Mesa Pleads His Case and Makes Appearance

Cleveland closer Jose Mesa, who recently has been battling legal problems, was so impressive in a pregame workout Friday that the Indians activated him for the game against the Angels, and the right-hander, who has spent more time in the courtroom than the clubhouse this week, pitched a scoreless ninth.

Mesa was acquitted Wednesday of rape, gross sexual imposition and theft charges, and a second trial on a charge of carrying a loaded handgun was put on hold Thursday after a judge ruled that police had improperly seized the weapon in a search of Mesa’s vehicle.

Friday, Mesa found refuge in a thinned-out Jacobs Field crowd that gave him a warm ovation when he walked from the bullpen to the mound before the ninth.

“It felt good to be out there, but I was nervous,” Mesa said. “I’ve got to tell you the truth--I didn’t know how the fans would react to me. But they’ve been [cheering] for three or four years, and I didn’t think it would change because of something that happened off the field.”

Mesa convinced Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove and pitching coach Mark Wiley that he was ready before the game, and although he didn’t have pinpoint control, he gave up only one hit, a single.

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The Angels braced themselves for the worst as weather reports in Cleveland called for temperatures in the low 40s and a chance of rain, sleet or snow.

“But it was a nicer day than we thought it would be,” Manager Terry Collins said.

Game-time temperature was 51 degrees, and although it was overcast for much of the afternoon, the sun did peek through the clouds on occasion.

“It was cold, but it wasn’t that bad,” Collins said.

Players felt the real chill after the game, when showers in the Angel clubhouse ran out of hot water.

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Overheard on a flight to Cleveland on Thursday: “I love opening day in Cleveland--especially when the Zamboni comes out to clear the field.” . . . Cleveland sent pitcher Bartolo Colon to triple-A Buffalo to make room for Mesa. . . . The Indians’ 15 runs were the most in a home opener in team history, breaking the previous mark of 12 in 1926. . . . Angel bullpen coach Joe Coleman has returned to Florida after the death of his father Wednesday. Mike Couchee, the organization’s roving pitching instructor, will replace Coleman on the trip.

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TODAY’S GAME

ANGELS’ MARK LANGSTON (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. INDIANS’ JACK McDOWELL

(0-0, 12.60 ERA)

Jacobs Field, Cleveland, 10 a.m.

Radio--KTZN (710)

* Update--Only once in the last seven games has an Angel starting pitcher lasted more than 4 1/3 innings, but if anyone can reverse that trend it’s Langston, who has gone six innings in both of his starts. The left-hander will have to be at his best to beat a Cleveland lineup that ranks third in the American League in batting and leads the league in runs and home runs. The Indians are also extremely tough at Jacobs Field, where they are 141-63. McDowell has had problems recovering from a strained stomach muscle, and the right-hander was roughed up by the Angels for eight runs on 11 hits in five innings during the Indians’ 10-8 victory in Anaheim Stadium last Sunday.