By Tom Withers
Associated Press
CLEVELAND ó As the inning unfolded, C.C. Sabathia felt as if he was watching a favorite movie, one with a dialogue he knows by heart and predictable ending.
iNot to sound cocky,î the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner said. iBut I think everybody knew what was coming.î
Say this for the Cleveland Indians, they can do drama.
The defending AL Central champions won in familiar fashion at Progressive Field ó their ballpark previously known as Jacobs Field ó as Casey Blake hit a three-run double in the eighth inning Monday for a 10-8 victory in their season opener against the Chicago White Sox.
Blakeís shot off the wall against Octavio Dotel capped a 3-hour, 21-minute opener that featured five homers, controversial calls and unseasonably pleasant weather in a city finally thawed out from the snowiest March on record.
After blowing a 7-2 lead, the Indians loaded the bases in the eighth on two singles and a two-out walk before Blakeís clutch hit.
iIt was not that big of a surprise,î said Sabathia, who made his fifth and potentially final opening day start for the Indians. iNobody in this clubhouse was ever in doubt. We always have faith that somebody would come through and it was Casey ó once again.î
They may not play in the Jake anymore, but everything else seemed in place for the Indians, who won 23 times in their final at-bat last season.
With the score 7-7, Kelly Shoppach and Jhonny Peralta opened the eighth with singles off Dotel (0-1), who bounced back and got two quick outs. Franklin Gutierrez, who hit a three-run homer in Clevelandís seven-run second off Mark Buehrle, walked to load the bases.
Blake fell behind 1-2 in the count before lifting a shot high off the 19-foot-high wall in left, barely missing a grand slam but starting a new chapter of memories for Indians fans, who have resisted the ballparkís new corporate moniker.
iI was begging for a homer,î said Blake, who batted just .190 with runners in scoring position last year.
Chicagoís Jim Thome hit a pair of two-run homers off Sabathia, who couldnít protect a 7-2 lead but wound up with a no-decision. The lefty struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings.