Tribe hoists Central pennant
Cleveland is in the post season for the first time since 2001.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians finally tasted something sweeter than all those postgame pies.
Expensive champagne — cases and cases of bubbly — soaked the home clubhouse at Jacobs Field for the first time since 2001 Sunday as the Indians, overlooked as a contender in baseball’s toughest division, clinched the AL Central with a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
The Indians, whose home opener was postponed by a freakish snowstorm and whose path to a title was unlike any in team history, will again play meaningful games in October.
After finishing fourth and 18 games out of first place a year ago, Cleveland is back among the AL’s elite.
“Somewhere among the snow and the craziness of the schedule and the injuries, this team became a family,” pitcher Paul Byrd said amid the delirium and flying liquid. “Everybody chipped in. I’ve never been on a team where everybody has been included in the victories as much as we have.”
Pie in the face again
And after every one of Cleveland’s home wins, the star player got smacked in the face during their TV interview with a whipped-cream pie, a tradition outfielder Trot Nixon started and one he continued during Sunday’s postgame mayhem by first nailing manager Eric Wedge and then general manager Mark Shapiro.
“This is what it’s all about,” Wedge said, clutching a bottle of champagne. “This is what we’ve waited for.”
Jake Westbrook struck out a career-high nine and Grady Sizemore had four hits as the Indians became the second team in the majors to clinch. The Boston Red Sox assured themselves of at least the AL wild card spot Saturday night.
When reliever Rafael Betancourt struck out Oakland’s Mark Ellis for the final out and his second save, the sun-splashed crowd of 40,250 erupted as the right-hander jumped into catcher Victor Martinez’s arms.
The Indians poured onto the infield, and moments later, ace C.C. Sabathia led the club toward center field where they watched as a 2007 championship banner was hoisted atop the center-field scoreboard.
“Goose bumps,” Sabathia said, searching for words to describe his emotions. “It was so good to do it at home. I had no doubt that we would win it.”
Not since rookie season
Sabathia was a rookie the last time the Indians made the postseason. He went 17-5 back then on a veteran-heavy squad that came up short in its quest to become the first Cleveland team to win a World Series since 1948.
Sabathia’s a No. 1 starter now, and among the favorites to win the Cy Young Award this season.
However, his eyes are on a grander trophy.
“I just want to win a World Series,” he said. “I don’t want to stop now. I want more.”
The Indians, rebuilt the past few years by Shapiro, began 2007 with question marks around the diamond, and especially in their bullpen. But after moving into first place on Aug. 15, they stayed there by going 27-9 and ran away from the defending AL champion Tigers.
Now, they have a chance to finish with the best record in the majors.
“Their front office did a great job,” A’s manager Bob Geren said. “Eric Wedge is a friend of mine so I’m happy for him. You could feel the excitement in the air for them.”
Youngsters add spark
Rookie second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, one of three players who began the season at Double-A Akron, became a spark after Josh Barfield was benched. The Indians also got unexpected contributions from reliever Rafael Perez and outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Ben Francisco.
Sabathia anchored a strong pitching staff that included 18-game Fausto Carmona, who went 1-10 as a rookie and had a disastrous tryout as a closer last season. He was only on the staff because of injuries to Westbrook and Cliff Lee.
Byrd bounced back from a subpar year to win 15 games and Cleveland’s bullpen, a nightmarish collection in recent years, finally solidified behind Betancourt and Joe Borowski, who only got the job because Keith Foulke retired.
“I’ve never seen things like that happen in my career,” Byrd said. “It seems like every time we needed a lift, a pickup, somebody came through. It’s been a lot of unsung heroes, people that have really made this a team.”