of the zone."
Before the season began, Manuel said he envisioned Branyan getting 300 to 350 at-bats.
"The way he is hitting the ball is the way you stay in the lineup," Manuel said.