Chief Wahoo Protest Grows

American League

More than 50 American Indians and supporters marched peacefully Friday night outside Jacobs Field in Cleveland to protest that the Cleveland Indians’ logo is an ethnic slur.

Most fans entering the sold-out game against the Minnesota Twins ignored the protest, held at two entrances. A few taunted the protesters by yelling support for grinning, big-nosed Chief Wahoo, an Indian caricature the team has used for decades.

The protesters carried banners that read “People, Not Mascots” and “No More Red Sambo.”

“We won, we set a precedent,” said Robert Roche, an Apache and co-plaintiff in a lawsuit which challenged a ban against demonstrations on Gateway sports complex grounds.

“We have a right to be here,” Roche said as fans streamed into the stadium. “We’re peaceful. We’ll continue to be peaceful.”

Dave Labus, 30, of Columbus, wore a Wahoo logo hat to the game and said he didn’t feel the image was insensitive to American Indians. “I never thought of it that way,” he said. “It’s all how you think of it.”

Clearing the bases

Injured Boston ace Roger Clemens played long toss at Boston’s spring camp in Fort Myers, Fla., and will repeat the routine today. … Brady Anderson, who homered for Baltimore, has gone 14 for 29 while hitting in seven straight games. … New York’s Luis Polonia went 0 for 4, extending his slump to 0 for 20. … Kansas City outfielder Phil Hiatt was taken to a hospital after X-rays taken at the ballpark revealed a collapsed lung.

Indians 5, Twins 1

Cleveland

The baseball strike couldn’t ruin the rapport Cleveland built with its fans a year ago, and neither could Minnesota.

Before the 29th consecutive sellout crowd at Jacobs Field, the Indians won their belated home opener as Charles Nagy, celebrating his 28th birthday, held the Twins to four hits in seven innings.

Albert Belle backed Nagy with a pair of RBI doubles.

Orioles 9, Blue Jays 2

Baltimore

Kevin Brown pitched seven solid innings to earn his second victory and Rafael Palmeiro had three hits as Baltimore beat Toronto.

Cal Ripken, playing in his 2,018th consecutive game, drove in two runs for Baltimore.

Red Sox 10, Tigers 7

Detroit

John Valentin homered, doubled and singled, and Mo Vaughn and Mark Whiten also homered, leading Boston past Detroit.

Travis Fryman hit a grand slam in the first inning for Detroit.

Yankees 6, Brewers 4

New York

Paul O’Neill and Mike Stanley hit home runs and Scott Bankhead pitched four strong innings of emergency relief as New York beat Milwaukee.

New York starter Scott Kamieniecki left the game with a strained right elbow after throwing two pitches in the second inning. The Yankees also lost Don Mattingly when he pulled a hamstring running out a double in the same inning. Both players will be re-examined today.

Rangers 9, Athletics 4

Oakland, Calif.

Bob Tewksbury won for the first time with Texas, and Mickey Tettleton and Benji Gil homered as the Rangers beat Oakland.

The A’s drew 35,132 to their home opener, the first game at the Coliseum since Aug. 11, when Oakland played Seattle in the final game before the eight-month major-league strike.

Royals 3, ChiSox 1 (12)

Chicago

Felix Jose and Greg Gagne drove in runs during the 12th inning, lifting Kansas City over Chicago.