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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Just as Chuck Finley was about to take the
mound against the Angels, the heavens opened up.
|  | | Anaheim's Tim Salmon connects for a two-run homer Wednesday. |
"I found it very strange that it was a beautiful day and then
it started raining," Finley said. "I thought, `Somebody doesn't
want this to happen and is torturing me.' "
Finley beat the team he spent 14 years with, getting his first
win since April on Wednesday night as the Cleveland Indians hit
five homers in a 7-3 victory over Anaheim.
Finley (4-4), the winningest pitcher in Angels history, thought
he might spend his entire career with Anaheim. But he left as a
free agent last December, signing a three-year deal with the
Indians in hopes of finally getting a World Series ring.
The 37-year-old left-hander allowed two earned runs and nine
hits in 6 2/3 innings to win for the first time in six starts.
Finley had lost his last four decisions and was winless since April
29. He walked three and struck eight, including Mo Vaughn three
times.
"It was more interesting looking over at their dugout the last
few days than it was pitching against them," Finley said. "Once I
threw that first pitch it was pretty much over after that."
Russell Branyan homered twice in his first game this season and
Roberto Alomar, David Justice and Travis Fryman connected for the
Indians, who hit three homers in a four-run sixth inning.
Tim Salmon went 4-for-5 with a homer and Keith Luuloa had a
career-high three hits for Anaheim, which stranded 14 runners.
Luuloa was optioned to Triple-A Edmonton after the game.
Like many of the Angels, Salmon still found it strange to see
Finley on the mound for another team.
"It was weird," Salmon said. "I felt like I had a pretty good
scouting report after playing behind him all those years. It was a
typical Finley game -- he teases you and then shuts you down."
Seth Etherton (0-1), making his second career start, gave up
just four hits in five-plus innings but was pulled after giving up
Alomar's leadoff homer in the sixth that broke a 2-2 tie.
Justice hit a two-run shot in the sixth off Mike Holtz and
Branyan capped the inning with a solo homer against Al Levine.
Fryman's homer in the seventh put the Indians up 7-3.
"I felt good at the plate tonight and the last couple of weeks
in Buffalo," Branyan said. "I've been swinging the bat good and
it carried over tonight."
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last pitcher to face
his former team after at least 14 years of service with that club
was Jack Morris. In 1991, Morris lost to Detroit in his first
appearance for Minnesota against the Tigers.
Finley treated the start just like any other. His pregame
routine was no different than before any of his club record 379
starts with the Angels or 10 this year with the Indians.
He played solitaire at a table near his clubhouse locker, and an
hour before game time went across the hallway into the fitness room
to run on the treadmill and ride a stationary bike.
"Business as usual," said Indians manager Charlie Manuel.
Finley had just finished his pregame warmup in the Indians'
bullpen when a thunderstorm delayed the start for 57 minutes --
perhaps a sign from the baseball gods that something was amiss.
He gave up a one-out bunt single to Luuloa in the first, and
retired Vaughn on a foul pop before Salmon hit his 12th homer, a
441-foot shot to left.
Finley pitched his way out jams in the fourth, fifth and sixth
innings when the Angels left three on.
"He's a fighter, a battler, a great pitcher," Angels catcher
Bengie Molina said. "He didn't surprise me. He got me out. He
knows exactly how to get out of jams."
Branyan, recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Buffalo, tied it in the
second with his second career homer. And just like last year, he
did it in his first at-bat of the season.
Branyan followed a leadoff walk to Fryman by homering into the
right-field seats. In his first at-bat last season, Branyan homered
off David Cone at Yankee Stadium.
After Finley left to a standing ovation in the seventh, it took
three relievers to close out the win. Steve Karsay got five outs
for his 10th save.
Game
notes
Indians reliever Ricardo Rincon will have surgery on his
left elbow and could be out for the season. Rincon, on the DL since
May 18, tried to pitch a simulated game on Wednesday but still felt
pain in his elbow. Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery at a
later date. ... After the game, the Indians said RF Manny Ramirez
will go on the 15-day disabled list Thursday or Friday with a
strained left hamstring. ... Vaughn, who went 1-for-13 in the
series, has struck out 18 times in 42 career at-bats against
Finley. ... Of Salmon's 208 career homers, 23 have come against the
Indians.
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