ANAHEIM, Calif., March 31 (UPI) -- Bartolo Colon opened the 2002 Major League Baseball season with a dominant five-hitter Sunday night and Travis Fryman homered and scored twice to carry the Cleveland Indians past the Anaheim Angels, 6-0.
Cleveland trimmed its payroll during the offseason with superstars Juan Gonzalez and Roberto Alomar and longtime leadoff hitter Kenny Lofton no longer on the roster. But one of the stars remaining is Colon, a hard-throwing 28-year-old who has a reputation for underachieving.
He was in control throughout Sunday night and became the first pitcher to throw a shutout on Opening Day since former teammate Dwight Gooden accomplished the feat on April 5, 1993 for the New York Mets.
Colon scattered four singles and a double, walked two and struck out five. He allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but got Troy Glaus to bounce into a double play and retired Brad Fullmer on a weak bouncer to first.
The last Indian to throw a shutout in a season opener was Sonny Siebert, who did it on April 10, 1968 against the Chicago White Sox.
Fryman had just three homers in 334 at bats last season, but connected off Angels starter Jarrod Washburn (0-1) in the third inning.
