RANDOLPH TWP. - You’ve heard it countless times: the team that makes the fewest errors wins the big game.

Likewise, it’s been proven true countless times, as recently as Saturday afternoon in the searing heat and swirling dust of Portage County.

There, in a softball showdown for girls 18 and under, the Lorain Xplosion scored three unearned runs with the help of three Columbia errors. They might have been unearned, but they counted just the same in a 4-2 victory over the Raiders.

For its part, the Lorain girls committed two errors, both in the first inning, and they led to an unearned Columbia run. Without the unearned runs, the teams might still be playing with the score tied at 1.

Instead, the Xplosion went back to Lorain County with the Ohio Girls Softball Organization’s Class D state championship. It was the first OGSO state title by an area team since 2008, when Lorain County teams won three of the four age-group titles.

Grafton Nancy’s Diner, with a chance to take another championship trophy home, lost its Class A (10-and-under) state final showdown to the Champion Flashes, 8-1.

Champion claimed the title for the second year in a row.

In other games involving area teams, Keystone Moyes Trucking drilled the Badger Braves 12-2 in the Class A consolation game and Matthews waxed Medina 11-0 to win the Class C (14U) crown in a perfect-game, mercy-rule rout. No area Class B (12-and-under) teams survived beyond last weekend’s first- and second-round games.

Click here to see photos from the OGSO state finals.

Lorain pitcher Sarah Kaya struck out six and scattered five hits, no more than one by any Columbia player. Kaya wiggled out of a huge jam in the fifth inning.

With the Xplosion leading 4-1, Columbia’s Emily Viccarone drilled a leadoff double to center field, moved to third on Allison Bowes’ single to left and scored on Heather Walaszewski’s first-pitch single to center.

With one out, Sarah Viccarone reached on a bunt single while Bowes and Walaszewski held third and second, respectively. But Kaya breathed easier when the next batter flied out to right field, and she was out of the pickle with a routine popup to short.

“I was just basically trying to stay calm, keeping my focus,” Kaya said of facing Columbia’s final batter in the seventh. “Coming down to that last out was intense. But this means a lot because it’s a first for a lot of us and we can’t wait to start next season.”

Columbia scored its first run when, with two out in the first, Danielle Riolo hit what appeared to be a routine fly ball. But the Xplosion outfield couldn’t handle it and Riolo wound up on second base. Riolo scored when pitcher Kalyn Thompson reached on an infield error.

Lorain tied it at 1 in the third when Kristen Whalen reached on a Columbia error. Then with two outs, Jenee Perry stroked a double to the gap in left-center, sending Whalen home. Until Perry’s hit, the Raiders’ Thompson had retired eight of the first nine batters she faced.

The Xplosion scored what proved to be the winning runs - both unearned - in the fourth. Nikki Kent, who reached on an error, and Kaya, who was aboard via fielder’s choice, scored them. Kent scored when Emily Rousch reached on a Columbia error and Kaya ran in on Whalen’s single to center.

Lorain (21-1) added the crusher in the fifth when Perry led off with a single, stole second and third, then crossed the plate on Abby Coakley’s RBI grounder to the left side. Columbia’s Thompson deserved a better fate. She struck out three and finished with a three-hitter, two of them by the Xplosion’s Perry.

“There were a lot of jitters,” Xplosion coach Shawn Coakley said of his team’s shaky start. “But it’s hard to win at the show if you’ve never been to the show. When we tied the score, you could tell the weight was off our shoulders and we were ready to play ball.”

Columbia finished its season 20-2. Both losses were to the Xplosion.

Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7135 or softball@bobdaniels.info.

OGSO finals
(area teams)

Class A
Champion Flashes 8, Grafton Nancy’s Diner 1
Class C
Mathews 11, Medina 0
Class D
Lorain Xplosion 4, Columbia Raiders 2
Consolation round
Class A
Keystone Moyes Trucking 12, Badger Braves 2

BEREA — The Browns made a pair of trades Saturday following the first practice of training camp, addressing needs on both lines.

General manager Tom Heckert reunited with defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, acquiring him from the Eagles for a fifth-round draft choice in 2012. Heckert was GM of the Eagles in 2006 when he drafted Bunkley with the No. 14 pick. Bunkley will likely join a tackle rotation with Ahtyba Rubin and first-round pick Phil Taylor, who’s holding out.

Bunkley, 27 started 47 games from 2007-09 but only five in 2010 as he battled an elbow injury. The Eagles announced the trade, but a Browns spokesman refused to confirm it.

Late Saturday night, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the Browns traded an undisclosed draft pick to the Rams for guard John Greco. The three-year veteran has four starts in 26 games. Browns coach Pat Shurmur was the St. Louis offensive coordinator the past two years.

CLEVELAND - Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez is headed to the Indians, but at a steep price.

The Tribe acquired the 27-year-old flamethrower Saturday, agreeing to send top pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, first baseman Matt McBride and pitcher Joe Gardner to Colorado.

Jimenez, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, was the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2010 All-Star Game and possesses one of the most feared fastballs in baseball.

He is 6-9 with a 4.46 ERA this season, striking out 118 batters in 123 innings, after finishing third in last year’s NL Cy Young Award voting.

Jimenez made his scheduled start Saturday for the Rockies in San Diego, but was removed after one inning and promptly began hugging his teammates in the Colorado dugout. He allowed four runs and was the pitcher of record.

The swap was first reported by the Denver Post, including the detail the left-handed Pomeranz can’t officially be dealt until Aug. 16 - one year after signing his first professional contract with Cleveland.

The Rockies signed Jimenez to a four-year, $10 million contract prior to the 2009 season. The Indians inherit option years in 2013 ($5.75 million) and 2014 ($8 million), though he can void the latter season as a result of the trade.

Jimenez’s career record is 56-45 with 771 strikeouts in 850 innings and a 3.62 ERA. He is a native of the Dominican Republic.

The first indication that a deal was imminent came just as the Indians began their game against Kansas City at Progressive Field.

Tribe management pulled Pomeranz and first baseman Matt McBride from the starting lineup at Double-A Akron, then told White he would not make his scheduled rehab appearance for the Aeros against Erie at Canal Park.

Though the right-handed White made three starts for Cleveland this season, going 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA, the key to the deal was Pomeranz.

One of the most game’s coveted minor leaguers, Pomeranz was the fifth overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. He is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts with the Aeros, all coming after being promoted from Single-A Kinston, where he went 3-2 with a 1.87 ERA for the little Indians.

Second-year pro Garner, a righty, was 7-8 with a 4.99 ERA in 19 starts for Akron.

McBride, who has spent six seasons in the Tribe’s minor league system, hit .297 with 14 home runs in 84 games for the Aeros.

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

Unless the Indians make one, better yet, two significant moves before the end of the trading deadline today, you can close the books on the season — at least as far as the playoffs are concerned.

This lineup full of Triple-A players and others failing to carry their weight — Matt LaPorta, Carlos Santana, Orlando Cabrera, Austin Kearns — isn’t taking the Indians anywhere, except out of the race for the Central Division crown.

It’s simply not good enough to contend in any division, not even the weakest one in baseball.

Yes, Shin-Soo Choo is expected to return in mid-to-late August. Whoopeee! Unless Choo is coming back as a different player than he was before breaking his thumb — .244, five home runs and 28 RBIs in 72 games — and that’s tough to do when you’re coming off an injury to your thumb, since it’s one of the fingers you use to hold the bat and all.

The trade for Kosuke Fukudome appears to signal that the Indians aren’t overly confident Grady Sizemore will make it back from his latest injury. The one-time offensive catalyst of the team wasn’t much help before and can’t be counted on to provide much going forward.

If Choo and Sizemore returned from injury and to their usual form, then yes, it would be a boost that could take the Indians back to the top of the division. But the odds of either happening appear slim at this point.

Besides, the Indians need offensive help, and they need it now. No-hit by the Angels Ervin Santana one day, get four hits through eight innings off some stiff named Jeff Francis the next.

Already, it’s appearing that designated hitter Travis Hafner and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera are growing weary of carrying the offense, something postseason contenders don’t require, by the way.

Cabrera entered Saturday with just three hits in last 21 at-bats, while Hafner had three hits in his last 22 at-bats and was without a homer since July 17.

It’s tough to criticize Indians general manager Chris Antonetti for the Fukudome trade. It cost Cleveland less than $1 million and a pair of low-level prospects, and he’s a better option than both Travis Buck and Austin Kearns — at least on paper.

The guy gets on base, as evidenced by his .374 on-base percentage with the Cubs, which ranked 14th in the National League.

Problem is, on the rare occasion that the Indians actually put someone on base these days, they aren’t coming home.

Fukudome is certainly not enough, and with Carlos Beltran and Hunter Pence already going elsewhere, there might not be enough offensive power out there to help the Indians.

To qualify for the postseason means winning your division in the American League this year, with arguably three of top five teams in the AL residing in the East, where the wild card assuredly will be decided.

So, the Indians have to be better than the first-place Tigers, and they aren’t even close.

If they keep running this lineup out there, they’ll be fortunate to hold off the Twins for fourth place in the division.

Head case

Suspect stuff on far too many occasions isn’t the only flaw on right-hander Carlos Carrasco’s resume these days. He’s also becoming quite a punk.

Exhibit A: During a recent inning in which he was getting roughed up, Carrasco fielded a two-out ground ball back to the mound, wound up and threw a frustration fastball to inexperienced first baseman Carlos Santana. Waaahhhh!

Exhibit B: This is a doozy. Again, in the midst of getting roughed up Friday night at Progressive Field, Carrasco was ejected for throwing near the head of the Royals’ Billy Butler. The pitch came one after he allowed a grand slam to Melky Cabrera, who admired his shot to right field that put KC in front 7-0 in the fourth inning.

Instead of taking his medicine, putting his head down and walking shamefully to the dugout, Carrasco began shouting at some Royals, who had come onto the field as both benches emptied. Carrasco acted as though he wanted to to take matters further, but with no one separating him from the players shouting at him, he chose to continue the verbal spar.

Then, he had the gall to tell reporters after the game that he was not trying to throw at Butler. Really?

It was another temper tantrum from a 24-year-old pitcher that despite some big league seasoning, doesn’t get it.

Over a six-start stint earlier this season, Carrasco was nearly unbeatable, winning a pair of one-run games with everything going his way.

But now that it’s not, he’s acting like a baby. Manager Manny Acta put it best when he said Carrasco is immature at times. And right now, he’s not the kind of guy you feel comfortable starting a postseason game.

Power poll

1. Philadelphia Phillies: It looks like there’s no stopping the Phillies in their quest to return to the World Series.
2. Boston Red Sox: Rulers of arguably the toughest division in baseball have to be the favorites to face the Phillies for all the marbles.
3. New York Yankees: Yanks are fighting off injuries to key players at an inopportune time but are still good enough to stay afloat.
4. San Francisco Giants: The addition of Carlos Beltran makes the Giants a legitimate contender should they qualify for the postseason, which appears likely.
5. Texas Rangers: Defending AL champs are still too inconsistent to make them a favorite to repeat.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

BEREA - The first practice of the Pat Shurmur era is in the books.

The new Browns coach, who’s a head coach for the first time, began training camp Saturday morning with a two-hour session closed to the public. The players were in helmets, small shoulder pads (shells) and shorts.

“It’s fun because we’re back out here playing and coaching, and that’s what players and coaches do,” Shurmur said.

It wasn’t all smiles, as receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and left guard Eric Steinbach didn’t practice with leg injuries. Tight end Benjamin Watson left with an apparent concussion and walked slowly to the locker room with trainers. It looked like he took a knee to the back of the helmet on a low throw in traffic over the middle.

Massaquoi, the team’s No. 1 wideout, had his left foot and lower leg in a cast. Steinbach’s left knee was wrapped. They officially opened camp on the active/non-football injury list and can be activated anytime. Shurmur didn’t provide any details.

“Mo has a little foot deal and we’ll evaluate it as we go,” he said. “We want to make sure it’s just right.

“Steinbach has a little knee. They’re nothing we feel are serious.”

Massaquoi appeared healthy a few weeks ago at a players-only camp in Austin, Texas. He declined to speak to a reporter Saturday.

Quarterback Colt McCoy lined up under center with the starting offense and was joined by receivers Brian Robiskie and Joshua Cribbs, Watson, running back Peyton Hillis and rookie fullback Owen Marecic. The offensive line was: left tackle Joe Thomas, left guard Pat Murray (filling in for Steinbach), center Alex Mack, right guard Shawn Lauvao and right tackle Tony Pashos.

As the offense makes the transition to Shurmur’s West Coast scheme, the defense is switching to Dick Jauron’s 4-3.

The first-team ends were rookie Jabaal Sheard and Brian Sanford (Jayme Mitchell hadn’t officially signed) and the tackles were Ahtyba Rubin and Scott Paxson (rookie first-round pick Phil Taylor was still a holdout). Scott Fujita, D’Qwell Jackson and Chris Gocong were the linebackers. Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown (recovered from offseason surgery on his rotator cuff) were the cornerbacks, and T.J. Ward and Mike Adams the safeties.

Anyone who signed a free-agent deal after the lockout ended can’t practice until the league year starts Aug. 4. So kicker Phil Dawson, safety Usama Young, running back Brandon Jackson and tight end Evan Moore were among a group watching practice in baseball hats.

CHECK BACK FOR MORE BROWNS COVERAGE.

By Lisa McLeod, Hybrid Mom

Most people don’t like conflict. It feels risky and time consuming. They’re either afraid of it or they don’t want to expend the energy to deal with it.

The problem is, avoiding conflict doesn’t work either. It doesn’t reduce tension, if anything, it escalates it.

A reluctance to deal with conflict is hugely detrimental to business. Good ideas remain unspoken, people create silos, and leaders don’t get the information they need.

The post mortem on any business failure almost always reveals critical information went unaddressed because somebody was afraid to discuss it.

Avoiding conflict also wreaks havoc on relationships. Have you ever been around someone who was frustrated or angry, but doesn’t want to talk about it? They ooze resentment.

People often think that confronting conflict is risky. In reality, the bigger risk is not dealing with it.

Here are three big reasons people avoid conflict, and tips to overcome them:

1. False assumptions about surface information

My friend and client Judi Bruce from Deloitte says, “It’s like the classic orange story.” Two people are fighting over an orange. They both want the whole thing. But when asked why they want the whole orange one replies, “I need all the juice to make my cake.” The other replies, “I need all the zest from the peel to make my frosting.”

What seems to be a conflict; might not be a conflict at all. Just because someone says they want something doesn’t mean that you have a full understanding of their goals. Dig for a little more information. Neutral questions like, “Tell me a bit more about how you envision this” or “Help me understand where you’re coming from” often, reveal an easy win/win.

2. Assuming the other party is unmovable

Just because someone is enthusiastic, or even firm, doesn’t mean that they’re not open to other suggestions. I have this problem a lot. I get so excited about something. I start talking a mile a minute and people often assume that I’m unwilling to consider anything different.

Confronting a dominant personality doesn’t have to be combative. Simply ask: Are you open for feedback on this? If they say yes, which most people will, start off saying, “I tend to think of these things from a different perspective.” It keeps the conversation neutral. You’re not attacking their point of view; you’re just sharing yours. High-energy people move quickly and enthusiastically. They might wind up loving your idea and embracing it with the same zeal they do their own.

3. Lack of confidence

The biggest reason people avoid conflict is because they doubt their ability to guide a conversation or put forth a compelling case. They don’t see a clear way to bring up an issue and have it resolved peacefully. They assume it’s going to be an argument and they’ll lose.

But disagreements don’t mean death; they’re just disagreements. You don’t have to be afraid of them. Human beings are human beings. There is always going to be conflict. It doesn’t have to be contentious or ugly.

It’s ironic, when you accept conflict as an inevitable part of any business or relationship; you wind up with less of it. The more confidence you have in your ability to handle disagreements, the quicker you resolve them.

The passion at www.hybridmom.com is to create an authentic, inspiring, and reliable resource for the multiple roles today’s mom plays — loving parent, unique individual and business-minded person.

Reporters haven’t seen the Browns assembled on the field for a practice since before last season’s finale, a 41-9 loss to the Steelers. For the die-hard fans, they haven’t seen a practice since training camp closed last August.

Eric Mangini was the coach, new coach Pat Shurmur was an assistant in St. Louis and no one knew if a lockout would happen.

The Browns return to the field today for reporters to see. (Fans join the fun Sunday.) After missing the entire offseason, it probably won’t be pretty. But at least it’s football.

The roster is filled with intriguing storylines, and here are the top five players to watch as camp unfolds over the next month.

1. Colt McCoy, quarterback

McCoy spent the downtime of the offseason trying to establish himself as a team leader. He organized team workouts and hosted them in Austin, Texas, doing his best to look and act like the team’s starting quarterback.

McCoy opened plenty of eyes as a rookie in 2010, beating New Orleans and New England and looking comfortable in charge. But he finished on a sour note in closing blowouts to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, throwing six interceptions and finishing the year 2-6 as a starter. That didn’t stop the Browns hierarchy from naming him the starter for 2011.

The West Coast Offense should fit McCoy’s strengths - accuracy, quick decisions, good mobility - and give him the chance to make a long-term career in the NFL. That journey begins in training camp, as he finally gets to work with Shurmur.

2. Montario Hardesty, running back

Hardesty is expected to be back after missing his rookie season following knee surgery. The question is: Can he stay healthy and take some of the load off Peyton Hillis?

Hardesty was extremely productive at the University of Tennessee - when he was healthy. The Browns traded up to draft him in the second round and need him on the field for the move to be worth it.

Hardesty is faster than Hillis and should offer a nice complement to Hillis’ straight-ahead, run-them-over style. If Hardesty can’t stay healthy, Hillis will be worn down by December once again. Hardesty missed all of training camp last season with a different knee injury, so it’d be nice to see him taking reps in Berea in August.

3. D’Qwell Jackson, linebacker

General manager Tom Heckert thinks Jackson will thrive in the new 4-3 scheme of coordinator Dick Jauron, which is why he re-signed him before the lockout began.

Jackson was a tackle machine in the 3-4, but got beat up trying to fight through multiple offensive linemen. He is best in space and running to the ball, and the new alignment should allow him to take advantage of his speed and athleticism.

The biggest hurdle for Jackson will be staying on the field. He tore his left pectoral muscle in 2009, missing the final 10 games. He tore his right one during camp last year and never played a down.

If he can start all season, that would be a huge boost to the defense.

4. Joshua Cribbs, kick returner/receiver

Cribbs has been one of the few bright spots on the Browns since signing as an undrafted rookie in 2005. He’s been to two Pro Bowls as a special teamer/kick returner and has become a fan favorite for his all-out effort and appreciation of the city.

But Cribbs is coming off a season that didn’t meet his standards, as he slipped to a career-low 20.4 yards per kickoff return with no touchdowns. A severe foot injury contributed to the lack of production but he continued to gut it out.

Cribbs should be healthy again, so the issue then becomes where he will fit in Shurmur’s systems. Shurmur doesn’t seem like a proponent of the Wildcat - where Cribbs provided some big plays at quarterback - and the bodies are piling up at receiver. So perhaps Cribbs will spend most of his time on special teams - returning and covering kicks - with a little offense sprinkled in.

5. Sheldon Brown, cornerback

Brown has played in 144 straight games, but needed to play through a torn rotator cuff to finish last season. He had shoulder surgery in the offseason and expects to be ready for the regular season.

Cleveland’s secondary situation is unsettled, so Brown, 32, may have to move around. If the team is short on corners, he could stay there. If it remains desperate for a safety, he said he’d be willing to make that switch.

His intelligence and leadership were crucial last year and he’ll be needed on the field again to help bring along a young group of defensive backs.

• Others to watch: Hillis, defensive tackle Phil Taylor, safety Usama Young, defensive end Jabaal Sheard, receiver Greg Little, right tackle Tony Pashos, receiver Brian Robiskie.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

Defensive end Jayme Mitchell agreed to a two-year contract to return to the Browns. He is in line to become a starter.

Five more draft picks reached deals, according to multiple reports. All but first-rounder Phil Taylor were in the fold on the day the players were required to report to training camp.

Cornerback Eric Wright turned down an offer from the Browns to accept a one-year deal from the Detroit Lions.

The Browns got some business done Friday, as the flurry of reported transactions could become official for the first time since the lockout ended Monday, according to NFL rules. However, the Browns refused to announce any roster moves.

They are expected to put out an extensive list this morning before the first practice of the Pat Shurmur era. The practice is not open to fans. The first public practice is Sunday from 8:45-11:15 a.m.

Mitchell had been a target of Browns general manager Tom Heckert since before the lockout. Heckert traded an undisclosed 2012 draft pick to Minnesota during last season for Mitchell, but he was a healthy inactive for all 12 games.

Heckert couldn’t understand why then-coach Eric Mangini wouldn’t play him, believing he could be effective rushing the passer. Mitchell (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) played 29 games in three-plus years with the Vikings with no starts, 29 tackles and five sacks.

Mitchell joins safety Usama Young and running back Brandon Jackson as the unrestricted free agents reportedly signed by Cleveland.

While much of the league spent the week in a sprint to sign the biggest names available, Heckert stuck to his plan to be selective and not rush into bad decisions.

Taylor, a defensive tackle from Baylor selected No. 21, was in town and tweeted about the lack of a deal: “Dam. Lockout is over. Contract can’t be that hard. Lol.”

Taylor’s agent, Peter Schaeffer, didn’t return a message. The new agreement between owners and players restricts the money that can be spent on rookies and discourages holdouts. The issue with Taylor may be the number of guaranteed years in the four-year contract, with Taylor looking for all four and the Browns holding out for fewer.

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard and receiver Greg Little, second-round picks, reportedly agreed to contracts Thursday. Tight end Jordan Cameron (fourth round), fullback Owen Marecic (fourth), cornerback Buster Skrine (fifth), offensive lineman Jason Pinkston (fifth) and safety Eric Hagg (seventh) followed Friday.

Skrine’s importance likely increased with Wright’s departure. Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown are the starters, but there’s little depth behind them. Skrine could fill the nickelback role, but Heckert has repeatedly said you can’t have enough good corners.

Veteran Mike Adams is also in the mix, but he might be needed at safety, where T.J. Ward and Young (whose tweeted he officially signed) are the only other notables at the position.

Wright, a second-round pick in 2007, announced on Twitter early Friday morning that he was headed to Detroit. The Browns pursued Wright along with several other teams - Wright tweeted the number was 12 - but he wanted a fresh start and to prove his value.

“Much love to all my Cleveland supporters.. Thanks to the organization fa takin a chance on me.. I have a lotta love and respect fa the city,” he tweeted. He added later: “Lets get it goin Detroit!! Lets flip the script!! Lol have sum fun”

Wright gave up three touchdown passes to Baltimore’s Anquan Boldin in Week 3 last season and had a difficult time bouncing back. He became the object of scorn from the fans and said he received death threats. He also battled knee injuries at the end of the season and missed two games.

But Wright is talented and leaves a hole. Possible cornerback targets are Washington’s Carlos Rogers, Baltimore’s Chris Carr and Carolina’s Richard Marshall.

As the Browns basically stood on the sideline Friday, a number of players considered possibilities for them wound up elsewhere.

Safety Roman Harper re-signed with the Saints, safety Dawan Landry left Baltimore for Jacksonville and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane stayed in Seattle. The Browns were once believed to be in the mix for defensive end Ray Edwards, who left Minnesota for Atlanta, but Edwards’ agent told the Plain Dealer that the Browns never showed interest.

The Browns still need to add depth on both lines, and at linebacker.

Tight end Evan Moore officially signed his restricted free agent tender, he announced on Twitter.

Slot receiver Chansi Stuckey, acquired by Mangini in the Braylon Edwards trade in 2009, signed with Arizona, reportedly for two years and $3.5 million. He had 40 catches - best among Cleveland’s receivers - for 346 yards and no touchdowns in 2010.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND - Right about now, Kosuke Fukudome probably has some strong reservations about waiving his no-trade clause to come to Cleveland and play for the Indians.

The Indians and their fans weren’t real enamored by their newest addition, either.

With Fukudome making his Cleveland debut Friday night at Progressive Field, the Indians were clobbered 12-0 by Central Division rival Kansas City, losing for the seventh time in eight games and for the ninth time in 12.

Fukudome went 0-for-4, striking out in his first at-bat and grounding to second for the final out of the game, but he was far from the cause of the Indians’ latest defeat. That dubious distinction belonged to starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco and a sagging offense that has reached its lowest point of the season.

“We always say pitching sets the tone, and it wasn’t set tonight,” said manager Manny Acta of Carrasco, who allowed seven runs on seven hits over just 31⁄3 innings before being ejected from the game for throwing behind the head of Billy Butler after Melky Cabrera hit a grand slam. “Carlos didn’t have his ‘A’ game tonight. He didn’t bring much at all, and we continue to struggle offensively.

“I’m glad it only counts as one (loss), because we got beat up pretty bad.”

Frustration reached its pinnacle for the Indians in the fourth inning after Carrasco allowed the third of three home runs off him - Cabrera’s grand slam that put the Royals up 7-0.

Cabrera remained at the plate and admired his blast to right field before flipping his bat. The following batter, Butler, paid the price for the display, with Carrasco’s first offering to the designated hitter buzzing past his head. Both benches emptied with Kansas City players and Carrasco shouting at each other from across the field, but nothing escalated. Some Royals waived at Carrasco as he made his way to the home dugout.

“He’s a young guy, immature at times,” Acta said. “He showed his frustration in the wrong way. We don’t condone throwing at people’s heads. That’s a dangerous situation.”

Carrasco, 24, admitted to being angry at himself and at Cabrera for posing, but claimed the inside offering to Butler was not intentional.

“I didn’t try to throw at anyone,” Carrasco said. “My fastball ran away. I know it looks bad after the home run, but I’m not trying to hit anybody.”

Acta did not have a problem with Cabrera’s actions, other than the grand slam.

“He’s got the right to do whatever he wants he wants to do,” Acta said. “He’s been in this league a long time. I think you have to make pitches to get guys out.”

Butler hit the first of Kansas City’s four homers on the night three batters into the game to give the Royals a 2-0 lead. Alex Gordon hit a solo shot off Carrasco in the second.

“I didn’t have anything today,” Carrasco said. “I couldn’t command my fastball and when I tried to throw my breaking pitches, I couldn’t command them either.”

Acta said he and pitching coach Tim Belcher spoke to Carrasco after the game.

“They said I have to calm down and keep pitching,” Carrasco said. “They said don’t let anybody (tick) me off.”

A sparkling outing from Carrasco wouldn’t have done the trick anyway. The Indians, who were no-hit by the Angels’ Ervin Santana on Wednesday, continued to struggle offensively, managing only five hits.

Royals starter Jeff Francis, who entered the night with a 3-11 record and 4.65 ERA, shut them out on four hits, while striking out six over eight innings.

The Indians have scored two or fewer runs in six of their last eight games, three total over the last three.

It’s enough to shake a club’s confidence.

“I wouldn’t say that’s it great,” designated hitter Travis Hafner said. “This can be a pretty brutal game. We’ll find out what we’re made of. We just need to score some runs.”

With a Detroit win Friday, the Indians’ deficit in the Central Division standings grew to 2½ games.

“Our guys in this clubhouse are going to have to be the ones to get out of this,” Acta said. “We’ve been counted out so many times and we bounced back. We’re going to bounce back again.”

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

TONIGHT

• WHO: Cleveland vs. Kansas City
• TIME: 7:05
• WHERE: Progressive Field
• PITCHERS: Masterson (8-7, 2.57 ERA) vs. Paulino (1-4, 3.86)
• TV/RADIO: Channel 3, SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

MEDINA — Tami Cassidy sits in a Medina restaurant with a hot cup of coffee in front of her and her mother, Marilyn Johnson, at her side.

Johnson reaches over from time to time to cup her daughter’s hands when Cassidy chokes back the tears that want to flow.
“I won’t allow myself to do this,” Cassidy said, taking a swipe at her eyes.

Cassidy said she has been through the wringer in recent years. She worked for six years to gain custody of her daughter, Crystal Dials, and Crystal moved in with her in February 2010.

Now Cassidy finds herself back to square one because the 17-year-old is listed as a runaway after reportedly leaving with her 22-year-old boyfriend, Cory Timbs, the night of April 3.

She hasn’t been heard from since.

Cassidy said that April weekend plays over and over in her head.

Crystal told her she was spending Saturday night at a friend’s house, just around the corner from their home, but Cassidy said she discovered Crystal actually spent the night with Timbs, and ordered her home that Sunday morning.

“She came home when I found out that her friend’s family was out of state, and I knew she was lying and she was actually with Cory,” Cassidy said. “I took away her privileges — her cell phone, her laptop and her car keys, and sent her to her room.

Not even 20 minutes went by before I went in to check on her about 7 p.m., and she was gone.

“There was no way out the front door without going by me, so I can only assume that she went right out the window,” Cassidy said.

Crystal had some difficulty transitioning to a structured life with “rules,” Cassidy said, but the mother of four said her daughter was making a turn for the better.

“She was back on track in school, volunteering, and even looking into colleges for the future,” she said. “She was doing well; she was moving forward. She didn’t want rules, though. She lost privileges for her actions that night and became upset.”

Cassity added: “What started as a kid in trouble has turned into a little romantic adventure.”

Medina Detective Amy Kerr said there is no reason to believe Crystal left unwillingly. She may have been “pressured” to leave with Timbs, but there were no signs of an abduction, Kerr said.

There is a warrant out for Timbs’ arrest through the Medina Police Department on a charge of interference of custody, according to Medina Municipal Court records.

The Medina High School junior had been dating Timbs, of Seven Hills, for roughly three months, and Cassidy said she met him once.

“He seemed perfectly polite, and nice enough,” she said.

Crystal left behind her purse, wallet, ID, laptop, cell phone and car. She only took some clothes and her makeup. She left behind all her shoes, except for the pair she was last seen wearing — light brown Ugg-style boots, Cassidy said. She also left without a coat.

“We knew pretty quickly that Crystal and Cory were together. Cory’s family has been very helpful through this whole process.

His dad and grandparents have done everything they can to help us find both of them,” Cassidy said.

In the ensuing months, OnStar, a security, communications and diagnostics system that was in Timbs’ vehicle, provided one lead. The car was located in Charleston, W.Va., where he sold it for $7,000, Kerr said.

“Tips and sightings have come in, but nothing has panned out yet,” she said.

Cassidy said she hopes some sense will come to her daughter, whom she described as brilliant, fantastic, resourceful,
independent, mature and capable.

“She’s a great kid, but she’s being a brat,” Cassidy said.

“I remember when she was little, she used to come to my house to visit and cry that she wanted to stay with me,” said Johnson, releasing tears. “I would let her, and one night would turn into three or four nights. I want that girl back.”

Johnson, who is retired and lives in Creston, has devoted countless hours to finding her granddaughter. After locating the vehicle in Charleston, Johnson covered a number of southern states with fliers containing Crystal’s and Timbs’ photographs and information.

She sent letters to churches, sheriff’s offices and police departments and has covered a number of truck stops in Ohio. She even wrote a letter to first lady Michelle Obama.

“I was at a truck stop in Burbank, Ohio, and I went to hand a flyer to a truck driver and he told me he already had the same information come through as a text on his phone. I couldn’t believe that,” Johnson said.

Believing the couple has moved south, information has been passed to West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, Johnson said.

Cassidy said she thinks Crystal has changed her appearance by now, but one thing she can’t easily change is the angel-wing tattoo on her upper-middle back.

“I guarantee she’s working. She’s probably waiting tables somewhere where she didn’t really have to give her information, and she’s going unnoticed,” Cassidy said.

“That’s if she’s OK,” Johnson chimed in.

“Do I think she’s OK?” Cassidy asked. “Yes. Maybe I believe that because I have to.”

Crystal will celebrate a birthday on Sept. 24 — her 18th.

“Crystal and her sister Paige have birthdays only one day apart from each other, and every year we celebrate with a dinner at Olive Garden,” Cassidy said.

“This will be the first year that we won’t be celebrating both birthdays together,” she said her voice trailing off. “I just pray that she is back by her birthday.”

Cassidy said Crystal’s disappearance hasn’t gotten strong publicity because she’s considered a runaway, but nobody really knows.

“Even if she is a runaway, her bed is still just as empty,” she said.

“We may be treating this as a runaway, but we have to cover all of our bases, too,” Kerr said. “We can’t just assume that we know she’s OK. We just can’t do that. Our job here is to actively look for her and not stop until we know that she’s OK. We won’t stop. The last thing we want to do is take a chance, and be wrong.”

“There’s nothing she can do to not be forgiven,” Cassidy said. “She knows she can call me. She knows the door is open.

“That which not does not kill us …,” Cassidy said.

“Makes us stronger,” Johnson added.

Anyone with information about Crystal or Timbs can contact Kerr at (330) 725-7777.

Contact Dani Orr at (330) 721-4049 or dorr@medina-gazette.com.