ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Guardians, not the Barbarians, are at the gate. The Indians are no more.
Cleveland’s baseball team played its last game under the name Indians on Sunday at Globe Life Field, a $1.1 billion ballpark with a retractable roof built on the Texas plains. The Indians beat the Rangers, 6-0, which brought symmetry to the angst-filled debate that the name change has produced.
On April 14, 1915, Cleveland beat the Tigers, 5-1, in its first game played under the name Indians. They had played the previous 12 seasons under the name Naps for Hall of Famer Napoleon Lajoie.
The Indians lineup that day at Navin Field in Detroit included Ray Chapman, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Jack Graney. Ty Cobb played center field for the Tigers.
So the Indians came into existence with a win and exited the same way. The history the team made between those two wins has filled volumes and will continue to do so.
“It’s crazy. It’s tough,” said catcher Roberto Perez before Sunday’s game. “The name has a lot of history. So many good memories. It’s going to be weird next year being the Cleveland Guardians. I think people all over the country next year will say, ‘Hey, the Cleveland Indians are in town.’
“I don’t want to go into detail. . .but there’s just a lot of good memories with the name.”
This is Perez’s 13th season with the Indians. It could be his last if they don’t exercise his option for 2021.
Said assistant pitching coach Ruben Niebla, “It’s a special moment, being able to be part of this. Not just for us, but for the fans, too. We’re just looking forward to the Guardians era starting and continuing to be the organization that we are. I know we will be.”
A few Cleveland fans sat next to the Indians dugout along the third baseline. They had signs supporting the Indians name and Chief Wahoo.
“There were a lot things being saved and treasured being this is the last year of the Indians,” said acting manager DeMarlo Hale. “It’s part of life. I hope the fans in the city embrace the Guardians in 2022. But there are going to be a lot of keepsakes. I saw players collecting balls and lineup cards.
“It’s one for the memory bank for sure.”
In the end, Sunday was just another baseball game as the Indians finished the season at 80-82. It is their first losing season since 2012.
Aaron Civale (12-5, 3.84) pitched six scoreless innings for the win. Civale hadn’t looked like himself since returning from the injured list on Sept. 7, but Sunday he was in control. He struck out four, walked one and allowed three hits on 82 pitches.
The offense scored early against Dane Dunning (5-10, 4.51). Myles Straw opened the game with a single, stole second for his 30th steal and scored on Amed Rosario’s single.
The Indians made it 4-0 with three runs in the third. Rosario opened the inning with a walk and went to third as Jose Ramirez doubled off Dunning, who deflected the ball into center field. Dunning struck out the next two batters, but not before Rosario scored on a wild pitch with Franmil Reyes at the plate.
Bradley Zimmer sent a two-out single to right field to score Ramirez. Zimmer stole second and scored on Oscar Mercado’s double.
The Indians went 4 for 4 in stolen base attempts. Rosario stole second in the first inning as he ended the season at 13 for 13. Zimmer collected two steals to give him 15 for the season.
Yu Chang pushed the lead to 6-0 with a two-run homer in the fifth off Mike Foltynewicz. It was his ninth homer of the season and his 16th extra-base hit since being recalled on Aug. 13.
Hale, in his final day on the job, went to the bullpen four times after Civale’s six-inning start. Nick Wittgren, Bryan Shaw, Anthony Gose and Emmanuel Clase finished the season finale. Shaw, making his third appearance in as many days, finished the season with an AL-leading 81 appearances.
Shaw set a club record with two seasons of 80 or more appearances.
In the ninth inning, a group of Indians fans started cheering “Let’s Go Tribe. Let’s Go Tribe. Let’s Go Tribe.” They were quickly quieted by the Texas faithful. It seemed a fitting end team name that will not be soon forgotten.
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Indians merchandise for sale: Here’s where you can order Cleveland Indians gear online before the team becomes the Guardians, including jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and much more.
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