It'll Be Tough To Top This Opening Win

Grady Sizemore ignored all his spring-training numbers in a hurry. The Indians' outfielder hit the second pitch of the 2007 season over the right-field wall to spark Cleveland to a 12-5 victory in Chicago over the rival White Sox on Monday. Not bad for a guy who looked lost in Florida when he hit only .115 (7-for-61) in exhibition play, but who was clearly ready for prime time when it counted.

Trot Nixon, who through spring training looked like a guy who had back surgery in December, was a changed man, too. The outfielder, signed as a free agent shortly after getting out of his hospital bed this winter, went 3-for-3 with three runs in his Indians debut.

Travis Hafner had two hits and also scored three runs, while Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta each had two hits and three RBI.

"Obviously, I was pleased with the way the guys came out and played today," manager Eric Wedge said. "They kept going and you've got to do that against a team like Chicago. You can't let up."

Most encouraging of all for Tribe fans was the performance of C.C. Sabathia. The large left-hander, who gave everybody in Tribe training camp a scare last week when he tried to stop a line drive with his left forearm, worked six solid innings. He gave up three runs and eight hits, struck out two and walked only one.

"C.C. had to work today against one of the strongest teams out there," Wedge said. "He's so mentally tough and that's what led the way for him today."

Sabathia threw 91 pitches -- 61 for strikes, but it was the ability of the Indians' offense to strike that put this one away early.

Cleveland's 12 runs were the second most in team history on Opening Day, surpassed only by the surrealistic 21 accumulated in 1925 against the St. Louis Browns.

Sizemore's homer triggered a five-run first inning -- the biggest opening frame on Opening Day in team history. It was the most by an American League team since the Oakland Athletics scored five in their first inning of the 1994 season.

"Obviously he came out here ready to swing today," Wedge said. "The team did a very good job all the way through.

"Grady was swinging the bat well this spring, but just not getting results. Whether it be Grady or anybody else, it's more about approach than results. You want the results in the season, but you use the spring to prepare to get ready."

The homer was the first by an Indians hitter to lead off a season since Julio Franco did it in 1988 against the Texas Rangers. Sizemore was three years old at the time. Franco is still playing at age 49 for the New York Mets.

Wedge is 1-0 for the first time in five seasons at Indians manager. The last time Cleveland won its opener was 2002, when Charlie Manuel managed the Tribe.

Sabathia also earned his first opening day win. He is 1-0 with a 3.22 ERA in four career starts. The last Indians pitcher to make four opening day starts was right-hander Charles Nagy, who did it in 1992-93 and 1997-98. Nagy will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame this summer.

Sabathia is the only active pitcher under the age of 27 to have four career opening day starts (Boston's Josh Beckett has three).

The win was Sabathia's fifth straight against the White Sox. In his career, he is 13-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 21 starts against Chicago, including 7-0 in 10 starts at US Cellular Field.

Darin Erstad, signed as a free agent this winter, hit a two-run homer in the first inning in his White Sox debut. Paul Konerko hit a long homer in the third off Sabathia.

That all came after Cleveland's big first inning off Jose Contreras. After Sizemore's shot into the right-field bullpen, Nixon and Hafner each singled to right and Martinez followed with an RBI single to left to make it 2-0. Peralta then poked an 0-2 pitch to right, scoring Hafner.

Josh Barfield, acquired in a trade from San Diego in November, made it 5-0 with a two-run triple to right-center.

Rafael Betancourt and Roberto Hernandez each pitched one perfect inning of relief. Then the White Sox scored two ninth-inning runs off Joe Borowski, who was making his Indians debut after being one of four relievers signed as free agents this offseason by Cleveland.