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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Curtain calls are usually reserved for home
runs. For the long ones. For the ones that give the home team the
lead or maybe even win the game.
But on Tuesday night, a 4-6-3 double play in the eighth inning
was so good that it had the fans begging for more.
|  | | Cleveland's Manny Ramirez connects for one of his two homers Tuesday night. |
Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel, take a bow.
The Indians' middle infielders turned four double plays --
including a jaw-dropper in the eighth -- and Manny Ramirez homered
twice to lead the Cleveland Indians to an 8-2 win over the Houston
Astros.
"You don't see many standing ovations for a double play," said
Houston's Jeff Bagwell. "Everybody knows that when you play in
Cleveland, you don't hit the ball up the middle. I would love to
play shortstop or second base like them. I can't. Nobody can."
Ramirez, whose future in Cleveland could be determined in the
next two weeks, hit a pair of two-run homers and drove in five
runs. He hit his 15th homer in the fifth off Shane Reynolds (6-7).
He added another two-run shot in the sixth -- his 1,000th career hit
-- as the Indians improved to 5-1 since the All-Star break.
Alomar went 2-for-4, scored twice, drove in two runs for
Cleveland and recorded his 400th career steal.
He also combined with Vizquel to put on a two-man show of
spectacular defense that would be nearly impossible to top.
"You look out there and you go, 'Guys it's not that easy,"'
said Indians starter Dave Burba, who benefited from three double
plays. "They're fun to watch and I just thank God that they're on
my team."
After turning double plays in the fourth, sixth and seventh
innings, the Vizquel-Alomar duo provided a spine-chilling finale.
Daryle Ward hit a hard smash up the middle that Alomar
backhanded and flipped with his glove to Vizquel, who caught it
barehanded and threw to first in one motion to complete the double
play.
"All you want is a base hit, and all you get is a double
play," said Ward. "They really put on a show. Incredible."
Alomar and Vizquel both downplayed their acrobatics. In fact,
for a while, neither realized the fans wanted them to come out of
the dugout after the top of the eighth.
"Richie Sexson pushed me and said, 'Get out there'," Alomar
said. "I guess sometimes you can amaze yourself."
Vizquel was coming to the plate to hit when he realized the fans
were still standing and clapping.
"It felt weird," he said. "They were clapping so I guess they
liked it. I thought there was something going on up in the
stands."
Burba allowed one run and nine hits in seven innings to get his
first win since June 21. The right-hander walked three and struck
out six, including Richard Hidalgo with the bases loaded in the
third.
Reynolds was charged with eight runs and seven hits in 5 2/3
innings. He walked a career-high six.
Craig Biggio went 3-for-4 for the Astros, who went 6-9 in
interleague play.
Ramirez has now homered three times and is batting .409
(9-for-22) with nine RBIs since returning from the disabled list
last Friday.
The right fielder's agent, Jeff Moorad, told the Associated
Press during Tuesday's game that he has had talks with Indians
general manager John Hart about Ramirez.
Moorad said the Indians have not made a contract offer, and have
indicated they are willing to hold off on serious talks until the
end of the season as long as they are still in contention for a
playoff spot.
With the July 31 trading deadline approaching, the Indians have
to decide if it's worth the risk of possibly losing Ramirez if they
can't re-sign him after the season.
Hart confirmed that he has spoken to Moorad.
"We've had on-going conversations," Hart said from his Jacobs
Field suite shortly after Ramirez connected for his second homer.
"We did talk about some of the parameters of a contract. ... But I
still get the sense that I've gotten all along, that Manny wants to
explore the (free-agent) market."
Alomar doubled with one out in the fifth, and stole third to
become the 36th player since 1898 to steal at least 400 career
bases. Ramirez followed by hitting a 2-2 pitch into the stands to
make it 4-1.
After the Indians added two more runs in the sixth on left
fielder Moises Alou's error and Alomar's sacrifice fly, Ramirez
again connected, this time to right-center for an 8-1 lead.
Game
notes
The Indians went a major league best 13-5 in interleague
games. ... Alomar was given the third-base bag after his 400th
steal. Ramirez was given the ball following his 1,000th career hit.
... LHP C.C. Sabathia, the top pitching prospect in Cleveland's
organization, will be called up to start Monday's Hall of Fame
exhibition game against Arizona in Cooperstown, N.Y. In nine
Double-A starts, Sabathia is 3-3 with a 3.51 ERA.
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