CLEVELAND — Bizarre was the best way to describe the events that took place prior to the start of the series finale with Oakland on Sunday.
With reports that inclement weather was on its way, the Indians announced to the media that the 1:05 p.m. game would not start on time.
But on the field, it was business as usual, with the national anthem performed and the traditional fireworks shot off prior to first pitch, as if the game would still start at 1:05, despite no players in either dugout or either starting pitcher warming up in the bullpen.
The Progressive Field fans weren’t notified of a weather delay until one minute after the scheduled start time and with no rain falling or a tarp covering the field. The game finally got under way 47 minutes later, following a 48-minute delay.
“It was because of the forecast,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge of the strange pregame scene. “It was unbelievable that it didn’t hit us before it did. We didn’t want to get starting pitchers warmed up and then have to stop the game. When it looked like it wasn’t going to come until later, we decided to get it going.
“Ultimately, we wanted to wait as long as we could to make an informed decision.”
The decision appeared to be a curious one, when immediately after the game began, rain and sleet started to fall. By the second inning, snow flurries followed. The snow stopped but started back up in the sixth inning before the teams finished with the sun shining.
Oakland and Cleveland wound up playing in high-30-degree temperatures with 20 mph winds dropping the wind chill to 28 degrees at game time.
“It was a factor,” Wedge said of the weather. “It was one of the coldest days we’ve had here, when you factor in the wind and the rest of the elements.”
As a result, the Indians rewarded the 17,228 fans in attendance for braving the cold with a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer to any remaining home game in April, May or June, excluding Cleveland’s three-game series against the Yankees on April 25-27.

Dubious day

Fausto Carmona’s career-high eight walks in 31/3 innings Saturday night accounted for the highest total by an Indians pitcher since Bob Ojeda equaled the count in six innings against the Yankees on Aug. 26, 1993.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, it also marked the first time a Cleveland pitcher walked eight or more batters while recording no more than 10 outs in a game since Clarence Wright walked eight in 22/3 innings at Chicago on July 30, 1903.

Next up

The Indians host the Red Sox in a two-game series beginning tonight (7:08) at Progressive Field, the first meeting between the teams since their ALCS showdown last year.
Jake Westbrook (1-1, 2.76) opens the set, opposing left-hander Jon Lester (1-2, 4.50), while Paul Byrd (0-2, 11.05) and right-hander Tim Wakefield (1-0, 3.27) square off in the series finale Tuesday at 7:05.
Boston won five of seven regular-season meetings against Cleveland last year.

Old friends

The Indians will welcome back former players, Jim “Mudcat” Grant (1958-64) and Carlos Baerga (1990-96, ’99) to throw out ceremonial pitches this week.
Grant will toss out the first pitch tonight in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his first American League start. Former big league pitchers Al Downing and J.R. Richard will also be on hand to celebrate the occasion.
Baerga, who is an analyst for ESPN Deportes, will throw out the first pitch for the series opener against Detroit on Wednesday.

Roundin’ third

Ryan Garko is the only Indian to reach base in all 12 games this year, hitting safely in 10 of 12 and currently riding a five-game hitting streak.
l Utility man Jamey Carroll got the start at second base Sunday, reaching base in all four of his trips to the plate, twice with walks, once with a single and another after being hit by a pitch. He also scored three runs, which is a season high for the Indians.
l Three local teams will take part in the fifth annual Cleveland Indians Charities High School Hardball Classic on Saturday and Sunday at Progressive Field. Vermilion will play Port Clinton at 12:30 p.m., and Berea will play Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary at 3 p.m. on Day 1, while Avon Lake meets Hudson at 10 a.m. on Day 2.
 

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