After Stu McAllister's brother is badly injured, Stu manages to get a unique get-well gift ... with the help of the Indians.

View full sizePlain Dealer fileTito Francona, shown offering some tips to a group of youngsters during the 1960s, was one of several players to sign Stu McAllister's scorecard for Stu's injured brother in 1960.

This spring, we asked readers to tell us their best memory at an Indians game. More than 600 responded. The five finalists and winner were featured during the week leading up to Opening Day. All season long, The Plain Dealer will publish other fan memories -- one each day the Indians are scheduled to play. Here is today's essay by Stu McAllister of Hendersonville, N.C.:

In 1960, in Crestline, Ohio, my 16-year-old brother Fritz was to be the starting pitcher in the town's Pony League championship game. On the last day of practice, Fritz was riding his bike home when he was hit by a train and lost his left leg.

Soon after the accident, I took a train to Cleveland with a special purpose in mind. I wanted autographs for my brother from our favorite team. I walked from Terminal Tower to Cleveland Municipal Stadium, bought a game ticket and a program, turned to the scorecard in the program, and marched through the concourse until I found the Indians' dressing room.

I introduced myself to the security guard and stated my reason for being there. He listened politely, then he smiled and said, "Wait here a minute, son." Then he went inside and closed the door.

Soon after, the door opened again and I was greeted by pitcher Jim Perry, who would start the game that day. He escorted me into the clubhouse.

I stood there awestruck just inside the door while Jim Perry did the legwork. Every Tribe player signed the scorecard for Fritz, and Jim Perry wrote, "Fritz, this game's for you," and then he won the game!

I remember Tito Francona giving me a smile and a wave as he signed the scorecard. I was too shocked in the moment to remember anything else about being in the presence of my beloved Tribe, in the privacy of their dressing room, so up-close and personal. I do remember this: They were much bigger and muscular than they appeared on TV, or even in the ballpark. I have many great memories of Indians games, but this one tops them all.

Fritz's Pony League team did win the championship, and presented the trophy to him at his hospital bedside.

There will be double-file restarts after cautions instead of the traditional single-file for this Sunday's race, and it's difficult to find anyone who likes it.

View full sizeTom Strattman l Associated PressPole winner Alex Tagliani, right, and many other Indy drivers are concerned about the race switching to double-file restarts instead of single-file.

"Try to follow a couple of cars in traffic, then park it and be ready to go," he said of the final one-hour session. "You have to be sensible and you have to make sure everything is right. But most important, try and feel the balance and make sure the car is good behind turbulence. And that's it."

But there is another growing concern among the drivers, and this is for race day. For the centennial anniversary of the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the 95th running of the race, there will be double-file restarts after cautions instead of the traditional single-file. And it's hard to find anyone who likes it.

"It's definitely a worry," said Tagliani, 37, the first Canadian ever on the pole at Indy. Tagliani has enough odds stacked against taking the checkered flag already, right down to the No. 77 on his car. No car between 70-79 has ever won at the Brickyard. But that's mere superstition. The new restarts are a potentially dangerous reality.

"In a race like the 500, double-file restarts can potentially change the outcome of the race," Tagliani said. "So you have to think about it. Obviously, I would prefer the single-file restarts."

It is not like single-file starts lack drama. Medina-born Bobby Rahal won his lone Indianapolis 500 race (1986) in great measure because of a late-race restart. In 1993, Indy rookie and former Formula One ace Nigel Mansel couldn't hold the point on a late-race restart and lost to Emerson Fittipaldi. In 1995, race leader Scott Goodyear, also a Canadian, was penalized for passing the pace car on the restart, allowing Jacques Villeneuve to become the first Canadian to win Indy.

The problem, according to racing veteran Tony Kanaan, is over the course of the race Indy becomes a one-groove track. Passing high is a delicate maneuver. Forcing drivers to go where they know there is danger is not being accepted well.

"You're going to tell me, we're running the Indianapolis 500, 20 laps to go, you're 10th, and you do a double-file restart?" Kanaan questioned. "You're gonna go for it.

"So, I don't agree with it. There's a bigger potential for more disaster than anything. But I have to accept it. We're paid to drive race cars, not to crash them, but they are making it very difficult. They say the fans love it, but hopefully we have more than six cars finish the race."

Series officials are aware of the drivers' opinions, but not backing off the idea.

"Concerns are valid because it's their butts on the line out there and it's the Indy 500," said Brian Barnhart, IndyCar Series president of competition and operations. "They want to do everything they can to be in position to win. When you are making efforts to do the best you can for everybody, there is going to be a scenario that just didn't work out well for someone.

"I've had several conversations with a lot of the drivers about what the process for restarts is going to be like and there's a lot of varied opinions on where it should be, how fast it should be, what the spacing should be. Most of the responses to what we've proposed has been 'that all makes sense.' "

Yet that has not been the public opinion.

Kanaan said that after 40 laps of the 200-lap race, a lot of debris builds up outside of the racing line, and track officials will not be able to clean it in a timely manner during cautions.

"The 500 is about tradition," he said. "We talk about that a lot. There are a lot of things we can't do here because it has been a tradition for 40 years, a hundred years. So, I'm not comfortable with it. We've seen people crash in the marbles before just by going off-line by an inch. Having us trying a double-file restart in that condition is going to be tough."

Barnard countered, it is all in the driver's control.

"We really don't know until you put it into practice and try it for the first time," he said. "While this is a new process and has its challenges, no matter what we do as a series, and what we do in terms of laying out the procedure, ultimately, it's in their hands. "

New duties: As a first-time pole-sitter at Indy, Tagliani feels pressure to bring home a victory.

"I think I have a new job to do and the job is to make sure we win the race," Tagliani said. "At the drop of the green flag, the only thing I'm going to have in mind is running up front, running fast, and trying to be as competitive as we can."

Got milk? Defending race winner Dario Franchitti was asked what he knows, for sure, about the Indianapolis 500 after winning it twice? His response was classic.

"Milk tastes good after 500 miles, I would say," he said, referring to the traditional glass of milk that goes to the winner. The tradition began with buttermilk, but that is not the case now.

"I got an email yesterday," he said. "If you win, what would you like; whole, 2 percent, or fat-free skim milk. I told them it could be 25-year-old yak's milk if I win. I'm going fully leaded."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

BEREA, Ohio — Berea sophomore Donovan Robertson sat alone, distraught and bleeding in the awards area of the state track meet last June when an official approached him and gently told him he had to go, that he wasn't getting a medal. He had been disqualified. Robertson wandered off. No one expected to see him come back, much less...

Donovan Robertson crashes to the track in last year’s state meet. He was in a three-way battle for first place in the 110 hurdles final when he clipped the seventh and eighth hurdles and fell hard, knocking a hurdle into another lane, which disqualified him. - (John Kuntz l PD)

BEREA, Ohio — Berea sophomore Donovan Robertson sat alone, distraught and bleeding in the awards area of the state track meet last June when an official approached him and gently told him he had to go, that he wasn't getting a medal. He had been disqualified.

Robertson wandered off. No one expected to see him come back, much less climb to the top of the podium 75 minutes later. But he did, and therein lies the lesson of Donovan Robertson: always moving forward, always stretching himself in ways no one expects and always on a quiet, humble path toward success.

Robertson, now a junior, has emerged as one of the nation's elite young sprinters and hurdlers through what has been a fascinating progression on the track and behind the scenes.

Robertson's status skyrocketed this spring when he briefly owned the state's fastest times in both the 100-meter dash and the 110 high hurdles, while being among the best in the 200 dash and the 300 intermediate hurdles. Soon, people began connecting the dots. Robertson hails from a family steeped in Northeast Ohio sports lore.

His parents were stars at Cleveland State, an uncle played in the NBA and another uncle played at Ohio State.

Robertson, meanwhile, is clearing his own path in unexpected ways. For example, few people, including his music teachers, know he is hearing impaired. The reason that often comes as a surprise is he's an accomplished trumpet player and a marching band drum major. He has taught himself to read music and read lips.

"The stuff he does just amazes me," said his father, Ken Robertson, a Cleveland firefighter who, as a defensive-minded basketball guard, helped lead CSU to an NCAA Tournament upset of third-seeded Indiana in 1986.

Donovan's hearing loss is not total. He has 30 percent loss in one ear and 40 percent in another, said his mother, Natalie (Boling) Dolson, a former CSU volleyball MVP and softball player from Brecksville. He has difficulty singling out voices in noisy settings and hearing people who are not facing him.

Donovan convinced his parents he could shed his hearing aids in high school, and they allowed it as long as he maintained good grades. His grade-point average is 3.6 while taking honors and advanced-placement classes.

Teachers adore Robertson, who is extraordinarily polite and greets everyone with a bright smile. He baby-sits marching band director Jeff Fudale's two young boys, who constantly beg their parents to go out more so they can spend time with Robertson.

"For a kid who is accomplished and well-known as he is athletically, he's the most humble, nicest kid you'd want to meet," assistant band director Jeff Barth said. "He's one of the kids you'd want your daughter to date."

The band instructors have known Robertson for five years and were stunned to learn of Robertson's hearing loss when interviewed for this story.

"He's a very good musician," Barth said.

Unusual strategies

College coaches are not permitted to contact Robertson yet -- most of the top track programs are expected to do so once recruiting begins this summer -- but Robertson already has emailed coaches at Stanford, Duke and Ohio State about running track while studying medicine.

" 'Drive' is the best word to describe him," Dolson said. "He doesn't like to fail. He goes out of his way to succeed."

That drive has been especially present this spring.

Last week at the Amherst Division I district meet, Robertson began an unlikely quest to win state championships in both the 110 and 300 hurdles and the 100 and 200 dashes. It seemed unlikely because of the tight schedule at the state meet -- the 110 and 100 are run consecutively, as are the 300 and 200.

Also, while sprints and hurdles might seem like natural crossovers, they rarely are. Few excel in both. Another sprinter who made a name for himself in Berea -- former Baldwin-Wallace star Harrison Dillard -- still is the only man to win Olympic gold medals in a sprint (100 meters) and hurdles (110), in 1948 and 1952, respectively.

Robertson immediately hit a major speed bump. Last week's district prelims were washed out by bad weather, so prelims and finals were run Friday, and he was scheduled to run seven races. Trying to conserve energy, he ran too conservatively in the 100 prelims and missed a berth in the final by .01 seconds. He went on to win both hurdles and the 200.

"I believe everything happens for a reason, and now that the 100 is gone, I can focus on my other events, and I'll have more energy and my pace of the day will be slower," Robertson said. "It's definitely a disappointment. I was looking forward to racing the 100. It's one of the most anticipated events of the day.

"In retrospect, I'm almost grateful I can focus on my other races, and I'll see those big-name guys in 200, where I'm better, anyway."

Robertson (6-1, 155 pounds) has another surprise in store this week.

Today at the Amherst regional, he said he will attempt a major shift in the 300 hurdles. He plans to cover the 45 meters before the first hurdle in 19 steps instead of the usual 21 steps. He will also attempt to run 13 strides instead of 15 between the hurdles, which are 35 meters apart. It is considered an elite strategy, one top college and international hurdlers use, not high school juniors.

"That's a world-class type stride pattern," said Berea coach Ryan Nigro. "Most athletes struggle to get to 21 steps, and if you get to 19, you're on a world-class cusp."

Nigro believes that will put Robertson on a path to challenge the state record in the 300 (36.34), where his best time is 37.19, run at state last year. Robertson also is inching closer to one of Ohio's oldest marks: Chris Nelloms' 13.30 in the 110 hurdles, set in 1990.

"He's a very good technical runner," Nigro said. "His being a smart student applies to his track. He analyzes a race as he runs it. That's what makes him an elite-level athlete. He's always processing."

Doubt becomes triumph

Robertson had plenty to process at last year's state meet. He was in a three-way battle for first place in the 110 hurdles final when he clipped the seventh and eighth hurdles and fell hard, knocking a hurdle into another lane, which disqualified him.

In the stands, his mother wept.

"It was heartbreaking," Dolson said. "He wanted to win so badly. He wouldn't come talk to me in between the 110s and the 300."

Robertson harbored doubts he would clear any hurdle in his next race, let alone the eight that wind around the track in the 300, a severe test of technique, speed and endurance.

"I was extremely upset," he said. "I'd never fallen before until then. It was rough looking at the podium, and nobody was eighth because I was disqualified."

Robertson had just enough time to clear his head. He ran a flawless 300 and won by .09 seconds.

"After I won the 300, there was a huge lesson for me: You can't let anything else affect you," he said.

Hailing from a family accustomed to athletic success has helped Robertson gain his footing in many ways. In addition to his parents' CSU careers, his father's eight brothers all were standout athletes at Barberton and went on to play college sports. Alvin Robertson had a 10-year NBA career, and Robbie Robertson was a running back at Ohio State.

"I definitely feel connected to that," Donovan said.

Beginning at an early age with soccer -- he's a three-year starter on Berea's soccer team -- and continuing through track, sports have helped him overcome a perpetual shyness that was a result of his hearing loss.

"That's why it really shocked me when he told us he was going to be the drum major in the marching band," Dolson said.

Robertson and Joe Vasquez led the marching band on the football field last fall, twirling batons in one hand and holding trumpets in the other. Robertson throws the baton more than 100 feet in the air. He said he's as proud of the fact he caught 18-of-20 throws last fall as he is of his other accomplishments.

"I throw it very high," he said. "I like the feeling of having every eye on me, and I just like the adrenaline rush. I like the suspense, when the baton is in the air."

Because with Donovan Robertson, you never know what's coming next.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

James scores 28 points, Dwyane Wade adds 21 and the Heat eliminate Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, 83-80, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

View full sizeCharles Rex Arbogast l APLeBron James (6) reacts as Miami wins Game 5 Thursday against the Chicago Bulls.

CHICAGO — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined to win a championship. Well, now they have their shot.

James scored 28 points, Wade added 21, and they led a furious rally in the final minutes as the Miami Heat eliminated Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, 83-80, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.

James and Wade were simply spectacular down the stretch, each scoring eight during a game-ending 18-3 run as Miami wiped out a 12-point deficit to win the series.

Now the Heat are headed back to the NBA finals for the first time since 2006, and in a fitting twist, they'll be facing the Mavericks. Back then, with Wade leading the way, Miami beat Dallas to capture the championship. This time, it'll be James and Dirk Nowitzki going for their first rings.

The Heat will host Game 1 on Tuesday night.

For Miami's Big Three, this was the plan right from the start. The Heat had their difficulties along the way, including a five-game losing streak in March, but look at them now.

They just knocked off the team that won more games than any other, that boasted the league's MVP in Rose and sent expectations soaring around Chicago in a way not seen since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were racking up championships.

Rose led Chicago with 25 points but hit just 9 of 29 shots. He fouled Wade on a key four-point play and missed a tying free throw with 26.7 seconds left.

"At the end, it's all me," Rose said. "Turnovers, missed shots, fouls. The series is over."

James had 11 rebounds and six assists. Wade's late surge helped negate his nine turnovers. Bosh added 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Heat pulled out a dramatic win.

"We had to go through a lot of adversity," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That struggle that we went through in March, where we lost five straight -- all of them close games, where we didn't execute down the stretch and weren't able to close games out -- that helped us. As painful as that was, we had to go through that fire together to be able to gain the confidence where we could be successful now in the postseason."

The Bulls looked like they were in good shape when up, 77-65, with about three minutes to go, but Wade started the deciding run with a runner and layup. A 3 by James pulled Miami within 77-72 with 2:07 left. Rose then scored on a spin move in the lane, but fouled Wade as he nailed a 3, resulting in a four-point play.

Then, after a miss by Rose, James tied it at 79 with another 3 with 1:01 remaining, sending a loud groan through the arena.

James buried another jumper to put Miami ahead, 81-79, with 29.5 seconds left after he stole a pass from Rose. He immediately fouled Rose, who missed the second free throw after making the first.

Kurt Thomas then tipped the inbounds pass, but the Heat recovered, leading to two free throws for Bosh. The Bulls still had one more chance to tie it, but Kyle Korver got doubled up top and passed to Rose on the wing. His 3-pointer got blocked by James, with Udonis Haslem doubling him as time expired.

Now James and his gang have their title shot.

He came close with the Cavaliers, getting all the way to the finals in 2007, but never could win it all. His surge at the end capped a terrific series in which he repeatedly made big shots and helped contain Rose at times.

For Chicago, it was simply a bitter end.

After losing out on their bid to land some combination of two of the Big Three in free agency, they built a solid team that leaped to the top of the Eastern Conference with a league-leading 62 wins. That's probably little consolation after they let this one slip away. It could be a valuable learning experience, though, for a team making its first deep run.

"I do think experience helps," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "That being said, all these games came down to the end. ... Tonight, we had the lead and we couldn't hold onto it. Hopefully, we learn from that, move on. I think you use this experience to drive you so you can improve for next year."

They took the opener, 103-82, but the series soured for them after that. They were in every game and led this one for much of the way.

Things were looking good in the early going, with Luol Deng scoring 14 points as they built a 45-38 halftime lead. That included a highlight reel sequence late in the first half, when he stole a pass from James and threw down a vicious one-hander over him on the break, getting fouled in the process.

He missed the free throw, but Rose scored on a layup after a miss by Mike Bibby to put Chicago ahead, 16-15. And the Bulls outscored the Heat 15-6 over the final four-plus minutes of the period to take a 25-21 lead.

The lead reached 12 midway through the second after a two-plus minute stretch in which Chicago ran off seven straight and the Heat committed four turnovers -- three by Wade. Two of his turnovers led to baskets for Chicago, with C.J. Watson stealing his dribble and feeding Ronnie Brewer for a fast-break layup and Carlos Boozer nailing a jumper to make it a 12-point game midway through the quarter.

The Indians' preseason ad slogan of "What if?" has become a rallying cry inside the team's corporate headquarters, as in, what if anything's possible?

View full sizeChuck Crow l The Plain DealerFans have been slow to warm to the Indians this season ... partly because of poor weather, and also because of suspicions about this year's team ... but they're beginning to believe.

But the Indians preseason ad slogan has become a rallying cry inside the team's corporate headquarters, as in, what if anything's possible? Just last weekend, "What if?" signs went up on the elevator doors.

Compiling baseball's best record at the season's quarter mark, defying most reasonable predictions, will do that.

Winning also spins turnstiles, makes merchandise fly off shelves and keeps fans at home glued to their televisions.

"Most nights," said Jim Liberatore, president of the Indians' affiliated cable network SportsTime Ohio, "we're the highest rated program [locally] in prime time."

View full sizePDAlex Villa, 8, of Cleveland, was on the Tribe bandwagon on April 15.

The Indians are even exceeding their own expectations.

The franchise entered 2011 having lost a combined 190 games over the past two seasons, with baseball's lowest attendance and fourth-lowest payroll ($49 million).

After drawing just under 1.4 million fans last season, the club estimated 100,000 to 200,000 fewer this year.

On April 3, the Indians set a record for the lowest turnout since the ballpark opened in 1994. But by May 21, while piling up dramatic late-inning comebacks and consistently winning at home, they had drawn their first non-Opening Day sellout in three seasons.

Dampened by a cold, wet spring and show-me skepticism, Progressive Field has averaged just over 18,000 fans per game, 27th of the 30 major-league teams.

But fans have begun buying into "what if?"

The Indians reached one million tickets sold three weeks ahead of 2010. Single-game ticket sales are up 84 percent over last year, and, in May alone, fans bought 142,000 tickets, compared to 63,000 for the month last season.

Since Opening Day, the number of season tickets has jumped to 8,100 from 7,000 -- although still much lower than the club would like. Advance sales help teams budget, plan and weather, well, bad weather.

TV ratings, the highest since 2007, are up 136 percent in May from a year ago, enabling STO to raise ad rates 50 to 100 percent. STO, which is privately held by the Dolan family, pays a rights fee to the Indians to broadcast their games, but cable revenue does not go to the team. The Indians and STO declined to disclose rights fees and cable revenue.

Ballpark concessions sales are up 18 percent, and merchandise sales at the six Indians team shops are running about 60 percent higher than last year, with huge surges the past two weeks. With what seems like a different hero coming through each night, the club has scrambled to keep up with demand.

Third baseman Jack Hannahan, for instance, was supposed to be a three-month stopgap. But a fast start and clutch hitting has developed almost a cult following, according to Kurt Schloss, who runs the Indians' merchandising department.

And as young players like outfielder Michael Brantley and pitcher Justin Masterson have emerged, so, too, have requests for their T-shirts and jerseys. None of the stores even carried Masterson, Brantley or Hannahan shirts when the season began. They've rushed 360 Hannahan T-shirts and 170 of Masterson's into stock, and Brantley shirts are on order.

"So you're out calling vendors saying, 'Listen, I need more, I need more, I need more,' " Schloss said.

So how have the team's financial expectations changed, and how might that impact the roster?

Indians President Mark Shapiro said in an interview this week the team hasn't recalculated projections based on the wave of fan interest. But the club would be able to add pieces if necessary.

"There's been a demonstrated willingness to spend above projected revenues when we felt we had an opportunity to win," he said, "and there will be an ability and a willingness to acquire a player in July if we're in position to do it."

The issue, Shapiro said, isn't whether the Indians can afford a player -- aside from one with, say, a $20 million price tag. It's whether the team is willing to part with promising minor-leaguers on which futures are built for a rent-a-player postseason run.

"The question's not going to be financial," he said. "The question's going to be, will [General Manager] Chris [Antonetti] and his staff be able to tolerate and afford giving up the young talent."

Unexpected "walk-up" crowds have caught the Indians by surprise, resulting in long waits at the ticket window. This season, they've already had two of the four biggest walk-up sales since the ballpark opened.

After consulting with clubs that have experienced similar bursts in popularity -- San Diego, Tampa Bay, Kansas City -- they added some new strategies to handle the rush, such as extra ticket kiosks and separate tents for will-call tickets, bleacher seats and cash-only purchases.

"I will tell you this," Shapiro said. "All those things still don't allow you to get 8,000 people through the gates efficiently in 45 minutes."

Fans might want to keep in mind that tickets bought in advance are cheaper than on game day. They can also buy tickets at any Indians team shop at no extra charge. Tickets can also be bought and printed online, but with processing fees.

The Indians may have the best record in baseball, but they're 27th in attendance and their roster doesn't have a lot of star power. Hey, but there's always online voting at mlb.com.

View full sizePDCloser Chris Perez has 13 saves in 14 chances this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Will manager Manny Acta be joined by more than the required one Indians player at the All-Star Game on July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix?

Acta was named to the AL coaching staff by All-Star manager Ron Washington of the Rangers. The Indians haven't had a position player voted into the starting lineup by fans since Juan Gonzalez in 2001. Cliff Lee started the 2008 game at old Yankee Stadium, but he was selected by Boston manager Terry Francona.

The Indians may have the best record in baseball, but they're 27th in attendance and their roster doesn't have a lot of star power. Hey, but there's always online voting at mlb.com. Voting ends June 30.

Here are five Indians who played like All-Stars through the first 47 games of the season.

SS Asdrubal Cabrera: Hard to believe there's a better shortstop in the AL at this point of the season.

RHP Josh Tomlin: He's 6-1 in nine starts with 30 strikeouts, 10 walks, 16 earned runs and 39 hits in 59 innings.

RHP Justin Masterson: Like Cabrera, it's hard to imagine there's a starter who's pitched better than Masterson.

Closer Chris Perez: CP in the ninth inning is just what MLB needs to boost its All-Star Game ratings. Thirteen saves in 14 chances goes a long way as well.

DH Travis Hafner: Pronk's hot start, and the DH getting the green light in NL parks this year, seemed like a perfect match. Then he strained his right oblique muscle.

Setup men are getting more attention from All-Star selectors now that the rosters have been expanded. If the AL comes calling, the Indians have a fleet to choose from in Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Tony Sipp and Vinnie Pestano.

In case you missed it, the Indians have unloaded players faster than cargo from a hijacked tractor-trailer over the past three years. But when is the decision made that the team needs help?

View full sizeChuck Crow l Plain Dealer fileIndians General Manager Chris Antonetti might be facing some decisions he didn't expect when the trade deadline arrives in July.

The eventuality staring GM Chris Antonetti in the face is this: Should the Indians continue to play at a .638 winning percentage, or somewhere near it, will he add to the roster for the stretch run and, perhaps, the postseason?

Antonetti is in his first year as general manager, but 13th with the organization. He knows how to buy and sell, with an emphasis on selling. In case you missed it the Indians have unloaded players faster than cargo from a hijacked tractor-trailer over the past three years.

On the backs of those trades, many of them unpopular, much of the current Indians team with the best record in baseball has been built.

But when is the decision made that the team needs help?

"You take the first couple months of the season to evaluate your team," Antonetti said. "The next step is identifying the area of need and whether you address it internally or externally.

"If the answer is externally then you have to evaluate the cost of the acquisition in dollars and players. It's a process you work through all the time. It's part of the job to be prepared."

Indians President Mark Shapiro, who spent the past nine years doing Antonetti's job, said his successor will have the ability to make a move if the Indians are still in contention when the trading deadlines of July 31 and Aug. 31 approach.

"There's been a demonstrated willingness to spend above projected revenues when we felt we had an opportunity to win," Shapiro told The Plain Dealer's Bill Lubinger, "and there will be an ability and a willingness to acquire a player in July if we're in position to do it."

What the Indians will not do is dig too deeply into their minor-league system to make a trade work.

In 2007 the Indians acquired Kenny Lofton from Texas on July 27 for minor-league catcher Max Ramirez. It was a good deal. Lofton helped the Indians win the AL Central and reach the ALCS. Ramirez eventually played in 45 big-league games for the Rangers, but it was not a great loss to the Tribe.

Renting a player for the last two months of the season can be risky.

The Indians sent power-hitting Richie Sexson and infielder Marco Scutaro to Milwaukee for Bob Wickman, Jason Bere and Steve Woodard on May 28, 2000. Sexson went on to make a lot of money hitting home runs for other teams, while Scutaro turned into a solid big-leaguer. Wickman served the Indians well at closer, but that was about it. Plus the Indians fell short of the postseason.

Deadline deals don't guarantee Magic Bullets.

For every Kevin Seitzer or Bip Roberts, at least until he bowed out of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series with flulike symptoms, there is a Joey Cora or Jeff Juden. In 1996 the Indians acquired Jeff Kent from the Mets in a deadline deal. But the man who would hit more homers than any second baseman in history, didn't play much for the Tribe and was gone after the season.

In July 1995 -- the season in which the Indians reached their first World Series in 41 years -- they acquired right-hander Ken Hill from St. Louis for David Bell and two others. Hill went 4-1 down the stretch, 1-0 in the ALDS and 1-0 in the ALCS before losing in the World Series. Those are the deadline deals that put teams over the top, but more often than not, they appear to be just educated guesses.

Arlie Risner of Bellevue says he had no clue he'd be handed a bill from the Ohio Division of Wildlife for $27,851, a record amount of restitution sought for illegally killing a trophy Ohio deer. He just wanted to be done with a charge in Norwalk Municipal Court of hunting deer without permission.

OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFEHuron County Wildlife Officer Josh Zientek carries a pair of deer antlers confiscated from Arlie Risner of Bellevue, Ohio. Risner was fined $200 for hunting private land without permission last November after taking the trophy non-typical deer. The Division of Wildlife is seeking a record $27,851 in restitution.

Arlie Risner of Bellevue says he had no clue he'd be handed a bill from the Ohio Division of Wildlife for $27,851, a record amount of restitution sought for illegally killing a trophy Ohio deer. He just wanted to be done with a charge in Norwalk Municipal Court of hunting deer without permission.

"I couldn't afford the $6,000 my attorney, Neil McKown (of Shelby), said it would cost to go to trial, so he told me to plead no contest," said Riser. On Feb. 23, Risner was fined $200 by Judge John S. Ridge and had his Ohio hunting privileges suspended for a year. 

 In early April, said Risner, he received a registered letter from Ken Fitz of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, who handles restitution cases. The wildlife agency wanted $27,851 in restitution for the trophy non-typical buck. Wildlife officers had already confiscated the antlers, which scored 228 6/8 inches, according to the Boone & Crockett scoring system that sets the restitution amount.

"It was pay up, or I can't buy a hunting or fishing license," said Risner, who has a small tree service.

 It's far worse than that. Risner, 58, a lifelong angler and hunter, must write a check to the wildlife agency in the next few months, said Fitz, or the Attorney General's office will be called in to collect the restitution.

 At the heart of the controversy is Risner's claim he wasn't illegally hunting on CSX railroad property near Willard on Nov. 10, 2010. He says he was in a tree stand on his cousin's small property nearby when he saw the deer for the first time, and shot it at 8:30 a.m. with an arrow from his crossbow. Risner said the wounded deer ran to the CSX property and died.

Risner had a hunting license and deer permit. He dutifully took the deer to a local check station.

Getting a tip about Risner's deer, Huron County Wildlife Officer Josh Zientek and Wildlife Investigator Jeff Collingwood investigated. They are sure Risner was hunting railroad land, where Homeland Security rules don't allow hunting or trespassing of any kind. Both railroad security officials and wildlife officers say they will arrest anyone caught on the restricted lands.

"When I followed the blood trail from my cousin's property, where I was hunting, I did go on the railroad property to retrieve the deer," said Risner. "My friend Randy Oney helped me load the deer on a four-wheeler. I'm still recovering from colon cancer four years ago, and couldn't do it by myself. Oney also ended up getting cited for hunting without permission for helping me."

Risner had never before been cited for a fishing or hunting violation. His only tickets had been for speeding and a seat belt violation.

"We found the tree with the appropriate scrapes where Risner had placed his tree stand, as well as fresh bait piles containing corn," said Collingwood. "We found all of the deer blood on CSX property, and none on his cousin's property. We took DNA samples to make sure we had the right deer. None of the information we got from Risner was accurate, according to the evidence."

"I'm 100 percent positive Risner was hunting on railroad property," said Zientek.

"Risner admitted being dishonest with the wildlife officer in a phone call about the restitution," said Fitz. "He apologized for that."

"I never told (Fitz) that," said Risner. "It's their word versus my word. I would have gone all the way (in court) if I'd known about the restitution. I would have borrowed the money to fight it."

Now it's too late. 

Penalties around Ohio now much stiffer for trespassing, poaching trophy deer

 The penalties for killing a trophy white-tailed deer in Ohio were seldom a deterrent, but that has changed in recent years as stricter trespassing rules and restitution laws were put in place.

To encourage landowners and farmers around Ohio to support an Ohio Division of Wildlife push in 1998 for widespread Sunday hunting laws, the agency agreed to stiffen penalties for hunting without permission. Written permission from a landowner is now required. The maximum penalty for a first offense is $500 and 60 days in jail.

As Ohio's deer herd blossomed, the Buckeye State began to lure hunters from around the country who were eager to spend a lot of money in Ohio for the chance to  bag a trophy buck. The big bucks are valuable because they buoy non-resident hunting license and deer permit sales. Deer and turkey hunting, as well as walleye and bass fishing are now popular Ohio tourist attractions.

Wildlife officials couldn't count on judges around the state to financially punish deer poachers, especially in southern counties where many feed plentiful venison to their families over the long winter. Trophy bucks, though, now have added protection from a restitution law enacted in March, 2008.

The value of a deer's antlers were established using the Boone & Crockett Club scoring system. An illegally-killed trophy buck might elicit a $200 or $300 fine from a judge. Massive-antlered bucks have prompted wildlife officials to seek restitution of more than $20,000. 

 "The restitution values are high because a trophy buck is worth that much," said wildlife law enforcement head Jim Lehman. "We've seen hunters sell the antlers, or make thousands of dollars in endorsements. We had one hunter who took a lot of photos of himself with an illegal buck, changing ball caps and gear for every photo to go after endorsements."

 A good example of the disparity between court fines and restitution is Van Wert hunter Dale Linton, who was convicted early this year of killing five antlered deer in 2009, four over the season limit. He was fined $1,630, which included court costs. The restitution sought by the Division of Wildlife added $5,618 to the bill.

Grady Sizemore has been activated and will bat sixth tonight as manager Manny Act'a's designated hitter against the Rays.

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore is back in the Indians lineup, but not in center field. Sizemore, just off the disabled list, will DH tonight against the Rays.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Indians, as expected, activated outfielder Grady Sizemore from the disabled list on Friday. He's batting sixth and DHing in manager Manny Acta's reshuffled lineup for tonight's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

The rest of the lineup featured big changes with slumping catcher Carlos Santana batting seventh. It's the first time Santana, in an 0-for-19 skid, has been out of the cleanup spot this year.

Shin-Soo Choo, who appeared in all of the Indians first 47 games, was not in the starting lineup. Choo's night off came against Tampa Bay left-hander David Price
and that was no accident.

Sizemore opened the season on the disabled list following microfracture surgery on his left knee. He was activated on April 17, but returned to the disabled list on May 10 after bruising his right knee sliding into second base in a game against the Rays at Progressive Field.

Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Thursday in anticipation of Sizemore being activated Friday.

Acta said Sizemore will spent most of this six-game trip to St. Petersburg, Fla. and Toronto.

"This is a bad trip for someone coming off the disabled list after a knee injury," said Acta. "All six games will be on turf. Grady won't play the outfield here and at the most he'll play one game in the outfield in Toronto."

Acta would not say how long he planned on keeping Santana in the bottom third of the order. 

Sizemore has played 18 games with the Indians this year. He's hitting .282 (22-for-78) with 15 runs, 10 doubles, six homers and 11 RBI.

The Indians still have four players on the disabled list -- Trevor Crowe, Jared Goedert, Alex White and Travis Hafner.

In another move the Indians promoted right-hander Adam Miller from Class A Kinston to Class AA Akron. Miller at one time was the top prospect in the Indians organization until being sidelined by multiple surgeries on the middle finger of his right hand.

Tonight's lineups:

Indians (30-17): CF Michael Brantley (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), LF Shelley Duncan (R), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), DH Grady Sizemore (L), C Carlos Santana (S), RF Austin Kearns (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), RHP Josh Tomlin (6-1, 2.41).

Rays (26-23): C John Jaso (L), 2B Ben Zobrist (S), DH Johnny Damon (L), 3B Evan Longoria (R), RF Matt Joyce (L), CF B.J. Upton (R), 1B Casey Kotchman (L), SS Sean Rodriguez (R), LF Sam Fuld (L), LHP David Price (5-4, 3.89).

Him vs. me: Joyce is 2-for-3 with a homer and RBI vs. Tomlin. Sizemore is 2-for-2 against Price. LaPorta is the only other hitter in the lineup with at least two hits against Price.

Left vs. right: Lefties are hitting .182 (22-for-121) with five homers and righties are hitting .183 (17-for-93) with three homers against Tomlin. The Rays have five lefties and one switch-hitter in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .180 (11-for-61) with one homer and righties are hitting .267 (53-for-264) with six homers against Price. The Indians have four righties and two switch hitters in the lineup.

Umpires: H Larry Vanover, 1B Brian Gorman, 2B Tony Randazzo, 3B Dan Bellino.

Quote of the day: "When I'm in Boston, I always feel like I'm home. I almost cry, I feel so good, former Boston and Cleveland pitching great Luis Tiant.

Next: RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 5.16) vs. RHP James Shields (5-2, 2.00) Saturday at 4:10 p.m. STO and WTAM/1100 will carry the game.

"I say the most glaring need for an upgrade in the starting lineup is at first base. I like LaPorta, but we need a masher, and he just isn't one. Not yet anyway. Go get a right handed power bat to play first, add a veteran starter and maybe one or two veterans for the bench. Then this team is ready to contend well into October." - kading24

View full sizeWill Matt LaPorta provide enough right-handed power for the Indians.

In response to the story Will Cleveland Indians be buyers or sellers come the trade deadline?, cleveland.com reader kading24 thinks the Indians have multiple holes to fill. This reader writes,

"I say the most glaring need for an upgrade in the starting lineup is at first base. I like LaPorta, but we need a masher, and he just isn't one. Not yet anyway. Go get a right handed power bat to play first, add a veteran starter and maybe one or two veterans for the bench. Then this team is ready to contend well into October."

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is taking matters into his own hands again, hosting another lockout camp for offensive players at the University of Texas June 9-11.

Mike Roemer l Associated PressColt McCoy will gather the offensive players for a third "lockout camp.''

The camp is being organized again by quarterback Colt McCoy, who hosted the first one at his alma mater April 21-23. The second  one was two weeks ago at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea.

Cribbs, who attended the first two sessions, will miss this one because of a prior commitment -- his birthday bash back home in Washington, D.C.

Some of the other players attending the second camp were receivers Mohammed Massaquoi and  Brian Robiskie, tight ends Ben Watson and rookie Jordan Cameron, and quarterback Jake Delhomme. Cornerback Joe Haden also made an appearance even though it was an offensive skills camp.

All of the rookies have been invited again, but it is unknown which will attend. The agent for receiver Greg Little, the second-round pick out of North Carolina, will advise Little not to participate in on-field drills if he goes. Agent Andy Ross said Little has been in frequent contact with McCoy and other offensive players.

In addition to offensive drills, the players have been watching films of the West Coast offense and working out together during the three-day sessions. They also participate in off-the-field activities to help build camaraderie.

McCoy stressed after each of the previous two camps, "It's definitely a working trip.'' He also said the sessions have helped the offense get a good jump on the season in the absence of organized team activities and minicamps.

After practice days with cool temperatures and rain, Indianapolis 500 drivers must prepare for a race day that promises to be a hot one.

Associated PressDefending Indy 500 champ Dario Franchitti, left, and teammate Scott Dixon joke around in the pit area during the final day of practice Friday.

After clouds, wind and rain with moderate to cool temperatures most of the month, the prediction is for a sunny, hot and muggy race day. And nobody has had a chance to prepare for that.

Temperature on race day is forecast to be 88 degrees with a lot of sun. The warmest day drivers had in preparation for the race this year was 79 degrees on Bump Day last Sunday, which was overcast and littered with periods of rain. During the final practice, it was 58 degrees and overcast.

Friday's final one-hour practice session, while welcome and without incident, shed little light on potential favorites, even though pole-sitter Alex Tagliani was surrounded by a pair of former Indy winners, Scott Dixon and defending Indy champ Dario Franchitti, on the final speed chart.

"It was a different car than what we will drive in the race," Tagliani said. "This will be the perfect example of how important the role the engineering group is to going to play. Now you have to rely on [past] data. You can't go with the car you had today and go straight into the race. Our changes are going to be based on [past] data and temperatures."

Dixon's best lap of 225.474 mph was followed by Tagliani at 224.739 mph with Franchitti third, at 224.658 mph. Yet if they will be able to deliver like speed when it counts on Sunday with the anticipated conditions will be anyone's guess. Ditto for how slow the likes of fan favorites, Paul Tracy (223.211), Danica Patrick (222.829) or Marco Andretti (221.826) will actually be when the green flag finally drops.

"We think we know how to turn the car around for those conditions," Franchitti said. "It will be a tough race. I think there is less grip than last year, and that's going to make it tough."

Along with that, concerns remain over the new double-file restarts that will be used for the first time at the 2.5-mile speedway.

"I still don't agree with side-by-side," Franchitti said, echoing the common driver opinion. "Whatever happens, it will be interesting."

Wallbangers: What happens when you have 15 rookies in an 18-car field at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Trouble.

Rookie Josef Newgarden won the race under caution, but nearly half of the field -- eight drivers in all -- did not make it to the end as four different accidents took them out, with the most critical being the last. Rookie Jorge Goncalvez touched wheels with Anders Krohn, sending both spinning. Goncalvez hit the outside wall, caromed down and hit the inside wall in a ball of fire, then slid across the track again, hitting the wall again before coming to a stop.

The pits: Ryan Briscoe won the Pit Stop Contest with a 7.882-second stop over Franchitti's 8.481-second stop. It was a bit of an upset as in recent years his Roger Penske teammate, Helio Castroneves, has been the pit stop king.

"Helio has definitely been the favorite over the past few years," Briscoe said. "We were really consistent, and after the first one, we just wanted to keep repeating."

Amazingly, Goncalvez was awake and alert after the incident, taken from the track on a stretcher but giving the crowd a thumbs up. He was transported to Indiana University Health Hospital for neck pain.

Snooze, you may not lose?: Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Franchitti, like many drivers in the past -- most notably Rick Mears -- said sleeping is not a concern the night before the Indianapolis 500, or any other big race.

"Some nights I worry about the car. But once it's lights out, it's lights out. Anybody that has worked with me knows that sleeping is not an issue. Getting up is the issue."

Tat that!: Pole-sitter Tagliani, like many athletes and others these days, has tattoos on his arms. But his are in Chinese.

"This one is my wife's name," he said pointing to the markings on his right arm. "This one is lots of different things that I live my life by; perseverance, honesty, integrity, passion, love, endurance, words that are really important in life. I always wanted a tattoo, but I didn't have the guts to do it until two or three years ago. I didn't want to have any sort of alligator or skull, stuff like that. I wanted something that means something."

Former OSU receiver Ray Small says in a television interview that he won't talk to the NCAA if asked, while backing off some of his previous comments.

Carolyn Kaster l Associated PressGlenville graduate Ray Small, here running with the ball for the Buckeyes in a 2009 game against Penn State, now says he knows of no other OSU players who violated NCAA rules and that he will not talk to the NCAA if it seeks to look into his controversial comments about the football program.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State receiver Ray Small backtracked Friday, claiming in separate television interviews that though he committed NCAA violations by selling two Big Ten championship rings while playing for the Buckeyes, he didn't know of violations committed by any other players.

More importantly for Ohio State, Small said he would not talk to the NCAA if asked to discuss violations committed by himself or others.

"That's none of my business," Small told ESPN. "[The NCAA] can't do anything to me violating something. That's long gone. I did it myself, nobody knew about it, that was that. I won't talk to them for no reasons, because all this, I have nothing to do with coach [Jim] Tressel and Terrelle Pryor and all this. I have nothing to do with that."

The NCAA has no power over former athletes, though it could go about attempting to prove Small's previous statements through other means. News stories alone can't be considered in NCAA hearings.

The former Glenville player, a Buckeye from 2006 to '09, created swift and strong reaction among current and former OSU players Thursday by saying "everybody does it" in an interview with Ohio State's student paper, The Lantern, about selling memorabilia and receiving discounted cars.

On ESPN and on Channel 10 in Columbus on Friday, Small said the paper mischaracterized his words, though The Lantern responded by releasing audio of a portion of the interview and standing by its story 100 percent.

Five current Ohio State players, including Pryor, are already suspended for the first five games of the upcoming season for selling merchandise, and Tressel is suspended for not reporting his previous knowledge of those potential violations. Small's further violations, by themselves, add to the situation, but anything proven by the NCAA that "everybody" was receiving extra benefits would multiply Ohio State's problems. Many former players had refuted the idea that there was a culture of rules violations in the program.

Small told ESPN he sold the rings to cover his rent, giving them to a cousin who then returned with the money.

"It was either break the rules or get evicted," Small said to ESPN. "That was the best thing I could do. It was the smartest plan I came up with."

Administrators given high marks: In response to public-records requests, Ohio State on Friday released performance reviews for Athletic Director Gene Smith and compliance director Doug Archie from the past two years. The school said Tressel's reviews are conducted in a personal meeting with Smith and aren't available in written form.

When the news of players selling memorabilia first was released in December, Smith said in a news conference that Ohio State had one of the best compliance departments in the country but in this case was not explicit enough in telling players they couldn't sell their memorabilia.

Archie's latest review includes the comment from senior associate AD Miechelle Willis that he "has a lot of experience in this area, knowing and understanding what it takes to keep our program 'out of jail.' "

Of that remark, OSU spokesman Jim Lynch said, "As is abundantly clear, the context and the use of the quotation marks in this personnel review demonstrate that the comment was a colloquial way of describing Doug Archie's performance. It underlies the fact that Doug has built an excellent compliance program, and he continues to work hard -- and be effective -- in ensuring that the athletics program complies with university, Big Ten and NCAA rules and regulations."

Ohio State and Tressel face an Aug. 12 hearing before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions.

Kenneth Allen of Elyria forgets just about everything in regard to a game he attended in the late 1950s, but there's no way he'll forget meeting Feller.

View full sizePD fileBob Feller in 1955.

It was just a normal Sunday afternoon game at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium on a warm, sunny summer day, and I was with dad. My father took me -- neither of my brothers nor my sister (more sisters came later) -- to a game in the late '50s (I was probably 10 at the time).

Years later, my dad told us that, in order to make ends meet, he was a "beer here man" at the stadium after working downtown on East Ninth and Prospect for the then Erie Railroad (Erie Lackawanna) as an accounting clerk. I remember him saying that he sold more beer at the end of the game when everyone was exiting the stadium. We struggled like many others at that time, but the ends did meet and we moved to Aurora in '59.

So what makes this game so unforgettable? As we were going to our seats that afternoon, my dad stopped someone in the crowd and says, "Mr. Feller, I want you to meet my son."

I forgot who the Indians were playing that day. I forgot the score. I forgot what month they played, but meeting Bob Feller and shaking his hand at a game is unforgettable. That moment is just as vivid now as it was that Sunday afternoon at Cleveland Municipal Stadium more than 50 years ago.

Price, Joel Peralta and Adam Russell combine on a four-hitter as the Indians lose their third straight game.

David Price pitched trouble-free until Grady Sizemore's broken bat grazed his head in the seventh inning. By that time, it didn't matter. The Indians, besides the barrel of Sizemore's bat, barely touched Price in a 5-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Price struck out a career-high 12 batters in seven innings as he combined on a four-hitter with Joel Peralta and Adam Russell. The Indians have lost three straight. After going 18-8 in April, they're 12-10 in May.

"The bat hit me square, right in the back of head. Maybe that's why it didn't hurt," Price said with a laugh.

Sizemore, activated before the game, grounded out to second to start the seventh. A part of his broken bat clipped Price in the head, but the left-hander finished the inning. He walked Carlos Santana but struck out Austin Kearns and Jack Hannahan to end his night's work.

"David Price was overpowering . . . again," Tribe manager Manny Acta said.

Price beat the Indians on May 11, holding them to two runs on five hits in eight innings. It ended the Indians' 14-game winning streak at Progressive Field.

In two starts this season, Price has 19 strikeouts in 15 innings against the Tribe. He's 4-1 against them in his career.

"Price is very good, period," Acta said. "I don't think it has anything to do with our lineup. He's one of the elite pitchers in the game.

"When you're left-handed and can throw in the mid-to-high 90s with command and have the cutter, changeup and curveball that he has . . . he can pitch any way he wants to. The last game he pitched against us, 92 percent of his pitches were fastballs, and he dominated us. Tonight, he mixed all his pitches with the same results."

The thing is, somebody has beaten Price (6-4, 3.54). It just hasn't been the Indians.

Casey Kotchman and Sam Fuld hit the two-run homers that ruined Tomlin's night. The four runs are the most Tomlin (6-2, 2.74) has allowed in 10 starts this season.

Tomlin has allowed 10 homers this season, third most in the AL.

"I knew the way Price was throwing, those two homers would probably end up biting us in the rear end, and they did," Tomlin said. "The big problem for me is that I knew from the first inning that I was down the middle on pitches that I wanted to be on the corner with.

"I tried to make the adjustment in the second inning, and I started picking. As soon as you do that, it's tough to get back ahead of hitters."

Tomlin wrapped five scoreless innings around the four-run second.

"Josh battled for us," Acta said.

Price struck out every batter in the Indians' lineup at least once with the exception of Michael Brantley, Orlando Cabrera and Carlos Santana. Matt LaPorta struck out three times. In the ninth, he went down swinging against Russell to make him 4-for-4 on the night.

"Tonight he had really good stuff," said LaPorta. "He was hitting 95 to 96 with a little bit of run. I mean, it's tough.

"He definitely used more off-speed pitches this time. But like I said, he was really hitting his spots."

The Indians threatened in the sixth when Orlando Cabrera and Asdrubal Cabrera singled with one out. Price ended the threat by striking out Shelley Duncan and LaPorta. The strikeout of LaPorta was Price's 10th of the game and meant free pizza for all fans in attendance.

Tomlin, who allowed 10 hits, has pitched at least six innings in every one of his 22 starts for the Indians going back to last season.

Of the 10 homers Tomlin has allowed, three have been two-run homers and seven with the bases empty.

"I think I give up some home runs because I'm always around the strike zone," Tomlin said. "The hitters know that."

The Rays, coming off a 2-5 trip, made it 5-0 on Matt Joyce's two-out single off Chad Durbin in the seventh.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

The Indians impress Joe Maddon, but he says their success depends on how they respond to tough stretches during the season.

View full sizeAPJoe Maddon

"They're going to hit like a really nasty moment at some point," Maddon said. "Something will go wrong, and then we'll see what they've got. But I really like them."

Lead the way: Michael Brantley's 18 RBI out of the leadoff spot rank second in the American League behind Baltimore's Brian Roberts (19).

Grady Sizemore and Brantley have combined to drive in 29 runs from the leadoff spot this season.

Stat of the day: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, with Shin-Soo Choo getting Friday night off, is the only Indian to start all 48 games this season.

-- Paul Hoynes

The Columbus Clippers get a victory over Norfolk, Va., but the Lake County Captains and Kinston Indians both lose.

View full sizeAPCord Phelps had a two-run double for the Clippers on Friday.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 5, Tides 2 RBI singles by Luis Valbuena and Ezequiel Carrera and a two-run double by Cord Phelps capped a four-run seventh-inning rally as Columbus won the International League game Friday in Norfolk, Va. Corey Kluber gave up one earned run in six innings and got the win.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 9, Flying Squirrels 2 The Aeros banged out six hits, brought 10 men to the plate and scored six times in the bottom of the fourth inning as they beat Richmond (Va.) in an Eastern League game at Canal Park. LH Matt Packer allowed just one earned run on four hits over seven innings. In the fourth, Donnie Webb and Tim Fedroff had back-to-back two-RBI singles. Juan Diaz had a run-scoring triple.

Notes: Fedroff went 2-for-4 with two RBI to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, which is tied for the third longest in Aeros history.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Dash 6, Indians 1 Visiting Winston-Salem (N.C.) snapped Kinston's five game-winning streak in Carolina League action. K-Tribe starter T.J. House (2-5) left the game after five innings, giving up six runs on seven hits. Kinston scored when Chase Burnette's single brought home Terry Doyle.

A Lake County Captains

WhiteCaps 6, Captains 3 West Michigan rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to top Lake County in a Midwest League game in Eastlake. The Captains' Anthony Gallas hit a monster home run to left, his fifth of the season. The home run extended Gallas' hit streak to 13 straight games and his on-base streak to 27.

Notes: Lake County and West Michigan will continue their weekend series today at 6 p.m. at Classic Park. Game one will be a completion of the suspended game from May 14 with the Captains leading, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning. Game two will start 30 minutes after game one.

HILLIARD, Ohio -- Freshmen do the darndest things. Playing like a seasoned senior, Cloverleaf ninth-grader Jacob Dunbar finds himself in today's Division I semifinals of the 92nd annual boys state tennis tournament. That's because Dunbar never lost his composure, or never seemed to, as he disposed of two senior players in straight-set victories on the Davidson High courts.

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy senior doubles player Lou Konstan hammers a shot during a Division II state tennis tournament match Friday at Hilliard Davidson High School. - (Joe Maiorana l Impactactionphotos.com)

HILLIARD, Ohio -- Freshmen do the darndest things.

Playing like a seasoned senior, Cloverleaf ninth-grader Jacob Dunbar finds himself in today's Division I semifinals of the 92nd annual boys state tennis tournament. That's because Dunbar never lost his composure, or never seemed to, as he disposed of two senior players in straight-set victories on the Davidson High courts.

With as good a poker face as anyone playing cards on television, Dunbar was all business as he worked his way through all the shot-making plays that add up to victory. Only when he had put away Worthington Thomas Worthington senior Casey Cempre would he allow himself to crack a smile under his red-haired features.

"It gets loud at times, and I was a little nervous," said Dunbar (30-1), following in the footsteps of his graduated older brother, Ethan, who finished fourth a year ago. "I got a little better about it in the second match."

Dunbar had to win on tiebreakers in the opening set of both matches. In the morning, he knocked off Lakota East senior Freddy Abunku, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Against Cempre, he opened with the same 7-5 win in the tiebreaker, then forced a pair of return-serve errors to clinch the second set, 6-4.

It was nearly an all-Northeast Ohio semifinal, but Kenston senior Nolan Marks lost a heartbreaker to Evan Bechtel of Toledo St. John's Jesuit in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6). Marks fought through cramps the final three games and in the tiebreaker before coming up short.

The only other area players to have quarterfinal success were Division II doubles partners Lou Konstan and Alex Aleman, seniors from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. Out to repeat their 2009 title-winning effort, the CVCA duo dispatched Cincinnati Seven Hills, 6-0, 6-2, and the squad from Lima Shawnee, 6-1, 6-2.

The Konstan-Aleman pairing has never lost a high school doubles match, standing 23-0. CVCA plays the Bellbrook team of junior Jackson Heinz and freshman Wyatt Heinz this morning.

It was not the best of days for the rest of the Northeast Ohio contingent, with Westlake junior Colton Buffington suffering his first loss of the season in the quarterfinals. After handling New Albany freshman Steve Miller in the morning, 6-2, 6-4, Buffington had his hands full against longtime opponent Nick Wong, a senior from Lexington.

Buffington knocked off Wong last year in a three-set quarterfinal match. He also defeated him during the 2010 regular season. The tables were turned this time around.

"Did I play my best? No," said Buffington, who ends the year at 29-1. "But at state, everyone is good. I beat him the last two matches, but he got this one. I went 29-1, but the one came at a bad time."

The Walsh Jesuit Division I doubles team of seniors Garrett Cona and Matt Spittler dropped out in the quarterfinals for the second straight year. It was another tough one as the defending champion duo of senior Billy Weldon and sophomore Stu Little from Upper Arlington prevailed, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6).

Shaker Heights seniors Tommy Marx and David Gabriel, along with St. Ignatius senior James Oliver lost opening Division I matches. Orange senior Sam Ubersax was ousted in a Division II opener.

In Division I doubles, teams from Revere (Peter Harris and Jim Frank), Hudson (Steven Boslet and Patrick O'Hanian), St. Edward (Mike Swartz and Jeffrey Williams) and Walsh Jesuit (Matt Miles and Aaron Sandberg) lost openers. Hawken (Dan Lubarsky and Sid Ahuja) and Gilmour Academy (Mike Riley and Wes Noall) could not advance out of the first round in Division II doubles.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

NAVARRE, Ohio — With 17 events being contested over two days by hundreds of athletes from dozens of schools, it's difficult to imagine a regional championship coming down to the smallest of scoring margins. But that's just what happened Friday in the Division III boys regional track and field championships at Navarre Fairless High School. Trinity's boys broke their...

NAVARRE, Ohio — With 17 events being contested over two days by hundreds of athletes from dozens of schools, it's difficult to imagine a regional championship coming down to the smallest of scoring margins. But that's just what happened Friday in the Division III boys regional track and field championships at Navarre Fairless High School.

Trinity's boys broke their school record in winning the final event of the meet, the 4x400-meter relay but had to hold their collective breaths while watching what developed behind them.

"My eyes were split during that last race," Trinity coach John Kall said. "I had one on my guys and one on McDonald [High's team]."

McDonald entered the final homestretch sitting comfortably in fourth place. However, Cortland Maplewood anchor Morgan Hake put on a wild kick to the finish line, passing McDonald's Josh Hull in the final steps.

Final score: Trinity 75, McDonald 74.

"It feels great," said Trinity's Nick Bell, who anchored the relay to a time of 3:22.89, was second in the high hurdles and 200 dash, and anchored the third-place 4x100 relay. "We deserve this. We've worked really hard all season. We had to learn how to believe in ourselves."

Having a much easier time of it were the girls from Gilmour, who won their fourth regional crown with an impressive 83 points. Led by senior sprinter Candace Longino-Thomas, the Lancers won the crown by 25 points over Louisville Aquinas.

Longino-Thomas, who is headed to TCU next year, blazed through her first race of the day, taking the 100 meters in an unofficial Division III state record time of 11.75. It's only listed as unofficial because the paperwork has to be filed, which is a formality. She also broke her own regional record in the 200 and anchored the 4x200 relay to another meet record. In between her record-setting feats, she won the 400 by nearly 2 seconds.

"My day was very awesome," Longino-Thomas said. "I hadn't broken 12 [seconds in the 100] since last year."

It was a day of vindication. Last year at this time, Longino-Thomas' season ended when she pulled a hamstring in the regional preliminaries. "Before we came here, that was all I could think about," she said. "I was really, really nervous. But my teammates helped me stay calm."

Gilmour coach Jeff Klein said last year's injury may have been the best thing to happen for his star's future. "Her discipline this year has been much improved," Klein said. "She learned what an athlete has to do to compete at an elite level."

The team race was somewhat competitive for much of the meet, but the Lancers put it to rest by winning the last three events, with Longino-Thomas taking the 200, freshman Halle Markel winning the 3,200 and Allie Dahlhausen, Alexis Anton, Meghan Pryatel and Briah Owens winning the 4x400.

Trinity's boys won three events, with senior Nick Gliha having a hand in all three, the 4x800 and 4x400 relays and the 1,600, which he won in a school-record time of 4:20.98.

There were a few moments that made the difference. McDonald was unable to finish the 4x100 relay, which cost them at least a point. Gliha also scored a point in the 800. With teammate Nate Babb taking a surprise second, Gliha was in ninth place in the final 30 meters when Berkshire's James Rohaley stumbled and fell, moving Gliha to eighth.

Then there was junior Mike Matonis, who cleared 6-2 to take a totally unexpected second in the high jump. Earlier in the week, he cleared 6-2 in practice for the first time in his life.

"Matonis was a huge surprise in the high jump," Kall said. "It was just great jumping at the right time."

Joe Magill is a freelance writer in Cleveland.

The finish earns Chinn a fourth Division III All-America honor.

View full sizeCourtesy of Baldwin-WallaceBaldwin-Wallace's Kim Chinn won the national title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III National Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet.

The finish earned her a fourth Division III All-America honor.

"Oh my God, this is awesome," said longtime Yellow Jacket head coach Bill Taraschke. "She is the greatest distance runner in school history and showed us why tonight."

"If someone would have told me when I was a freshman that I would win a national title, I would have told them that they were dreaming," said Chinn. "Through hard work, the support of my teammates and the B-W community, we were able to accomplish our goal. I couldn't have done it without my B-W teammates and coaches. We did it as a team."

In addition to Chinn for the Yellow Jackets, senior All-American pentathlete Emily Oliver placed 12th in the heptathlon; senior five-time All-American Kevin Phipps placed fourth in the hammer Thursday, 14th in the shot put Friday and competes in the discus today; sophomore All-American Mitch Supan (Walsh Jesuit) finished 17th in the shot put Friday and competes in the discus today; and sophomore Cristina Perrine (Midpark) competes today in the women's discus.

KSU loses but can advance today: Eastern Michigan defeated Kent State, 4-2, to set up a third and deciding baseball game between the two teams today -- with the winner advancing to the Mid-American Conference Championship game.

It was Eastern's first win over the Golden Flashes in five tries this season, and it could not have come at a better time than in a must-win game for the Eagles in the MAC Tournament in Chillicothe, Ohio. Eastern Michigan lost to KSU on Thursday and had to come back Friday morning against Northern Illinois to get another shot at the Flashes.

Now, it's win or go home for both teams.

Eastern Michigan improves to 37-21 with the win while top-seeded Kent State drops to 41-15.

For the second day in a row against KSU, the top of Eastern Michigan's order pressured the defense early, giving starting pitcher Steve Weber a 2-0 cushion after one inning.

T.J. Sutton led the Flashes with three hits.

KSU starter Ryan Mace (5-2, 2.60 ERA) went seven innings, giving up four runs (three earned) in the loss. Weber (6-3, 4.04 ERA) went seven innings for the win.