Alomar Makes a Gutsy Decision That Pays Off Big

Cleveland Indian catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. has come through with so many clutch hits this season--in the All-Star game, the division series, the American League championship series--that his offensive exploits have almost become routine.

“After the first couple of times, you’re pretty excited,” Indian reliever Mike Jackson said of Alomar. “And then after that you kind of expect him to do it. Whenever we need the big hit, it’s always been Sandy.”

Alomar didn’t disappoint his teammates Sunday night, blistering a line drive over the left-field wall for a two-run homer in the sixth inning of the Indians’ 6-1 victory over the Florida Marlins in Game 2 of the World Series.

But Alomar may have made an even bigger contribution with his instincts, his quickness and his cannon-like arm, delivering a jewel of a defensive play that helped the Indians even the series, 1-1.

The situation: Bottom of the fourth inning, score tied, 1-1, Marlin left fielder Moises Alou on second base after a leadoff double, Charles Johnson--who blasted a 438-foot homer in Game 1--at the plate.

The stakes: An early lead would have been a huge boost for Marlin pitcher Kevin Brown, who was not especially sharp but feeds off his incredible killer instinct.

It also would have put a sizable dent in Indian starter Chad Ogea’s confidence. The Marlins had the right-hander on the ropes early, scoring once in the first inning and putting two runners on in the third.

The outcome: Johnson swung and tapped a grounder in front of the plate, just to the lip of the dirt cutout. Alomar sprung from his crouch and pounced on the ball, with quickness belying his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, and Ogea raced in for a possible play.

Alomar got there first and had to make a split-second decision--go for the runner at third and risk a possible huge inning or take the safe out at first. Alomar went for broke, firing a perfect throw over the crouching Ogea to third baseman Matt Williams, who barely moved his glove to make the tag on the diving Alou.

Ogea got Craig Counsell to pop up and Brown to ground out, ending the inning, and the Indians scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take command.

“That was a huge play at the time,” Cleveland left fielder David Justice said. “Sometimes you have to be gutsy, and Sandy was. It worked out for him, but if it didn’t, he would have been under the gun.”

The bottom line: Manager Mike Hargrove isn’t sure if Alomar’s play gave the Indians offensive momentum, but there’s no disputing that Cleveland’s three-run outburst happened right after that play.

“How many times in baseball do you see a guy make a great defensive play and lead off the next inning?” Hargrove said. “It can happen . . . anything you can do to get the heart beating faster and the blood pumping quicker will help you.”

The last word: Alomar has had a career offensive year, hitting .324 with 21 homers and 83 RBIs. But it was Johnson, the Marlin catcher, who was deemed the better defensive catcher.

“Charles Johnson is a very good catcher, but there’s been so much hype about him in these last two series,” Indian shortstop Omar Vizquel said. “Sandy has been overlooked. He’s a great catcher, and I don’t know why they’re just talking about Charles Johnson when it comes to defense.”

They won’t be any more.