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All facets lead to Indians' first victory
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 4/3/2011 3:35 PM ET
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CWS@CLE: Indians' defense combines to turn three
CLEVELAND -- Behind a strong pitching performance from Justin Masterson, and a timely home run from veteran Orlando Cabrera, the Indians avoided a season-opening sweep with a 7-1 victory over the White Sox on Sunday at Progressive Field.

Masterson's strong seven-inning effort for the Indians (1-2) was temporarily overshadowed by a triple play turned by the Tribe -- the third in stadium history. In the fourth inning, with Chicago clinging to a 1-0 lead and runners on first and second base, Indians first baseman Carlos Santana made a diving catch of a bunt attempt by Alexei Ramirez.

After gloving the errant bunt for an out, Santana fired the baseball to Cabrera at first base to double up White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Cabrera then relayed the ball to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who stepped on second base to retire Carlos Quentin. It was the first triple play for Cleveland since Asdrubal Cabrera had one of the unassisted variety against the Blue Jays on May 12, 2008.

That rare feat thwarted a would-be rally for the White Sox (2-1) and helped swing the game in the Indians' favor. While Masterson held Chicago's potent offense in check, Cleveland's lineup went to work against lefty John Danks. After being blanked by Danks for five innings, Orlando Cabrera delivered a two-run, two-out home run to left to put the Tribe ahead, 2-1, in the sixth.

That was the only damage allowed by Danks in his six innings of work. In the seventh, Indians catcher Lou Marson doubled home Jack Hannahan and later crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly from Asdrubal Cabrera to push Cleveland to a 4-1 lead. That was enough for Masterson to cruise to the win.

After Tribe starters Fausto Carmona and Carlos Carrasco combined to allow 17 runs in 9 2/3 innings in the first two games of the season -- both losses to the White Sox -- Masterson held Chicago to one run on seven hits. His lone blemish came in the third inning, when Omar Vizquel singled and later scored on a base hit from Paul Konerko.

The Indians added to their advantage in the eighth inning. After loading the bases with one out, Shelley Duncan entered as a pinch-hitter for Hannahan to face Sox lefty Matt Thornton. Duncan pulled a pitch into left field for a two-run single to give Cleveland a 6-1 lead. Michael Brantley later added a sacrifice fly.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com.

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Code: Select all

W: Josh Tomlin (1-0); L: Josh Beckett (0-1); S: Chris Perez (1) HR: None.
Red Sox batting
Name	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Jacoby Ellsbury   CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.188
Carl Crawford   LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.133
Dustin Pedroia   2B	4	0	2	0	0	1	.333
Adrian Gonzalez   1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	.294
Kevin Youkilis   3B	2	0	0	0	2	0	.182
David Ortiz   DH	3	1	0	0	1	0	.267
J.D. Drew   RF	3	0	1	0	0	0	.167
Jarrod Saltalamacchia   C	1	0	1	1	1	0	.091
      Jed Lowrie   SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Marco Scutaro   SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	.000
      Jason Varitek   C	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Team totals	29	1	4	1	4	3	 
Individual Batting:
Doubles: J.D. Drew 1 (1)
RBI: Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1 (1)
Grounded into double play: Adrian Gonzalez  1, Marco Scutaro  1
Base Running:
Stolen bases: Dustin Pedroia 1 (1)
Fielding:
Errors: Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1(1)
Indians batting
Name	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Michael Brantley   CF	3	0	1	0	1	1	.333
Asdrubal Cabrera   SS	3	1	1	0	1	2	.250
Shin-Soo Choo   RF	4	0	0	0	0	2	.063
Carlos Santana   C	2	0	0	1	1	1	.400
Travis Hafner   DH	3	1	1	0	1	1	.375
Orlando Cabrera   2B	4	1	1	1	0	0	.375
Austin Kearns   LF	3	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Matt LaPorta   1B	3	0	0	0	1	2	.167
Jack Hannahan   3B	3	0	1	1	0	1	.357
Team totals	28	3	5	3	6	12	 
Individual Batting:
Doubles: Michael Brantley 1 (2) , Asdrubal Cabrera 1 (2) , Travis Hafner 1 (1) , Orlando Cabrera 1 (0)
RBI: Carlos Santana 1 (4) , Orlando Cabrera 1 (5) , Jack Hannahan 1 (4)
Sacrifice flies: Carlos Santana  1
Base Running:
Stolen bases: Michael Brantley 1 (1) , Asdrubal Cabrera 1 (1) , Matt LaPorta 1 (1)
Fielding:
Errors: Josh Tomlin 1
Double plays: Asdrubal Cabrera 2, Orlando Cabrera 1, Matt LaPorta 2, Jack Hannahan 1
Red Sox pitching
Name	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Pitches	Strikes	ERA
Josh Beckett (L, 0-1)	5	5	3	3	4	4	106	65	5.40
Matt Albers 	1	0	0	0	1	3	22	11	0.00
Bobby Jenks 	1	0	0	0	1	3	16	9	0.00
Daniel Bard 	1	0	0	0	0	2	16	10	21.60
Indians pitching
Name	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Pitches	Strikes	ERA
Josh Tomlin (W, 1-0)	7	3	1	1	3	3	91	57	1.29
Tony Sipp (H, 2)	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	5	0.00
Chris Perez (S, 1)	1	1	0	0	1	0	27	13	0.00
Umpires
Dan Iassogna  H
Dale Scott  1B
Jerry Meals  2B
CB Bucknor  3B

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Day game. Scoreless middle of the 5th. LaPorta just made a very nice play on a groundball. Carmona, who is much more efficient with no one in the stands, sees his ERA drop from 30.00 to 11.25 and I bet it's going to fall further with the improved defense behind him.

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Now in the bottom of the 6th, still scoreless. 2 hits for each side. Fausto is up to 98 pitches. Is he done? ERA still barely in double figures: 10.00 exactly.

Brantley and Hafner and Hannahan have the day off with LH Lester on the hill. Buck's in center, Duncan is DH, Everitt at 3rd.