Cleveland sends off fans on good note, wins final home game as the Indians

CLEVELAND — Rarely, if ever, did a regular-season game in late September between non-contending Cleveland and Kansas City hold such significance. The pair of Central Division rivals met Monday afternoon at Progressive Field, with the result filling the backup role for Cleveland, which played its final home game as the Indians. The Tribe finished on a winning note, 8-3, but it was more about what the club is losing — its name, which, after 106 years, will be changed to Guardians. The reception to the new name has been hot and cold from fans, with diehards feeling a sense of sadness to see "Indians" go. "I understand (the sadness), because the Indians have been around a long time, and that name," acting manager DeMarlo Hale said. "I just hope that the fan base continues to understand that there's a change and they get behind the Guardians. I know the fans that have been behind the Indians and will continue to be behind the Guardians for years to come. This is a baseball town, along with football and basketball — I should say it's a sports town. "You think about next year, there's some excitement that I think is going to be formed by some of these players that have gotten some experience this year. It always takes a little getting used to a name change, but hopefully the fans and this sports town get behind the Guardians and more memories are made in the coming years." A crowd of 13,121 fans took in the home finale, making itself heard on multiple occasions. Players were greeted by a rousing ovation when Cleveland took the field and was announced as the Indians, and fans emphasized Indians in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. The crowd chanted "Let's go Indians" as right-hander Emmanuel Clase attempted to close the game with two outs in the ninth. Fans showered players with applause after they left the dugout to acknowledge the crowd following the game. "Not all of us have been here for a long time, but we all respect what the Indians have meant to Cleveland for the last forever (years), and I think we wanted to send people off on the right note," said Indians starter Cal Quantril, who entered the day with the lowest ERA in the majors (1.76) since the All-Star break, and got the win after allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. "There was some pride and we're very happy that this is how they will get to remember the Indians. "We tried to make a statement, tried to show that we belong and I think we all realize that we're playing for the end of this year and we're playing to show we belong here next year as Guardians." Shortstop Amed Rosario had another monster game for Cleveland, collecting four or more hits for the major league-leading sixth time this year. He is the first Cleveland player to do so since Joe Carter in 1986. Rosario's leadoff home run in the third inning broke a 3-3 tie and put the Indians in front to stay. "He's been fantastic," Quantrill said of Rosario. "He's bouncy. He brings energy every time he plays. It's pretty incredible. Seems like he goes 2-for-2 and it's almost automatic he's going to go 3-for-3. He's been a joy to have at short. The energy level and the consistency with which he plays the game is very important to us pitchers and it's admirable." If the fans enjoyed the Indians' final sendoff, Quantrill said there is plenty more to come next year — as the Guardians. "We know it's a Monday. We know it's an unplanned game. It's pretty awesome that they showed up the way they did with the energy they brought," he said of the fans. "We're hoping they'll come out and support the Guardians the same way they've supported the Indians, because we've got big plans next year." Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on Twitter.