The 2011 season and home opener for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox were basically two games for one for those fans in attendance . The first game, which was the first four innings, the White Sox won 14-0. The second game, which was the last five innings, the Tribe came out on top 10-1. But in the record books, it was just one game and the Chicago White Sox out slugged the Tribe 15-10 to win the opening game of the season.

By JAMES W. WADE III

Staff Reporter

The 2011 season and home opener for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox were basically two games for one for those fans in attendance . The first game, which was the first four innings, the White Sox won 14-0. The second game, which was the last five innings, the Tribe came out on top 10-1. But in the record books, it was just one game and the Chicago White Sox out slugged the Tribe 15-10 to win the opening game of the season.

Fausto Carmona the Indians number one starting pitcher made his first opening day start and he looked like anything but an ace on the day. Carmona lasted only three innings, yielding 10 runs. Carmona threw 88 pitches, 59 of which were strikes. The problem was 11 of the 59 strikes were hits and two of the hits were two run home runs to Adam Dunn (third inning) and Carlos Quentin (Third inning).

Mark Buerhle was a little better as he made the start for Chicago. Buerhle was in command for the Sox until the sixth inning when the Indians were down 14-0 and scored four runs in the sixth inning. The Tribe scored on all singles when Carlos Santana singled and Jack Hannahan scored (Hannahan had reached on a single) the first run of the season for the Indians. Asdrubal Cabrera then scored on a single by Travis Hafner, Cabrera had reached on a single. The Tribe tallied their final two runs of the inning on what else but a single by Orlando Cabrera and Shin Soo Choo (reached base on a single) and Santana came home narrowing the score to 14-4 after six innings.

Carmona took the loss on the day and is now 0-1 with a gigantic 30.00 ERA. Carmona was not helped much by Justin Germano who relieved him in the fourth inning and came in and allowed the two runner he inherited to score and gave up four runs himself. Germano's ERA is also an ugly 12.00. Mark Buerhle got the victory for the White Sox (1-0), his ERA wasn't exactly great at 6.00. But the big ERA loser of the day was Will Ohman, who pitched two thirds of an inning for the Chicago and gave three runs for an ERA of (Drum roll please) 40.50.

All in all, aside from the final score, it was a nice day for fans at Progressive Field. Friday’s game was a sellout. The sellout was 18th straight opening day sellout for the Indians. Prior to the game the Indians had a nice tribute to Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller who died over the winter at age 92. Feller spent 75 seasons in some capacity with the Cleveland Indians as he signed with the Indians in 1936 for $1.00 and an autographed baseball.

Feller was a farm boy from Van Meter, Iowa who became one of the most famous people in the history of the city of Cleveland, as he not only pitched for Indians, but was a World War II hero. Feller was the first Major League player to join the military (air force) on Dec. 8, 1941 on day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Feller is regarded by most baseball historians as the greatest right handed pitcher of all-time. Feller's widow placed a ball on the rubber of the pitcher mound prior to the game as a tribute to her late husband who is hero to Clevelanders. Feller's number 19 was also worn by the Indians players and coaches during pre-game introductions. The number 19 will also be painted on the back of the mound for the entire 2011 season and the Indians players and coaches will wear a number 19 on the sleeve of their jerseys.

Although there were not very many fans there to witness it, the Cleveland Indians turned a triple play against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon.

The triple play occurred in the fourth inning of the game. With runners on first and second, White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramírez got the bunt signal from Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen. On his second attempt at getting the sacrifice bunt down, Ramirez popped the ball down the first base line. The runners on base started running as soon as contact was made. That proved to be a bad decision.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana, making his first major league start at the position, rushed in and dove towards the ball. He managed to snag the ball in fair territory before it hit the ground for one out. He then jumped to his feet and tossed the ball to second baseman Orlando Cabrera, who was covering first base, for the second out. After a moment of confusion and some instructions yelled out by starting pitcher Justin Masterson, Cabrera tossed the ball to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera at second to complete the triple play.