Riske Applies Final Touch for Indians

After blowing two games, David Riske wasn’t about to waste another one.

And once the rage burned inside Cleveland’s closer, there wasn’t much the Minnesota Twins could do.

“I told myself, ‘This is not going to happen again,’ ” Riske said. “I pitched mad.”

Travis Hafner hit a grand slam, Cliff Lee pitched six innings and Riske finally closed one out, and the Indians won their home opener, 6-3, Monday.

“We finally pulled one out,” outfielder Coco Crisp said. “We got the lead and kept it.”

During pregame ceremonies, the Indians celebrated their first 10 years in Jacobs Field by unveiling a $7-million scoreboard that livens up the ballpark.

A few innings later, Hafner gave Cleveland fans the kind of moment they’ve gotten used to in watching the Indians dominate the American League Central for most of the last decade.

Hafner connected in the third inning against Kyle Lohse (0-2), and Matt Lawton homered in the seventh for Cleveland, which ended a three-game losing streak.

“It’s the kind of thing you dream about as a kid,” Hafner said. “That’s one of the highlights of my career.”

Lee (1-0), who gave up five hits in six innings and induced three double plays, handed over a 5-2 lead that the relievers finally protected.