Hafner has fans feeling grand

His home run was the difference in a 6-3 win over Minnesota.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- The ball hung in the cold Cleveland air as the crowd held its breath, anticipation building.
Then, as the ball fell beyond the reach of Minnesota Twins right-fielder Jacque Jones, Jacobs Field erupted and Travis Hafner had his first career grand slam.
Hafner's bomb highlighted the Indians' 6-3 home-opening win over Minnesota on Monday that snapped their three-game losing streak.
"To play in front of the hometown fans, and just to score runs and listen to the crowd cheer, is pretty special," said Hafner, who's batting .400 this season after going 1-for-3 on Monday.
Four-run cushion
Hafner continued his torrid start to the 2004 season by sending a 1-0 pitch from Kyle Lohse (0-2) into the right-field seats, giving Cleveland (3-5) a 4-0 lead in the third inning.
"In my first at-bat [a strikeout], [Lohse] tried to work a lot of fastballs inside," Hafner said. "So the second time up there, I was looking for one. I got one, and was able to hit it."
To quiet the crowd's constant cheers, Hafner came out of the dugout following his fourth home run of the season and tipped his cap.
"I've always been a slow starter, for the most part," said Hafner, who credited instruction from hitting coach Eddie Murray. "So this is a nice change."
Indians sluggers have fared well against the Twins (3-4). The Tribe's previous grand slam, by Jody Gerut, came on July 26 of last season -- against Lohse. And the Indians' last grand slam in a home opener was hit by Travis Fryman on April 8, 2002 -- also against Minnesota.
"This is my second year in the league, and I have an idea of what pitchers are trying to do," Hafner said. "I don't worry about my swing as much."
Hafner also provided some sparks in his next at-bat, in the fifth inning. On an 0-1 count, he was hit by Lohse, who was warned by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez.
That drew Twins manager Ron Gardenhire out of the dugout to argue the warning, and Tribe manager Eric Wedge also walked onto the field. But nothing materialized -- except for an Indians victory.
Starter's success
In his second start this season, Tribe left-hander Cliff Lee won his first game, limiting the Twins to two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out one and walked four.
"Cliff set the tone for us," Wedge said. "He was able to get us through the sixth inning and finish strong. That's what we needed."
The biggest mistake Lee made was allowing Minnesota to score twice in the fourth after Hafner's slam had given Cleveland the lead.
"I tried to go out and throw strikes, and that worked until we scored," Lee said. "You need to put up a zero when your team scores for you."
Lee benefited from a defense, most notably shortstop Omar Vizquel and second baseman Ronnie Belliard, that turned three double plays. The first one -- and most important -- came in that fourth inning with one out and the bases loaded.
"The double plays were big," Wedge said. "Omar and Belliard did a great job. They've been working well together in the early going. You need to step up defensively when your man's struggling."
Bullpen bonanza
Maybe the most positive sign Monday came from the Tribe's bullpen, whose ineffectiveness has led to all five losses.
Against the Twins, Jack Cressend, Rafael Betancourt and David Riske preserved the win, yet found a way to make things interesting.
Riske, the closer, was called upon in the ninth to hold a 6-2 lead. Instead, he allowed Michael Cuddyer's single and Jones' RBI double, and later issued a walk.
With the Twins twice sending the potential tying run to bat, the Jacobs Field crowd grew impatient and angry, booing Riske and sarcastically cheering his successes before he finally got the last out.
"He's been a slow starter, but hopefully that outing will get him over the hump," Wedge said. "No one wants to close games more than he does."
richesson@vindy.com