• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Sanchez pitches Giants past Indians

Jun 25, 2008 - 4:22 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Omar Vizquel reminded the Cleveland fans why he is one of their favorite sons. Only this time he was in a different uniform.

Jonathan Sanchez pitched 7 2/3 solid innings and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Cleveland Indians 3-2, on Tuesday night, but the night belonged to Vizquel.

Vizquel executed a perfect suicide squeeze in the ninth and made a great defensive play in the bottom half of the ninth to help preserve the victory.

"He saved us today," Bruce Bochy said. "He showed you can have a great game without getting a base hit. He saved us with that play in the ninth."

The shortstop returned to Cleveland for the first time since leaving as a free agent after the 2004 season. The 11-time Gold Glove winner played for the Indians from 1994-2004 and was part of a run that is unprecedented in Indians history.

During Vizquel's time in Cleveland, the Indians won six divisional titles and went to the World Series twice.

Despite being on a team with sluggers Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome, it was Vizquel who was loved most by the Indians' fans. On Tuesday, they had a chance to welcome him back.

The Indians' front office put together a moving video tribute of Vizquel's great plays in a Cleveland uniform before the game. After the tribute, Vizquel emerged from the dugout to a standing ovation.

"I wasn't expecting everyone to get up and give me that kind of reception," said Vizquel, who was greeted with another standing ovation before his first at-bat. "It was really emotional. It meant a lot."

Vizquel was hitless in three at-bats, but drove in a run in the ninth on the squeeze play to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

"(Vizquel) laid it down there perfectly," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "There are not too many guys who get it down like that."

Then in the ninth with the Indians threatening, Vizquel showed why he is considered one of the greatest defensive shortstops of all-time.

With one out and runners on the corner in the ninth, Vizquel ranged deep into the hole at short to grab a grounder off the bat of David Dellucci. Vizquel leaped into the air and threw a strike to second to get the force out.

"It wasn't too difficult," said Vizquel. "It was a throw in the air. I have done it before."

Closer Brian Wilson finished the ninth by striking out Kelly Shoppach to convert his 20th save in 22 opportunities to preserve the victory for Sanchez.

Sanchez (7-4) held Cleveland to one run on five hits. He struck out eight en route to picking up his fifth win in his last six starts.

"I just want to keep winning," said Sanchez. "I don't know what else to say."

San Francisco broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth on a throwing error by Shoppach.

After Ray Durham walked, Randy Winn singled off Rafael Betancourt (2-4) to put runners on the corners. After Betancourt struck out Bengie Molina for the second out, Winn attempted to steal second. Shoppach's throw short-hopped second baseman Jamey Carroll as Durham trotted home.

"I was a little hesitant," Shoppach said. "I wanted to make sure they weren't trying a double-steal. The ball just came out of my hand funny."

Cleveland starter Aaron Laffey yielded one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. But his quality start was not enough to prevent the Indians from falling to 4-9 in interleague play.