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Sunday, Sep. 10 1:05pm ET
Indians get much-needed day off | |||||
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GAME UPDATE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- April showers gave the Cleveland Indians a miserable September schedule, and more rain Sunday could make their October calendar just as booked. Following a 2½-hour rain delay at the start, Sunday's series finale between the Indians and first-place Chicago White Sox was postponed. The game has not been officially rescheduled, and there's a possibility the game won't be made up at all. But if the Indians haven't wrapped up the AL wild card by Oct. 1, they would have to play the White Sox on Oct. 2. Complicating matters, should the Indians end up tied for the wild card after that game, they would be forced into a one-game playoff to make the postseason. And then there's the remote possibility the makeup game could affect whom the White Sox play in the first round. "Let's not even think about all that," said Indians first baseman Jim Thome. Good idea. But wait. What if losing would help Chicago's postseason chances? You know, like maybe avoiding the New York Yankees or Pedro Martinez? "I think we'd all try to win the game," said Chicago manager Jerry Manuel. "We have to win the game, that would only be fair to the league. That's the only way to go about it." Sunday's rainout was actually a blessing for the Indians, who because of rainouts during the first month of the season, have just one off day -- Monday -- the rest of the regular season, and will play back-to-back doubleheaders next week in Boston. "I could use some rest," Roberto Alomar said. "It's good for us. We're playing good right now, but another day off should help." Some time off is also helpful for the White Sox, who lead the AL Central by 7½ games with 20 games left. "It could possibly mean a game off the schedule," said Manuel. "Anytime you take a game off the schedule it's to our advantage because of the lead we have. We leave here with a 7½-game lead and when we came in it was 7½. You have two days out of the way, and still have the same lead. Our thing is we knocked time off the schedule." Meanwhile, beginning Tuesday the Indians will enter a stretch of 12 games in 10 days. After playing three at home against the Red Sox, the Indians will travel to New York for four games with the Yankees before playing five games in three days at Fenway Park. "The biggest positive out of this (rainout) is that we can get some rest and get ready for a tough couple of weeks," Thome said. Indians manager Charlie Manuel said Jason Bere, Sunday's scheduled starter, would be skipped in the rotation. Chuck Finley will start the series opener against Boston followed by Bartolo Colon, and Charles Nagy, out since May following elbow surgery, will be activated and start the finale Thursday. The Indians waited until 3:35 p.m. before announcing the postponement. While waiting out the delay, Cleveland fans watched the Browns-Bengals NFL game on Jacobs Field's giant TV screen. Cleveland players were also watching some football after the game was called while trying to decide what to do with some additional down time. "I'm just going to relax," said Kenny Lofton. "And then I'm going to sleep tomorrow. I can sleep with the best of them." Game notesThe Indians recalled IF/OF Chan Perry from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday. The roster spot came open when OF Wil Cordero broke his right hand when he got hit by a pitch on Saturday. Doctors told Manuel that Cordero would be out at least two weeks. ... Bere, who pitched for the White Sox, said not getting to face his former teammates again was no big deal. "I'm kind of past that," he said. "There's only a few guys over there anymore that were there when I was there." | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Chi. White Sox Clubhouse Cleveland Clubhouse White Sox hold breath as Baldwin leaves for arm exam
RECAPS NY Yankees 6 Boston 2
Chi. White Sox 0
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