CLEVELAND — Ubaldo Jimenez introduced himself to the hometown fans Wednesday night at Progressive Field, but rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis was the life of the party.

Jimenez offered up a quality outing in his first start at home since being acquired in a trade with the Rockies and the Kipnis-led Cleveland offense backed it up with gusto, leading the Indians to a 10-3 victory over Detroit.

The win trimmed Cleveland’s deficit to two games behind the first-place Tigers, with the Indians going for the sweep tonight against Detroit ace Justin Verlander.

Every player in the Indians lineup got at least one hit, but Kipnis was the main character in a personal fairy tale, going 5-for-5, while adding a home run, a double, three RBIs and four runs in his 16th big league game.

The hit, RBI and run counts were all career highs for Kipnis, who is the sixth Cleveland player to collect five hits and four runs in a game, and the first rookie to accomplish the feat since Jim Fridley, who had six hits and four runs in a game in 1946.

“It was a little big infectious tonight. Everybody was putting together good swings,” said Kipnis, who was joined by Kosuke Fukudome, Travis Hafner, Carlos Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall with multihit games. “It was a fun night and it was a good night to have.”

Kipnis struggled at the start of his major league debut season, but since assuming the fulltime role at second base after the trade of Orlando Cabrera, he has gotten more comfortable.

“When I got up here, I was kind of struggling with my swing and kind of trying to force the issue,” said Kipnis, who raised his average to .295 with six homers and 11 RBIs. “Now, I’m just staying within myself.”

“It’s a small sample but we’ve liked this kid since spring training,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He’s a dirt bag. A dirt bag is one of those guys that runs through a wall to win the game and is always dirty, just doing whatever it takes to win the game.

“We feel like we’ve found our own (Boston’s Dustin) Pedroia and (Philadelphia’s Chase) Utley.”

The Indians scored four times within the first two innings off Tigers starter Rick Porcello — two on Kipnis’ homer over the right-field wall. That was enough for Jimenez.

Shaking off a rough outing in his Cleveland debut at Texas, the right-hander cruised for much of the night, allowing all three of his runs in the fourth inning. It could have been a shutout for Jimenez, who surrendered six hits and struck out six, had Santana not dropped a throw that would have recorded the final out in the fourth.

“It was an outstanding pitching performance from Ublado,” Acta said. “He gave us exactly what we needed. This guy’s got five pitches and he knows how to use them.

“The fact that he could do that against a lineup like that shows us that he’s going to be able to help us every fifth day.”

With fastball command that wasn’t present against the Rangers, Jimenez allowed just one hit after the fourth inning, racking up half of his strikeouts to the delight of  a raucous contingent of Indians fans.

“It was special, my first start here,” Jimenez said. “The fans were great. Right now, I feel great. I was able to go out there and do my job.”

The Indians answered Detroit’s three-run fourth with four of their own in the bottom of the inning, Kipnis again chipping in with an RBI single.

The only negative aspect of the win was that All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera departed prematurely after being his on the foot by a pitch in the second inning. Cabrera remained in game until being removed to start the seventh.

“We took him out as a precaution,” Acta said. “He was pretty sore after he got hit.”

Acta said Cabrera was examined by doctors and that x-rays were deemed unnecessary.

Nothing could crash the party at Progressive Field, where they were all Kipnisses.

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

Offense powered the Indians to a 10-3 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Cleveland had 18 hits to back a quality start from Ubaldo Jimenez, who won in his home debut, allowing three runs on six hits over eight innings.

Rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and four runs and a home run to lead the offense.

ELYRIA — Residents did their part Tuesday night in discussing what they see as the deficiencies in the operation of Cascade Park and would now like to hear from the Lorain County Metro Parks before they can make a decision about turning over the city’s prized possession.

Cohen Boyd, 2, of Elyria, feeds the ducks at Cascade Park last month.

However, they will have to wait for that piece of the puzzle as city leaders have said they have not made a serious inquiry to the park system.

“I think I can confidently talk about the Metro Parks and say that they do not want to be involved in something that is seen as adversarial,” Mayor Bill Grace said. “They are not going to come in and insert their power in our city without knowing that this is something the residents want.”

Instead, the parks board said Tuesday’s meeting was a time for Elyrians to speak about the future of the park. The meeting was the result of Grace’s declaration in early July that Cascade Park was in “grave condition” and was in need of a plan of action by the city, its residents or another entity.

“This is not the end,” said the Rev. Carl Small, parks board president. “This is the beginning. We want to hear from you, the citizens. We hope the thoughts and ideas will spark additional dialogue, which will give the board the information needed to make a recommendation going forward.”

Still, when the floor was opened for questions, many said they had already made up their minds that the Metro Parks was the way to go and openly queried about the Metro Parks’ absence.

“I think I speak for a lot of people who are not happy that the Metro Parks is not here,” resident Dave Timko said.

After listening to a number of residents speak, Timko said he still had a lot of questions about what the Metro Parks could really offer the city.

Councilwoman Mary Siwierka, D-at large, said having the Metro Parks at the table during discussion could be important in the decision process.

“We are basically talking about getting engaged to or possibly marrying the Metro Parks with some kind of agreement, but we have to at least start dating. We can’t ask residents to make an efficient, effective decision without hearing from them.”

Grace said before that can happen residents need to know what the city is up against. A number of improvements have been made due largely to grants and outside efforts by groups like the Elyria Rotary Club and Friends of Cascade Park.

Yet erosion is a huge concern, with paved walkways sliding into the river and hillside slopes pulling downward. The cost to stabilize the erosion will be expensive.

“As much as we have done, there is still much that needs to be done in the way of maintenance,” Grace said. “We have been scratching and clawing to do minor improvements in the park. But of all we have done, we have only scratched the surface of the underlying issues facing this park.”

No one talked cost or put a price tag to the city keeping Cascade Park.

In the face of expensive, needed improvements, residents said it’s time for city officials to admit they cannot lead the charge to turn the park around.
“Cities are not set up to manage large natural parks,” resident Tom Bowen said. “There is no other solution for Cascade Park.”

The sentiments were echoed by Councilman Larry Tanner, D-1st Ward.

“I can’t understand why anyone would say the Metro Parks is not the way to go,” Tanner said. “It will still be Elyria Cascade Park. It’s not going to change names.”

Park historian Jim Smith said he is opposed to the idea of Elyria handing over operation to the Metro Parks. The historic significance alone is worth preserving. Cascade Park was given to the city by citizens and every major improvement has been spearheaded by citizens.

“Right now, conditions in the park still allow you to enjoy the park the natural way,” Smith said. “Just walk it. That’s what it was designed for.”

Next meeting

The next public meeting to discuss the future of Cascade Park will take place 7 p.m. Aug. 30 in City Council chambers.

The Elyria Parks Board will hear from residents and use the discussions in making its decision, which should come during the Sept. 8 board meeting.

Elyria parks competing in Coca-Cola contest

• What: Hilltop Park on Gulf Road and Cascade Park are both in the running to receive as much as to $100,000 in cash for park restoration.
• How to help: Vote at www.livepositively.com for their park.
• Prizes: Top award is $100,000; the second-highest vote getter receives $50,000; third place wins $25,000.
• Contest ends: 11:59 p.m. Sept. 6.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

ELYRIA — Brandon Rutherford wants you to come to Elyria.

Brandon Rutherford, of Invest Elyria, right, has organized an art show on Sunday at Ely Square. Eight-year-old Carsen Ponczocha, left, is going to display his work “Flowers in the Sun,” at the show. His sister, Braeden, 4, center, said she probably will have works on display as well. (CT photo by Chuck Humel.)

And this weekend, to check out the region’s artists. Rutherford, the founder and lead organizer of Invest Elyria, a grassroots community group, is hosting an art show 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on the square in Ely Park.

“We’re looking for people to show all forms of art — a whole plethora of things,” said Rutherford. “And I’m leaving that open to interpretation by others, because I don’t want to be the guy who says, ‘This is what art is.’”

In that vein, Rutherford invites people of all ages and levels of expertise to participate, and hopes to draw people from around the county. The show is free for art-gazers, but will cost a $10 for those art-displayers (to cover fees for the event, he said — and it’ll be waived for anyone under 18).

The event is sponsored by Invest Elyria, which has gained momentum over the past year. The organization’s purpose has been to unite Elyrians to take pride in where they live and to “improve the morale and the communication between residents and city leaders,” according to the founding plan for the organization.

Rutherford, a former City Council candidate, explained that the group focused on three themes when defining its goals — Green Elyria, Buy Elyria and Connect Elyria — but admits that, like the art show, not everything falls so neatly into one category.

“I want to bring events to Elyria to get people downtown and to support small, local businesses,” said Rutherford. “And I want Invest Elyria to be a tool for the community… it’s all about positive movements in the city.”

He hopes this art show will bring people downtown for the weekend to get out and meet one another and participate in something local.

Ed Stewart, a graphic artist in Elyria and the designer of the Invest Elyria logo, thinks that the art show fits well with the organization’s goals.

“It goes along with ‘buy’ and ‘connect,’ I think,” Stewart said. “It’s local people experiencing art with other local people.”

He and his friends Ray Koepff, an acrylic painter, and Jean Jensen, an art instructor at Clearview High School, will be showing their work.

“I’ll be down there actually working with pastels,” Stewart said. “And if any kids come around, I’ll involve them in the process: I believe in participatory artwork.”

The idea for the art show came from a member of the Invest Elyria Facebook group, when the organization was in its nascent stages. Rutherford looks to community members and those who are interested in moving Elyria in a “positive direction” to engage in the conversation and to help organize events. He has already seen success in pushing for composting in downtown businesses and restaurants and creating a network of small business owners from across the city to support one another.

Rutherford is also working within the Elyria school district to start a “Young Elyrian” group to take on tasks they feel passionate about.

“I want people to be inspired, and I want them to feel like they matter in Elyria. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel, just pushing it to get it rolling again,” Rutherford said.

If you’re interested in more information about the art show, including registration, contact Brandon Rutherford at (440) 897-9429.

Contact Emily Kennedy at 329-7243 or ekennedy@chroniclet.com.