The Lake Erie Monsters close the home season with a 6-3 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was the end of the home season and the end of an era as the Lake Erie Monsters turned back the Hamilton Bulldogs, 6-3, in an American Hockey League game Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

The game was more than the home season finale for the Monsters -- it was also the last home game as a member of the Colorado Avalanche organization, meaning the players and coaches will all be moving on next season.

Earlier in the day the Monsters and Columbus Blue Jackets announced a multi-year deal, beginning next season.

After spotting Hamilton a 2-0 lead, the Monsters came roaring back with three straight goals in the second period.

Joey Hishon got them started, scoring his 16th goal of the season at the 8:42 mark and Andrew Agozzino tied it just 20 seconds later, scoring his team-leading 30th goal, assisted by Reid Petryk and Ben Street.

Michael Schumacher put the Monsters in front at the 14:20 mark, with assists from Troy Burke and Mitchell Heard.

Tomas Vincour made it 4-2 at 12:31 of the third period when he scored on a power play, assisted by Agozzino and Hishon.

Street tacked on a pair of empty-net goals late in the third period, giving him nine goals on the season.

Sami Aittikallio started in goal and stopped 19 of 21 shots he faced before giving way to Calvin Pickard in the third. Pickard stopped 9 of 10 shots.

Charles Hudon, Connor Crisp and Gabriel Dumont scored for the Bulldogs.

The Monsters outshot Hamilton, 34-31, and were successful of one of four power-play chances.

The Monsters will close the season on Saturday at 7 in Hamilton.

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber will make his third start of the season, but he's still looking for his first victory.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Join beat writer Paul Hoynes for a live chat in the comments section and get scoring updates as the Tribe takes on the Twins at Target Field on Friday night to start for the start of a three-game series.

Game 9: Indians (3-5) vs. Twins (3-6). The Indians are 2-1 on the road and the Twins are 2-1 at home.

First pitch: 8:05 p.m. ET at Target Field.

TV/radio: STO; WTAM AM/1100, WMMS 100.7.

Indians lineup:

CF Michael Bourn.

2B Jason Kipnis.

DH Michael Brantley.

1B Carlos Santana.

RF Brandon Moss.

LF David Murphy.

3B Lonnie Chisenhall.

C Roberto Perez.

SS Jose Ramirez.

RHP Corey Kluber.

Twins lineup

SS Danny Santana.

LF Eduardo Escobar.

1B Joe Mauer.

2B Brian Dozier.

DH Kennys Vargas.

3B Trevor Plouffe.

RF Owaldo Arcia.

C Chris Herrmann.

CF Jordan Schafer.

RHP Mike Pelfrey.

Umpires:

H Mike DiMuro.

1B Tripp Gibson.

2B Brian Gorman.

3B Mark Carlson.

Elliott and quarterback Braxton Miller - who was also out of the spring game with a shoulder injury - were the two Ohio State players participating. Both took off their shirts for the race, and female students cheered. It was a fun moment. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ezekiel Elliott ran around the Ohio Stadium turf in the hour leading up to Ohio State's spring game. He had a selfie stick with a Go-Pro camera attached to it. 

Elliott was having the time of his life despite the fact he wasn't in uniform as he recovers from a second surgery on his wrist. He wasn't playing, but he still was basking in the glow of his meteoric rise from star-recruit to one of the most valuable pieces to Ohio State's national championship run. 

And he did compete a little bit ... In the fastest student race at halftime. 

Elliott and quarterback Braxton Miller - who was also out of the spring game with a shoulder injury - were the two Ohio State players participating. Both took off their shirts for the race, and female students cheered. 

It was a fun moment. 

When the race started, Elliott got off to a clear advantage. But Miller, who has probably been dying to compete in something, was right behind him. Elliott slacked off a little at the end and almost gave up his lead. It was close.

Elliott won. Then he ran in front of the south stands as the entire stadium cheered. 

Above is a video of the race. 

A transcript of Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Cardale Jones after the Buckeyes spring game on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A transcript of Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Cardale Jones after the Buckeyes spring game on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

Urban Meyer

COACH MEYER: Before we open for questions, 99,000 people, I think I heard that over the PA system. Not surprised but extremely grateful to come watch a scrimmage, at times not a very pleasant scrimmage.

We grab a hand after each time we come in the stadium, and we're very grateful for the blessings to be able to play this great game. That's the first thing.

The second thing, where we play it, and that's The Ohio State University. I imagine it has to be some kind of a record. And then who we do it with which is most important.

And I was asked by I think the Big Ten Network right after the scrimmage, saying how did we improve as a team? I think Lisa asked me that question.

The answer is, and I told our players this, we did not improve as a team. That was not a good team out there. So we did not improve as a team. And very rarely, if you're fortunate to be healthy. And last year I did because they were so young I felt like we got better as a team because we weren't very good.

But you saw them getting better as a team. As a team that's much worse than what you saw in January, obviously. But we did individually get better. And some of the names off the top. Billy Price is playing outstanding football for us right now.

Chase Farris has earned his way, he's a starting right tackle at Ohio State. Billy Price is night and day what he was years ago. And Bri'onte Dunn has earned a right to contribute to the Buckeyes next year, and Sam Hubbard's going to be in the rotation.

Worley I thought played outstanding today. Had a great spring. Noah Brown has had an excellent spring, made some plays. And Gareon Conley is pencilled in now -- we're going to make the call to the family and say your son earned a right to start at Ohio State and Thommy Schutt has had a very good spring.

Those are some of the individuals off the top of my head. In the fourth quarter, I started writing some names down.

So we did improve individually but we did not improve as a team. So here's the dilemma. You can tell my mind's spinning here a little bit. How do we get better as a team after we get them out here for a couple of weeks, whether it be team functions or still gotta -- this is a critical offseason for us. This is really critical. Because, like I said, we did not improve. It's no one's fault. How do you get better as a team when half your team is not playing? And it's because of injury or because of 2,000 Club, because the head coach made a decision not to rep out some guys that had 2,000 competitive reps.

So that's going to be interesting to watch for the Buckeyes this summer and how they handle themselves, how they behave, how they train, and how they come together as a team, because that team has got to get better by the time Coach Mick hands me the team like he does every summer.

I'll answer some questions.

Q. As you talk about this, lots of times you'll sort of maybe give us a grade on things, how you view things. Overall for spring, like what grade would you give this team for 15 spring practices?

COACH MEYER: Eh. What's eh? Eh. I'd rather go individually. And that's kind of what I just did. But as a team, I don't know if I've had a spring like this one. And I do feel good because we're going to be at full strength.

Now, there's not some stupid injury, like why did you do that? And I've been in that situation, like why did that just happen? You're just sick to your stomach -- the other name is Tyquan Lewis. He's a guy that's pencilled in to be in the rotation, along with Sam Hubbard. So I would say on that end, right decision, now we've got to somehow -- this is a really valuable next few months.

Q. And you always talk, before a game like this, you want to see young guys when they get -- what do you look for? How do you sort of tell that a young guy can handle it?

COACH MEYER: Great question. Parris Campbell is a great example. I called him. Here's a kid that just turned 17 years old, about to hyperventilate -- he's really not. He's fine. And I grab him: I need you to win the game right here. I need you to score. It was like on the 4-yard line.

And he looked at me, like, the heck with this, man, or he took the ball, put his left foot in the ground and dove in, made a great cut and scored.

And I saw his celebration in the end zone. That's one I remember from the spring game. That's going to help him get into the rotation. That's just an example.

The other example, I asked a couple guys to make a play and they didn't do it. Now I have to find out why when I meet with them next week and just get into the psychological impact of playing in the stadium has on a player.

Q. Cardale, does that fall along the lines of what you're talking about, when he was dialed in, he was moving his team up and down the field, but in a typical game you're not going to throw 12 bombs like that?

COACH MEYER: Yeah, that wasn't a Cardale day. He played behind a makeshift offensive line. I can give you a bunch of excuses, but he's got to be much sharper than that.

For the spring, I'd give him a very good spring, though. You didn't necessarily see it today.

Q. Is there an area in particular that really have to make strides in the summertime? I mean, running backs obviously without Ezekiel that hurts you a lot, but is there a particular area?

COACH MEYER: Running backs, I took the top two running backs last year, very good players didn't play running back this spring. Bri'onte Dunn has kind of solidified that. I feel good about three of them right now. You've got Mike Webber showing up here pretty soon, too.

You still need four. You need four running backs. The area's offensive line. That's the problem. And once again, not the starters, because I feel good -- once that front five is in there, I feel it's that whole -- and everybody reminds me because they're very impatient, we would have said that about Billy Price's first year, would have said it about Taylor Decker's first year. They need time to develop.

I'm very alarmed by the second group of offensive linemen right now.

Q. You guys are going to leave here in a few weeks, go through player evaluations. After all that, how much time will you spend thinking about the decision you have to make sometime in August about who your quarterback is going to be?

COACH MEYER: I won't spend much time at all about that, other than making sure that Braxton's getting the proper treatments and J.T. Barrett's moving forward.

And then how we're going to work this summer as far as those kids throwing together. And I am not going to say how am I -- the one thing I will do, to answer your question, I think you're heading there, I'll come up with some kind of system throughout training camp that we're going to chart everything that everyone does.

And we've kind of done it, but not to the degree that we're going to do it this year. Because you have to be right on now. This can't be, well, I'm going with him because it's my gut feeling. Those gut feelings -- it's got to be statistical analysis and data, backed up on who is going to play quarterback.

Q. With the quarterback situation, do you give them marching orders into the offseason, work on this, this, and this and what would those orders be?

COACH MEYER: Tim Beck is the quarterback coach. He'll be more specific about what fundamentals to work on. Once again, Braxton is to get healthy. But we do compartmental throwing with groups.

So, for example, J.T., we'll coach him up, so you take a certain group of receivers and work on this. It's going to be more compartmental improvement. And then Coach Beck will handle the individual improvement, technique improvement.

Q. Two quickies. Following up on what you said about the QBs. Is it so they will know where they stand day to day, so it's not a surprise?

COACH MEYER: There's going to be a lot of people interested. I know you guys, but the families and the player, much more. I want to be able to look those people in the eye and say this is where we're at and not be a shocker when it happens.

But here's what you need to do to get better and here's where we're at and keep pushing.

Q. Nick Conner made some plays out there today. Name me a couple of the young guys that maybe jumped out at you. I know you named the guys. But did some guys surprise you this spring, obviously he's an early enrollee and stuff.

COACH MEYER: He was good. We had high expectations for him, though. Hope he doesn't redshirt and gets involved in the kicking game. He had a very good, had a good day today. He's a tough guy to place hard. Good qualities to have.

Cardale Jones

Q. Cardale, that was like Taylor made for you to throw often with the black shirt, no one could hit you, did you get enough out of the spring game?

CARDALE JONES: Yeah, because the game was, I was with the guys I was repping with all spring. And for me to be able to have all the warm reps with the guys who I think are going to be able to make plays for us in the fall, I mean, it was pretty fun. And I hope I can carry it over to the fall.

Q. Did you smile for the selfie that Tyvis Powell was shot with you on the sidelines?

CARDALE JONES: Yes.

Q. What were the words exchanged there?

CARDALE JONES: He was a woozy, I hit you. I mean, it's cool.

Q. What did you get out of this game more than anything else, Cardale; you got to throw the ball over 40 times, whatever. What did you get out of it most of all?

CARDALE JONES: I mean, I felt like another practice, because that's what we did almost every day in practice, as far as spring ball. So I mean, I think it was pretty much the atmosphere.

Q. What do you think you still need to work on and what do you think you really improved on in the spring?

CARDALE JONES: You can always work on all areas of your game. But things I think I improved on is, like, being more of a vocal leader. Being more hands-on with guys instead of just telling them what to do, show them and move their splits and adjust, things like that.

Q. You threw it 74 yards at halftime there. Is that as far as -- is that as far as you've thrown or can you throw it further?

CARDALE JONES: My arm was kind of tired. I probably throw it a little further.

Q. What do you have to do between now and the start of camp in August, during the summer, to start the season as the guy?

CARDALE JONES: I don't know. Just continue to get better. There's stretches everybody goes through, all really things that we have to do on our own. Our coaches really can't be around too much.

Carrying this leadership over to the weight room and the summer conditioning, things like that. So the guys I'll be going with can see that they can trust and believe in me and they know I got their back.

Q. Cardale, you have a lot of things to concentrate on through practice. But now you're, in a day, you're going to go to the White House and you're going to visit Washington D.C. and celebrate a championship with the president. I just wonder what that means to you, what the opportunity means, what you've kind of envisioned it being like and what you hope to see?

CARDALE JONES: Things like that I try to take it one day at a time. So it's now just starting to sink in we're going to the White House in a couple of days. We knew the trip was coming, but I put it to the back of my mind, trying to get better each day with practice.

It's like once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Only the champions of each sport get to go to the White House and there's only one championship every year. Not just me and my teammates to experience this, and Coach Meyer, it's his third time, I think. It's unbelievable.

"I'll come up with some kind of system throughout training camp that we're going to chart everything everyone does," Meyer said. "We've kind of done it, but not to the degree that we're going to do it this year." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It just wasn't Cardale Jones' day. 

That's what Urban Meyer took from the quarterback's performance in Ohio State's spring game Saturday. Jones made some good throws - like the two long touchdown passes to Corey Smith - but overall, there's still plenty for him to work on if he wants to be the starter. 

This competition isn't over.

Really, it hasn't even started yet. In the fall when Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Jones are all healthy, that's when the real race to be Ohio State's starting quarterback begins.

And it'll be tricky. That's why Meyer said he plans to install some sort of system to statistically keep track of who deserves the job the most.

"I'll come up with some kind of system throughout training camp that we're going to chart everything everyone does," Meyer said. "We've kind of done it, but not to the degree that we're going to do it this year. 

"Because you have to be right on now. This can't be, well, 'I'm going with him because it's my gut feeling.' Those gut feelings -- it's got to be statistical analysis and the data, backed up on who is going to play quarterback." 

So what did we really learn about Ohio State's quarterback race this spring? Honestly, not all that much, maybe other than Jones, a career backup before leading Ohio State to three postseason wins last year, is mentally ready to be the focal point of the program. Given what he did in the College Football Playoff, we probably already knew that.

But ask three different people who should be the starter next year and you'll still probably get three different answers.

Answer A: The freakishly athletic quarterback with the natural ability to make people miss and create explosive plays with his legs. He's also a two-time winner of the Big Ten offensive player of the year. That's Miller. 

Answer B: The one who broke Drew Brees' single-season touchdowns record as a redshirt freshman before breaking his ankle in the regular season finale vs. Michigan. The one who is likely the future of Ohio State football. That's Barrett. 

Answer C: The 6-foot-6 specimen with a rocket arm that unexpectedly won all three of his starts after replacing Barrett, leading the Buckeyes to its first national title in 12 years. That's Jones. 

Who would you pick? 

Meyer doesn't have an answer yet. 

His system will help the Buckeyes figure it out. 

"There's going to be a lot of people interested," Meyer said of the quarterback race. "I know you guys, but the families and the player, much more.

"I want to be able to look those people in the eye and say, 'this is where we're at' and not be a shocker when it happens and 'here's what you need to do to get better' and 'here's where we're at' and 'keep pushing.' "

The city of Cleveland exemplifies the disposition of LeBron James and David Blatt while they make a championship run.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The city of Cleveland has endured 51 long, agonizing, insufferable, teased-filled years since its last professional sports championship.

In this city lies a passionate, intense fan base thirsty for a winner.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a golden opportunity to end that drought, and that process starts on Sunday in the opening round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics. A focused LeBron James and an ultraconfident David Blatt are itching to get started.

For the first time in quite some time, the path to an NBA title is wide open for the taking and the Cavaliers are huge favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals and many have them pegged as favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy.

With those lofty expectations comes immense pressure, external forces James says he ignores at all cost.

"I really don't have a pulse of it because I'm not that type of guy," James said sternly. "I'm [not one] who really gets involved in it. I haven't seen one matchup preview or any of that stuff that goes on on TV. I haven't heard any radio reports or anything. I don't read it, I don't talk about it, I don't get involved in it so the only the pulse is how we practice and how we come in prepared. We'll be ready tomorrow."

James never cracked a smile during his six-minute media address on Saturday. He's in all-business mode.

He said he has stressed to his team the importance of avoiding outside noise that could distract from the team's concentration as it pursues the franchise's first title.

Whether the Cavs take heed or not is another discussion.

"I mean I try to, but we don't stay together," James said. "I can tell them how I go about things and tell them the best way to go about it, but when we're away from each other, they have to take care of their own business."

This may be his first postseason rodeo in the NBA, but Blatt is as confident and secure as they come.

Blatt's self-assuredness was made even more evident before the team's March 12 overtime road win over the San Antonio Spurs. He was asked for the millionth time about his thoughts on adapting to a new league and a new culture.

"Despite me being one of the more experienced coaches in the world, I still came over here new and had to go through my share of, in my period of time, for adjustment and for people adjusting to me," he said.

I followed up with a question asking him if there was a point after the rocky part of the season where he recognized that he had obtained the ear of his team. Thinking I asked a reasonable and fair-minded question that would garner a telling response, Blatt crossed me over and went on to commit an Assault and Blattery.

"Yeah, the day after I signed," he replied in an annoyed tone.

That feistiness is exactly what it's going to take at the helm of a team looking to make history. Blatt doesn't play when it comes to those questioning his extensive resume.

Although this is his first year in the NBA, his confidence in his coaching ability never wavered. Every stop he's made, a successful stint soon followed, and he did it his own way.

Cleveland fans are some of the most extraordinary, unbending, electric, die-hard fans in the country. Their attentiveness and strong-willed qualities epitomizes the disposition of James and Blatt.

The city of Cleveland deserves a winner. It's one of the main reasons James returned home. He understands the struggle, but he also understands what it takes to reach the promised land. James and Blatt are leading the charge.

It will be an exhilarating scene at The Q on Sunday for Game 1. The fans are going to bring it every game. They're just hoping and praying that their team has enough in the tank to bring it 16 more times.

The real voyage begins now.

"I was always told what great fans we have and how loyal they are and nothing has disproven that theory," Blatt said. "But what I've really learned is that people are very hungry here for success and really, really want to see their sports teams do well and make them proud. And that's what we're trying to do."

Cardale Jones does in the Spring Game little to hurt his chances to start at quarterback for Ohio State, but the decision will not be made until summer camp.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As part of a program by the Ohio State compliance office called "Protect Greatness," Cardale Jones appeared on the replay board in the almost empty Horseshoe Saturday morning. This was shortly before the Maryland-Ohio State lacrosse game began and three hours before a national record 99,391 fans attended the Spring Game.

Jones was LeBron James, 10-stories-on-a-downtown-building-sized, as befits what he did at the end of last season for Ohio State's national champions. On the replay board, Jones was backing up his outsized image by throwing a touchdown pass to Devin Smith against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

The "protect greatness" message is aimed at educating boosters about potential rules violations.

It also brought up the questions everyone must ask about Jones, the junior program savior, who stepped in as a third-stringer and stole the show in the postseason's three biggest games:

• Can greatness be predicted and protected from such a small sample as Jones had a starter?
• Will Jones' commitment to preparation and self-discipline keep him in the starting position?
• Or will he relapse into old habits?

Early in his relationship with coach Urban Meyer, Jones was outspoken about his ability and his situation, as he went down the depth-chart escalator.

This is not an endearing trait to any coach, much less Meyer, who sent a future Heisman Trophy winner named Cam Newton packing at Florida. Newton's legal troubles were a big factor, but they only enhanced his expendability.

Jones' competition for the starting quarterback job, the estimable Braxton Miller and the respected J.T. Barrett, spent the Scarlet and Gray Game standing behind the line of scrimmage, discussing what they saw on each play with Meyer and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner.

For his part, Jones threw early and often as his Gray team edged redshirt freshman Stephen Collier's Scarlet, 17-14.

Jones completed 19 of 42 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Both touchdown throws, of 58 and 37 yards, went to wide receiver Corey Smith.

In all, Smith caught six passes for 174 yards. The only thing ordinary about the Jones-to-Smith combination is their last names.

Jones throws a football the way Sam Snead swung a golf club and Steph Curry shoots a basketball, with effortless power and silky touch.

His passes seem to scoff at gravity, "hovering," as Michael Irvin said of Dallas Cowboys teammate Troy Aikman's deep throws, "while saying, 'Catch me.'"

Jones' worst throw was picked off by his roommate, Bedford's Tyvis Powell. After Jones knocked him out of bounds, Powell took a pretend selfie of the two standing together. "He was woozy. I hit him," Jones said.

He ran eight times for only eight net yards under touch football rules because he wore a no-contact black jersey. Wooziness is his stock in trade for tacklers as well as those he tackles. Nobody stops the 6-5, 250 Jones with an arm tackle in a real game.

"He played behind a makeshift offensive line, but he's got to be much sharper. I give him a very good spring, though," said Meyer of Jones, who was victimized by two dropped balls by Curtis Samuel.

Jones was the unbelievable plot twist in the national championship season. The second-most implausible story behind that of his sterling play was that he is still here after passing on the NFL money. He would have been drafted high enough to make his family secure, just based on his natural ability.

What Jones did was sheer college football romance. But Meyer said he plans to decide the Great Quarterback Debate on a statistical system he is working out.

"It's got to be statistical analysis and data. This can't be, well, I'm going with him because it's my gut feeling," Meyer said, unwittingly criticizing the reason the Browns' Butch Davis gave for elevating Kelly Holcomb ahead of Tim Couch in 2003.

In a halftime exhibition, Jones fired a ball that landed 74 yards away, beating former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith (68 yards) and Barrett (55.)

"My arm was kind of tired. I probably throw a little farther," said Jones.

Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Troy Smith took part in a competition at Saturday's spring game. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Only 74. When it comes to Cardale Jones and his ability to throw a football, 74 yards requires an only.

As part of Ohio State's festive halftime for Saturday's spring game, Ohio State quarterbacks Jones and J.T. Barrett and former quarterback Troy Smith took part in a halftime skills competition against three fans. (The other quarterback in the battle for Ohio State's starting job, Braxton Miller, is still getting his throwing shoulder healthy and took part in the fastest student race instead."

The first part of the competition had the OSU quarterbacks throwing at targets 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards down the field, with points awarded for each hit. Frankly, it was a little confusing to keep track of, but it Barrett and his student partner won the battle over Jones and Smith and their student partners.

But the last throw is really what everyone was waiting for. After those throws, each quarterback got one more throw to let it rip as far as he could.

How far could 12 Gauge - that's the nickname bestowed on Jones for his shotgun of an arm - chuck that ball?

Barrett went first, and the starter from a year ago who was known for his accuracy and ability to distribute, not his arm strength, threw it 60 yards.

Then came Smith, who can still fling it for a 30-year-old who lasted played in the Canadian Football League last fall. He threw it 68.

Then, Jones, who had thrown 33 passes in the first half of the spring game, completing 15 of them for 224 yards.

"My arm was kind of tired," Jones said. "I probably could have thrown it a little farther."

So it sailed 74 yards. Only 74. 

Doug, Ari and Bill break down what they saw during Ohio State's spring game, and what you can really take away. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Erick Smith had two interceptions. Parris Campbell scored a touchdown. Braxton Miller stood on the field with Urban Meyer, wearing a red Ohio State visor and a black headset.

Miller was the most interesting of the three.

That's not a slight to Smith, Campbell or any other young player who made plays during Ohio State's spring game on Saturday. That's just the nature of where Ohio State was this spring.

Watch Doug, Ari and I break down the spring game in the video above.

The guys who didn't play -- or played sparingly -- are the ones who will matter most when the Buckeyes open the 2015 season on Sept. 7 at Virginia Tech.

Saturday's spring game in Ohio Stadium (the Gray team won, 17-14, by the way) was a chance to have an extended viewing period of guys like Smith and Campbell, and other young players like Nick Conner and Jamarco Jones.

But when the games start to matter, you'll be watching Taylor Decker, Joey Bosa and Jalin Marshall -- who all saw little time -- or guys like Miller, J.T. Barrett, Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott -- who didn't play at all.

That doesn't mean Saturday wasn't worthwhile. It felt mostly like an extended celebration of the Buckeyes National Championship, and a national spring game record crowd of 99,391 came out to join the party. There was a halftime push-up contest, a fastest Buckeye contest (won by Elliott) and a longest throw contest among Jones, Barrett and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

You did get a look at new starters Gareon Conley, Chase Farris and Noah Brown. Cardale Jones played the entire game and didn't necessarily look sharp, but you have to remember that most of the players who were blocking for him and running routes won't be out there in September.

So take Saturday for what it was. An exhibition, and a celebration.

 

The Indians' battery of righty Danny Salazar (6 IP, 2 R, 10 K) and catcher Roberto Perez (3-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R) proved too much for Minnesota on Saturday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Danny Salazar struck out 10 in six-plus innings and Roberto Perez went 3-for-4 with a homer as the Indians defeated the Twins, 4-2, Saturday afternoon at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. Here is a capsule look at the game after a dvr review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Baby steps: The Indians (4-6) have won two of three.

Cooled: The Twins (4-7) had won three straight.

Strong rebound: In the opener of the three-game series Friday night, the Tribe lost, 3-2, in 11 innings. The defeat carried extra sting because it came in a game started by Corey Kluber, who allowed two runs in eight innings. And Kluber opposed righty Mike Pelfrey, who inexplicably held the Indians to one run on three hits in five innings.

On Saturday, the pitching matchup seemingly favored the Twins -- and the Indians  prevailed. They did better against Minnesota's No. 1, Phil Hughes (6 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 R), than the Twins did against the recently promoted Salazar.

Hughes entered at 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts, but he was good last season (16-10, 3.52) and had been so in his career against Cleveland (seven starts, 4-1, 2.80).

On his game: Salazar, making his season's debut for the Indians, allowed the two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out 10. He threw 67 of 105 pitches for strikes.

The Twins are not exactly scary offensively; they entered with a .216 average and 3.0 runs per game. Regardless, no asterisk needs to be attached to Salazar's performance: His stuff probably would have played against numerous teams.  

Salazar used a fastball/changeup/slider combination. He made his mark with the fastball and changeup; the slider was spotty but effective enough to keep batters honest.

Salazar threw 75 fastballs, 16 changeups and 14 sliders. (In real time, it sometimes can be difficult to distinguish his changeup from his slider based on the pitches' trajectories and speeds. Multiple replays were required on five pitches in order to be virtually certain.)

One way to illustrate the quality of Salazar's stuff: The Twins swung and missed 23 times. All of the strikeouts were swinging -- six at changeups, four at fastballs.

According to Fox SportsTime Ohio's readings, a total of 69 fastballs were 95 mph or faster. He sustained the velocity: His final three fastballs were 97, 97 and 97.

Here is a capsule look at Salazar's performance:

First inning: Leadoff batter Danny Santana struck out on four pitches; the strikeout pitch was a Bugs Bunny changeup. ... No. 2 batter Torii Hunter hit a sinking liner to center (fastball away) that Michael Bourn caught. ... Bourn's play took on added significance when Joe Mauer singled to right (fastball up). ... Salazar stranded Mauer by working over righty Brian Dozier: 95 fastball, called strike; 87 slider, called strike; and 87 changeup, swinging strikeout. Dozier entered the game at 7-for-11 with one homer and three doubles career against Salazar.

Total pitches: 18 (14 fastballs, three changeups, one slider).

Swings and misses: two (changeup, changeup)

Second inning: The Twins were retired in order. ... Lefty power threat Kennys Vargas was overmatched by the fastball and struck out swinging. ... Kurt Suzuki swung through another Bugs Bunny changeup for the second out. ... Lefty power threat Oswaldo Arcia saw six straight fastballs: 96, 96, 97, 98, 98, 98. He swung and missed at the third, fourth and sixth.

Total pitches: 16 (11 fastballs, four sliders, one changeup).

Swings and misses: seven (fastball, fastball, slider, changeup, fastball, fastball, fastball).

Third inning: No. 8 batter Eduardo Nunez led off with a double to left. It came off an 0-2 changeup on the inner half that stayed up -- one of the few legitimate  "mistakes'' that Salazar made. ... Salazar overpowered Jordan Schafer: 95 swinging strike; 96 foul; 97 high, 97 swinging strikeout. ... Salazar's fastball streak reached nine before he and Perez fooled Santana with a 1-2 changeup (87), which came  after a high fastball (98). Santana swung and missed. ... Right-handed batter Hunter saw three heaters in a row before lining a fourth one into right-center for an RBI double (1-2 count). That Salazar and Perez opted for four straight fastballs to Hunter was not necessarily the issue, even ahead in the count, because fastballs can get him out. The location of the decisive pitch, though, was puzzling. Perez set up on the outside corner and Salazar's pitch tracked the glove, knee-high, until Hunter hit it hard. Enabling Hunter to go with a fastball, thus allowing the speed of the pitch to help provide the power, is doing him a favor -- especially at this (late) stage of his career. ... Salazar rebounded to strike out three-time AL batting champion Joe Mauer with a wicked changeup.

Total pitches: 23 (17 fastballs, four changeups, two sliders).

Swings and misses: seven (fastball, fastball, fastball, fastball, changeup, changeup, changeup).

Fourth inning: Salazar walked one but faced the minimum. ... Dozier took 2-2 and 3-2 fastballs -- both 98 mph -- for balls and a leadoff walk. ... Salazar resumed dominating Vargas with fastballs: 94 called strike, 94 high, 97 swinging strike, 98 swinging strikeout. ... In a 1-1 count to Suzuki, Salazar threw a fastball (97) that ran hard inside; Suzuki only was able to fist it to short, where Jose Ramirez triggered a 6-4-3 double play.

Total pitches: 13 (11 fastballs, two sliders).

Swings and misses: three (fastball, fastball, fastball).

Fifth inning: Salazar gave up one hit but faced the minimum. ... Arcia led off with a good piece of hitting: He went down to get a changeup and golfed it deep to right, where David Murphy made the catch on the track. If that pitch had done damage, it would have been more credit to Arcia than blame on Salazar. ... Nunez hit a 97-mph fastball to right for a single (1-1 count) -- one of a small number of Salazar fastballs that stayed in the middle of the plate and above the knees. ... With the Indians leading, 2-1, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor put Nunez in motion on the first pitch to Schafer, who popped a fastball to left. Michael Brantley caught it and doubled off Nunez.

Total pitches: seven (five fastballs, two changeups).

Swings and misses: none.

Sixth inning: Santana struck out swinging at an 88-mph changeup, which came after a 98-mph fastball high and away. ... Salazar and Perez, determined not to let Hunter beat them on another fastball, went exclusively off-speed: 82 slider foul; 85 changeup in dirt; 84 slider foul; 90 changeup low; 88 changeup grounder to third. (Multiple replays were required to differentiate two of the changeups from sliders.) Hunter's grounder was reasonably sharp, giving him good swings in three straight  ABs. ... Mauer went with an 0-1 fastball (95) and doubled to left. ... Dozier, down in the count, 1-2, spit on a good slider, took a fastball for a ball, and spit on a decent changeup for the walk. Tip of the helmet to Dozier for good discipline. ... Salazar missed his target on a 1-1 fastball to Vargas; Perez set up outside but the pitch ran in. No problem, though, because it jammed Vargas enough to force a manageable liner to third.

Total pitches: 21 (11 fastballs, five changeups, five sliders).

Swings and misses: four (fastball, changeup, slider, fastball).

Seventh inning: Suzuki homered deep to left off a 3-2 fastball (97) that split the plate at the thighs. It pulled the Twins within 4-2. Salazar nearly had Suzuki struck out with a 1-2 fastball; plate umpire Hal Gibson III deemed it a fraction of a fraction of an inch outside.

Indians manager Terry Francona signaled for lefty Nick Hagadone.

Total pitches: seven (six fastballs, one changeup).

Swings and misses: none.

Notable: Perez, who batted eighth Saturday, leads the Indians with two homers. .... Second baseman Jason Kipnis snapped an 0-for-16 with an RBI single in the seventh.

Danny Salazar struck out 10 Twins in six innings and Roberto Perez had three hits in the Tribe's victory. Watch video

MINNEAPOLIS -- What the Indians said about Saturday's 4-2 win over the Twins at Target Field.

Manager Terry Francona

On Danny Salazar, who struck out 10 and allowed two runs in six innings.

"He came out and established easy velocity on his fastball and held it through his outing. The pitch count was elevated because of the strikeouts, especially early.

"He did a good job of working ahead and mixing in his breaking ball. He made a couple of mistakes, but came right back and corrected it."

On why he sent Salazar out for the seventh?

"We wanted to let him pitch a little bit, but the leadoff homer (hurt). He got ahead of the hitter (Kurt Suzuki), but worked back to a full count and Suzuki hit the home run. So we go to Hags (Nick Hagadone) and he really did a good job.

"Rather than getting that line moving and matching up, Hags threw the ball so well that we were able to leave him out there for two innings."

On Roberto Perez and Jose Ramirez going a combined 5-for-8 with a homer and three runs at the bottom of the order.

"Roberto got us off with that homer and then he and Jose had five hits. They did some really good things. When you're not pounding the ball, you'll take it from anywhere you can get it.

"Hopefully, that gives us something to build on."

On whether Perez's power (two homers) is a surprise.

"No, he's a big strong kid. I think that was one of the things we liked about him being a backup catcher. He may not hit .300, but he swings hard and there's always that possibility that he'll hit the ball out of the park."

Starter Danny Salazar

On his pitch selection against the Twins.

"I think my change up and fastball were my best pitches. Perez and I were on the same page today with those two pitches. It was great.

"The fastball was down, but at the end of the game it was up a little because I was getting lazy with my arm."

On the importance of making a good impression in his first start of the season after struggling in spring training.

"It's awesome. I said yesterday I have things to prove. I've been working. I know this is my first game that I've thrown in the big leagues this year, but you can see the results. They are better than in spring training."

Closer Cody Allen

On striking out the side to earn his third save after some early-season struggles.

"Every outing is a new day. I've left those last few in the past and I've moved on. Thinking about those aren't going to help me or this team out at all.

"I tried to go out and throw strikes. I had a good breaking ball today."

On Salazar's performance

"We've all seen that. We all know it's there. He's a young guy with really good stuff. Everything was working for him today. Hopefully, that's what we'll see predominately throughout the year."

Catcher Roberto Perez

On Salazar.

"It was really impressive. That's the Danny I know from past years. He was attacking the zone early. He was really aggressive with his fastball. He was overpowering those guys.

"Then he worked with that splitty off the fastball. He was really effective today."

On the game plan against the Twins.

"We kept pounding the zone with fastballs because they were late on the fastball."

On having three hits to help Salazar get the win.

"When you have a guy like Danny pounding the zone and pitching a good game, that's when you have to step up.

"I want to call a good game and and score some runs for him. I wasn't trying to do too much at the plate today. I just put some good at-bats together."

On whether he can hit a ball farther than his 435-foot homer in the third.

"Actually, I don't know. I didn't look at it, but I think it went far."

Ohio State quarterback competition has all the attention, but it's possible that the skill position talent is so deep that the winner of that competition doesn't matter. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dontre Wilson signed a football, then posed for a selfie with a small girl as she hung over the railing in the first row of the stands on the east side of Ohio Stadium. Wilson made the little girl's day. 

As he took the picture, the rest of Ohio State's football team was gathering at midfield. Wilson realized he was late. 

"Oh, shoot," Wilson said as he turned around. Then he sprinted to midfield to hear Urban Meyer address the Buckeyes before the spring game Saturday, Ohio State's final practice of the spring. 

Don't blame Wilson for not being completely engaged. It was a beautiful, sunny day, there were 100,000 fans in the stadium and he was out having a good time. It's not like he had a game for which to prepare. 

Wilson hasn't been completely healthy since he broke his ankle at Michigan State last November. A second ankle surgery after Ohio State's national title has kept him out this spring, and the time missed has temporarily taken him out of the limelight. This isn't the Ohio State to which he committed. 

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has stacked the Buckeyes roster with more playmakers than he can count. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

There was a time where he was the main show. When he flipped from Oregon in the 2013 recruiting class, he was the guy that was supposed to fulfill Urban Meyer's Percy Harvin H-Back prophecy. He was the small, fast savior of Ohio State's old and out-dated offense. 

Now Wilson is just the guy near the railing signing autographs, his name mentioned near the end of the playmakers discussion.

It'll be entirely up to him to make himself relevant again in the fall. At the modern day Ohio State, that's really hard to do. Because heading into his fourth year, Meyer's vision for Ohio State's skill position players has come true. 

There are too many. 

"We just continued to supply talent to that position, now we have a lot of playmakers there," Ohio State offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. "That was a recruiting emphasis, so we brought in a lot of talented guys.

"There's something electric about those fast guys making big plays - quick strike,  big play potential. And that's part of an Urban Meyer offense. We've aggressively recruited those guys and they're here on the team and now they're coming into their own and playing well."

Will Jalin Marshall play wide receiver or H in the fall? Ohio State is trying its best to fit all of its most talented players on the field. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

Everything about Ohio State right now is about the quarterback competition. Will it be Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett who wins the starting job in the fall? But here's a crazy assertion: It doesn't really matter. 

Whoever wins the starting job will have one simple goal: Distribute the efficiently to the neverending list of playmakers.

There's a reason all three quarterbacks were successful in the past. Meyer has a system, and that system is to have Ohio State's offense stacked with fast and talented players. Let them do the heavy lifting. 

Which is why Meyer was concerned about Ohio State's skill depth when he initially took over the team in 2012. 

"Our coaching staff (in 2012) was instructed to take what we have and do the best we could," Meyer said. "That's why the offense looks so different now. We had to go get more people to fit the type of system that we wanted to be. 

"That's the Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, Curtis Samuel-type player. And we're still looking for me. That's a big part of what we do." 

What has gone on this spring has to be Meyer's dream scenario. Looks what's gone on. Despite the fact that Michael Thomas, a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, is out with a sports hernia, there list of receivers and H-Backs is staggering. 

Curtis Samuel has been working out at H-Back this spring. His versatility will make him a 40- or 50-play guy in the fall.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

Marshall has moved from H to wide receiver this spring. Samuel has gone from running back to H. Noah Brown has emerged as someone receivers coach Zach Smith said will definitely see the field in the fall. Corey Smith made two long touchdown receptions in the spring game. Then there's Wilson. 

How do you fit all of that onto the field? You don't. 

"People work so hard, you've got people with too much talent to just sit down," Corey Smith said. "And I think Coach Meyer realized that when Mike (Thomas) and I redshirted. When you've got people with tremendous talent, it's hard to sit them."

The reason Marshall and Samuel have been moved around is for Meyer to figure it out. Ohio State's going to rotate players, but conceivably, will have Thomas, Marshall, Samuel, Brown, Ezekiel Elliott, Nick Vannett and one of the quarterbacks on the field at the same time. 

"Right now," Meyer said, "I kind of like our skill." 

Maybe that's what's relieving his quarterback battle stress. 

"I'm looking at Cardale and he looks at Nick," Powell said. "I say to myself, 'I know he knows that I know what he's doing.' He threw it anyway. I felt disrespected when he threw it anyway." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ezekiel Elliott was running up and down the sideline before Ohio State's spring game on Saturday, mingling with fans and taking photos and video with a Go-Pro camera attached to a selfie stick.

Tyvis Powell didn't have a selfie stick. He had to improvise.

So when Powell picked off Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones in the first quarter, he put an arm around Jones, stuck his arm out and mimicked like he was taking a selfie with his cellphone.

Call it an air selfie. One that came after Jones put a lick on Powell on the sideline.

"I saw the black jersey, I said I didn't want to give it to him, the boom," Powell said. "I let him have his moment. I didn't think he was gonna tackle me like that, he caught me off guard."

Jones was looking to hit tight end Nick Vannett on the sideline. Powell had it read the whole way.

"I'm looking at Cardale and he looks at Nick," Powell said. "I say to myself, 'I know he knows that I know what he's doing.' He threw it anyway. I felt disrespected when he threw it anyway. I had to show him why I'm dad and he's son, so I picked him off."

Dad and son? More on that in a bit.

Jones said he smiled for the fake picture. Jones is always smiling, so is Powell. Maybe that's why the two are roommates. They're two Northeast Ohio guys who came to Ohio State together, and have found a way to keep having fun while also being integral pieces to the Buckeyes success.

Saturday's spring game -- played in front of a national spring game record crowd of 99, 391 -- was precisely the kind of atmosphere where Jones and Powell could let loose completely. That's why Jones threw up a Joey Bosa-style shrug when he threw a touchdown pass to Corey Smith. And why Powell made sure Jones knew who picked him off.

"When we first got to campus when we were freshmen, we had this class together," Powell said. "We were creating goals, and I said one of my goals was to intercept Cardale in the spring game. Unfortunately it didn't happen until three years later, but now that I achieved that goal ... I told y'all he can't get me. I am the father for a reason, I know him like a book. I felt like I proved to everybody why I'm the father and he's the son. He's the rookie and I'm the vet."

That needs some explaining.

Powell and Jones are roommates, and Powell jokingly calls himself Jones' father. For the record, that's up for debate and the two often battle over who's the father and who's the son in the relationship.

But that relationship is one of the closest on the team. Their battles mostly come when they're sitting on the couch playing video games. Jones usually wins. But this wasn't that. This was bigger.

"His victories are small, they're not seen," Powell said. "This was seen in front of 99,000 people."

Powell had to capture the moment. Even if he didn't have a camera.

 

"We did not improve as a team," Meyer said after the spring game. "That was not a good team out there. So we did not improve as a team."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer said Ohio State didn't become a better team this spring. But Saturday's festivities inside Ohio Stadium - there was a team scrimmage of a spring game mixed in there - showed the current strength of the program.

The carnival atmosphere felt like a carryover from the team's National Championship celebration on Jan. 24. That vibe continued even if the Buckeyes didn't show everything they wanted to as a football team.

"We did not improve as a team," Meyer said as part of his postgame intro, before he was even asked a question. "That was not a good team out there. So we did not improve as a team."

The remarks went down a road that Meyer isn't afraid to take. That's criticism with a reason, with some praise hidden inside. Individually, Meyer thought there were young Buckeyes that did improve.

But take out the seniors from last year - Michael Bennett, Devin Smith, Doran Grant, Darryl Baldwin, Curtis Grant and others ...

Take out the injured guys - Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Michael Thomas, Dontre Wilson, Johnnie Dixon, Jacoby Boren, Tyquan Lewis and others ...

Take out the veterans that had their snaps limited by Meyer - Taylor Decker, Joey Bosa, Joshua Perry, Pat Elflein and others ... 

And yeah, that team on the field Saturday - the Scarlet or the Gray or however you'd want to divide the roster for a scrimmage - wouldn't beat the team that bathed in confetti on Jan. 12.

"As a team that's much worse than what you saw in January, obviously," Meyer said. 

For now.

It was a smart idea, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. But caution over continuity came with a price.

"I don't know if I've had a spring like this one," Meyer said.

Asked for a grade for the team through 15 practices, the coach circled back to his preference to evaluate individuals.

Team?

"Eh. What's eh?" Meyer said. "Eh."

That's how he felt about the last practice of the spring, one that took place in front of nearly 100,000 fans. But that's not the program. A program is more than that. Much more.

There were former Buckeyes all over the place, not just the seniors from last year's team, but stars like Ryan Shazier, Carlos Hyde, Troy Smith and Antonio Pittman.

There were flocks of recruits (the Buckeyes added two pledges on the day) and player after player from the incoming freshman class. Future quarterback Joey Burrow squeezed down a hallway trailed by three of his future offensive linemen.

There was halftime entertainment - a pushup contest, a student race that featured Braxton Miller, Ezekiel Elliott and Jalin Marshall, and a quarterback skills competition that included Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett.

So the team? The team was searching for balance all spring. Meyer, with key guys, wanted to avoid "some stupid injury."

"Like, 'Why did you do that?' And I've been in that situation, like, 'Why did that just happen?'" Meyer said. "You're just sick to your stomach."

So the Buckeyes avoided that. The cost was some time lost building a full team from the new and old parts.

"That was a challenge," Warinner said. "That was new territory. That's something we have to try to figure out the best way to manage it. At the end of the day, we're trying to make sure our best players have their best when we get to the season when we need them."

So the team sacrificed this spring. In the name of the program.

Danny Salazar struck out 10 Twins in six innings on Saturday to win his 2015 debut for the Indians. Watch video

MINNEAPOLIS - Baseball is never satisfied.

You might get a slap on the back today, but the whisper deep inside your ear never leaves. It is a taunting whisper, almost a challenge. It usually goes something like this, "OK, hero, good job today. Now go out and do it again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."

Danny Salazar did a nice job Saturday in his first start of the season. He pitched six innings and struck out 10 in the Indians 4-2 victory over the Twins at Target Field, but a lot more is expected of the hard-throwing right-hander.

And the expectation is for 2015. Not two or three years down the road.

It's why the Indians demoted a struggling Salazar from big league camp well before the final cuts of spring training. They wanted him to get fixed as quickly as possible because if they're going to contend they need all the pitching possible to cover for a weak offense. Judging from Saturday's results - six innings, two runs, six hits, 10 strikeouts and two walks - the Tribe's minor league pitching gurus Ruben Niebla and Class AAA pitching coach Carl Willis didn't waste much time rolling up their sleeves.

"You try to use everything to your advantage," said manager Terry Francona. "The first thing we wanted was to win the game today. The next thing is we want Danny to follow up . . .have a real good week of work and have another consistent start to build off of this."

Welcome to MLB's treadmill. All you have to do to stay on it is be almost perfect.

Minnesota's offense, just like the Indians, is hardly a juggernaut. Still, Salazar was really good Saturday.

He averaged 97.9 mph with his four-seam fastball. He topped out at 99.9 mph.

Salazar's change up, a split-finger fastball that often looked like a gopher disappearing down his hole, averaged 87.3 mph. He has a slider, too, but threw only a couple because his fastball and change up were working so well.

"He was really aggressive with his fastball. He was overpowering those guys with his fastball," said catcher Roberto Perez. "Then he worked that splitty off his fastball."

Salazar threw 105 pitches, 67 for strikes. His 10 strikeouts all came on swing and miss third strikes. In the second, he struck out the side in order on a 96 mph fastball, a 97 mph fastball and a 98 mph fastball.

"I have things to prove," said Salazar. "I've been working. This is the first game I've thrown here in the big leagues, but you can see the results. They're better than spring training."

Salazar is no longer the phenom who started the Indians wild-card game in 2013. He made 20 starts last year in the big leagues, some good, some bad. He knows exactly what he has to do in his next start, which should be next weekend in Detroit.

"I just have to keep doing the same thing every time," said Salazar.

It sounds so simple until Miguel Cabrera gets in the batter's box.

Finally: Right-hander Austin Adams was optioned to Class AAA Columbus when Salazar was activated before Sunday's game.

The Cleveland Gladiators fall to the Philadelphia Soul, 63-48.

PHILADELPHIA -- Dan Raudabaugh threw seven touchdown passes to lead the Philadelphia Soul past the Cleveland Gladiators, 63-48, in an Arena Football League game Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Gladiators, 2-2, return home to Quicken Loans Arena to host the Tampa Bay Storm on Friday at 7.

Raudabaugh completed 27 of 36 for 262 yards in leading the Soul and handing the Gladiators their second straight defeat.

Marco Thomas was Raudabaugh's favorite receiver with nine catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

Cleveland's Shane Austin completed 22 of 35 for 298 yards and five touchdowns.

Collin Taylor led the Gladiators with 10 catches for 120 yards and four touchdowns while Dominick Goodman had nine catches for 117 yards.

Cleveland took a 13-7 lead after one period as Jer Richardson scored on a 1-yard run and Austin threw a 28-yard strike to Collin Taylor.

But the Soul scored three times in the second period and held a 28-20 lead at the half. Andrae Thurman caught a 36-yard TD pass for the only Cleveland score in the period.

Raudabaugh threw touchdown passes of 48 and 9 yards to Marco Thomas in the third period to go up 42-20, but the Gladiators bounced right back. Austin found Taylor with a 3-yard scoring strike, then following a successful onside kick, Austin and Taylor hooked up on a 24-yard score to cut the Philadelphia lead to 42-34 entering the fourth quarter.

Raudabaugh then threw three more TD passes in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

The Gladiators defeated Philadelphia in all three meetings last season, including a first-round playoff game and all three wins were decided on the final drive.

The Lake Erie Monsters finish the season with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs.

HAMILTON, Ontario -- Joey Hishon scored in a shootout to lead the Lake Erie Monsters over the Hamilton Bulldogs, 4-3, in the season finale on Saturday at FirstOntario Centre.

It was the last game for the Monsters as an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. The Monsters and Columbus Blue Jackets announced a new multi-year partnership on Friday that begins next season.

Hishon's goal came on the first shot of the shootout after a scoreless overtime period and Monsters goalie Calvin Pickard blanked three Hamilton shooters in the shootout.

Pickard finished with 40 saves as the Monsters were outshot, 43-37.

The Monsters got on the board first when Cody Corbett scored his third goal of the season at the 14:30 mark, assisted by Kenny Ryan and Andrew Agozzino.

Eric Tangradi pulled Hamilton even just over a minute later with his 14th goal and T.J. Hensick put the Bulldogs up, 2-1, with a goal at 7:08 of the second period.

The Monsters tied it when Stefan Elliott his 19th goal on a power play at 14:56 and Freddie Hamilton added his 11th goal just 45 seconds later to put Lake Erie back on top, 3-2.

Hamilton got back to even at 3-3 when Christian Thomas scored at 3:47 of the third period, setting up the overtime session.

Agozzino finished with two assists, giving him 34 and a team-leading 64 points on the season. He led the team in goals with a club record 30 and has been the hottest player in the AHL since the first of the year with 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in his 45 games.

Danny Salazar beats Twins in his 2015 debut for the Indians. Roberto Perez, Salazar's catcher, leads the offense with three hits.

MINNEAPOLIS -- It's unclear if that was a mirage or not, but the Danny Salazar who took the mound against the Twins on Saturday afternoon, is the Danny Salazar the Indians have been waiting to see since he made his big league debut against Toronto on July 11, 2013.

Salazar, activated before the game, struck out 10 in six innings as the Indians beat the Twins, 4-2, for just their fourth win of the season. In a word, Salazar was overpowering.

He threw a fastball that ranged from 94 mph to 98 mph, along with a diving split-finger change up and a slider in the mid 80s. The Twins, one of the weakest hitting teams in the American League, did a lot of swinging and missing.

Salazar threw only 64 percent of his 105 pitches for strikes, but he was constantly around the plate.  He's 2-1 in three career starts against the Twins.

The Indians are no powerhouse when it comes to offense, but catcher Roberto Perez showed the way in support of Salazar. He had three hits, including a 435-foot homer, and scored two runs against Phil Hughes (0-3). Hughes came into the game with a 4-1 career record against the Tribe.

Manager Terry Francona made a questionable decision by sending Salazar out for the seventh and it quickly backfired. Leadoff man Kurt Suzuki homered to make it 4-2, but the Tribe's suddenly shaky bullpen came to the rescue.

Lefty Nick Hagadone turned in two scoreless innings and Cody Allen struck out the side in the ninth for his third save. Indians pitchers struck out 15 Saturday.

Add on runs

The Indians did something in the seventh inning that they've struggled to do in the early part of the season - add to a lead.

Jason Kipnis singled home Perez for a 3-1 lead. The hit ended a 0-for-16 skid by Kipnis.

Jose Ramirez made it 4-1 when he scored from third on a wild pitch by Caleb Thielbar, who relieved Hughes after the single by Kipnis. The single by Kipnis ended a 0-for-18 slump by the Indians No.1 and No.2 hitters.

Perez started the rally with his third hit of the day, a one-out single. Ramirez moved him to second with a single to right, but Hughes retired Michael Bourn before Kipnis delivered Perez.

Long distance calling

Perez gave the Indians a 1-0 lead with a 435-foot homer to left center field to start the third.in the third.

Perez, who has two homers, hit a 1-1 pitch b Phelps.

The inning could have been bigger as Ramirez doubled and went to third on  Bourn's grounder to second. The Indians couldn't get him home as Phelps retired Kipnis on a grounder to second, walked Brandon Moss on a pop up to short.

Cat and mouse game

Veteran Tori Hunter, with two out and a man on second in the third, stepped out and called time late in Salazar's delivery. Hunter was down in the count and trying to disrupt Salazar's concentration and it worked.

Salazar grooved a fastball on his next pitch and Hunter lined it off the wall in right center to tie the score, 1-1.

Back on top

Moss, who came into the game with 12 strikeouts in 24 at-bats, started the fourth with a double off the wall in right field. David Murphy, Moss' one-time minor league roommate, moved him to third with a ground out to second.

Lonnie Chisenhall brought Moss home for a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to left. It wa Chisenhall's fourth RBI.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Twins drew 23,949 fans to Target Field on Saturday.

What's next?

Lefty TJ House (0-1, 40.50) will make his second start of the season Sunday when he faces Twins right-hander Trevor May (0-1, 8.44) at 2:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the game.

This will be House's first start in six days. He was mauled by Tigers, allowing six runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings. Needs to let some air out of that 40.50 ERA.

House is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in four starts against the Twins. They all came last year.

May will be making his second start of the year as well. He lost the home opener against the Royals on April 13.

The Cavs had a balanced attack to knock off Boston in the playoff opener.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to the playoffs ... to Quicken Loans being a sea of white ALL IN T-shirts with fans stomping and screaming:

LET'S GO CAVS... LET'S GO CAVS...

This was more of a celebration than the first game of the playoffs.

Finally.

Finally, the playoffs were here with LeBron James back in town.

Finally, Northeast Ohio has a team that's good enough to at least dream about contending for a title.

Final score: Cavaliers 113, Boston 100 in this first game of the best-of-seven series.

If you're a Cavs fan, you should be encouraged by how your team took over this game without LeBron James having to dominate. James delivered 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds. He was 8-of-17 shooting, and often seemed to look for teammates such as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to just experience the playoffs for the first time.

Irving served notice that this is the season that he's been awaiting for four years ... his first postseason. He scored inside and out, he scored driving to his left and right. He skidded across the floor on his belly after loose balls. He never stopped moving without the ball.

It was a phenomenal playoff debut, 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting.

The playoffs can be the time that the national basketball fans begin to truly appreciate what the Cavs have in their 23-year-old point guard. It was another step after winning MVP in the All-Star Game and being the MVP of the 2014 World Cup Games for Team USA.

"When the stage is bright, Kyrie is ready," said Cavs Coach David Blatt. "He loves to play in these kind of games."

TOO MUCH CAVS

One of Boston's goals was not to let some of the other key Cavs players have a huge impact on the game.

"I think we did as good a job on LeBron as could be done," said Boston coach Brad Stevens. "But when you play a great team, you have to pick your poison."

And Irving basically killed Boston's hopes of an upset.

"He takes tough shots and makes tough shots," said Boston guard Isaiah Thomas. "He made shots with us right in his face."

Love didn't shoot well (5-of-14), but was in the middle of things with 12 rebounds. He drew two charges. The Cavs outscored Boston by 15 points when Love was on the court, the best plus/minus of anyone in a Cavalier uniform.

Clearly, Love was nervous in his first playoff game. But his dozen rebounds were  a big deal. In fact, the Cavs took control of this game on the boards, holding
46-34 advantage.

"I like how Kevin was locked in the entire game, no matter if the shot was going in," said Blatt. "Everyone was worried about what Kevin and Kyrie would do in their first playoff games. Kyrie had 30 (points), Kevin had 19 and 12."

GOOD FIRST GAME

This is exactly the kind of game the Cavaliers needed to open the playoffs. They were dreadful defensively in the first quarter, and fired up a couple of early air balls on offense.

Yes, some of it was playoff nerves and the Cavs defense was barely a rumor as Boston led by eight points late in the first quarter.

Then the Cavs settled down and took over the game. After allowing 31 points in the first quarter, the Cavs held Boston to 23-22-24 points in the next three periods.

By the middle of the third period, this game almost had the feel of a random January game in the NBA. The teams played hard, but there was none of the zeal that will be a part of the playoffs in the later rounds.

The Cavs had energetic performances from Tristan Thompson (12 points, 6 rebounds), Iman Shumpert (7 points, 6 rebounds) and James Jones (8 points) off the bench.

Blatt talked about the maturity of James, and how he had his younger teammates prepared for this in terms of not panicking when the Cavs fell behind early.

And yes, it showed.

James is now 37-7 in first-round playoff games, and the Cavs have taken their first real step in making this a postseason to remember for their fans.

Listen to our postgame podcast as the Cavaliers beat the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One down. Fifteen to go. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics, 113-100, on Sunday afternoon at The Q to open up their 2015 NBA playoff run. Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 30 points.

After the game, Dennis Manoloff and I broke everything down. We talked about the win, what we liked and didn't like from what we saw and looked ahead to Game 2 on Tuesday. Other topics included:

• The performance of Kevin Love.
• Tristan Thompson's impact.
• The versatility of the roster.
• Three stars of the game.

You can listen to our live postgame show immediately following every game this postseason.

Listen to the podcast in the player above or download it by clicking here.