The
Indians sent left hander John Thomas, a Santa
Maria native, to the hill to open the 2007 season
against the visiting East LA Dodgers. The Dodgers,
managed by Leo Gutierrez and made up of junior
college players from Southern California, managed
one run off Thomas in four innings.
Thomas
was effective in his first start for the Tribe,
giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run. Thomas, a native
of Santa Maria was drafted by the Giants in the
second round out of Righetti High School in the
1999 draft. He pitched in the minor leagues for
6 seasons making it up to AAA Rochester with the
Minnesota Twins.
Local
kid freshman Mickey Jannis from Cosumnes River
College threw three shutout innings in relief
of Thomas and picked up the win.
Third
basemen Blake Crosby got the first hit of the
season with a single in the first inning and wound
up scoring on a passed ball to give the Indians
the lead 1-0. The Dodgers rallied to tie the game
at 1, taking advantage of a John Thomas throwing
error and an AC Grable RBI groundout.
With
the score tied at 1-1 heading into the seventh
(and final inning - 7 inning/9 inning doubleheaders)
Kyle Gerhart reached on a single. Indians manager
Scott Nickason summoned Evan Wells to pinch-run
and after two strikeouts brought up centerfielder
Will Campbell. Campbell led the AAJAC in Arizona
with 43 stolen bases and is not known for his
power.
With
a hit and run play on, Campbell knocked the Jeff
Allen offering over the left field fence for a
home run and his first hit of the season, giving
the Indians the win in their season opener 3-1.
