GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (31-18) at BOSTON (35-15)

AL: CLEVELAND (31-18) at BOSTON (35-15)

<h3>Beckett looks to continue hot start upon return from DL</h3>



<div class="pre">Cleveland (31-18) at Boston (35-15) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">BOSTON (Ticker) - Not that they needed the help, but the Boston</div>Red Sox are getting back one of the best pitchers in the AmericanLeague.

Josh Beckett returns from the disabled list Tuesday as the RedSox continue a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians.

The Red Sox, whose 11 1/2-game division lead is more thandouble of any division leader, will send Beckett (7-0, 2.66 ERA)to the mound. The righthander, who had the most wins in themajors before going on the disabled list with a finger injury,was activated on Monday and will look to put his short historyagainst the Indians aside.

Beckett is 0-2 with a 13.97 ERA in two starts - both last season -against Cleveland.

In the outing that led to his eventual 15-day absence, Beckettyielded two hits and two runs with seven strikeouts over fourframes before tearing some skin on his right middle fingeragainst Baltimore on May 13.

Jeremy Sowers (1-4, 6.29) will serve as the opposition and lookto build on the success of his last outing, as he allowed onerun over seven innings in a 10-3 victory over the Kansas CityRoyals. The lefthander had been winless and posted a 7.13 ERAin his eight previous starts.

Sowers did not factor into the decision in his only startagainst the Red Sox last season.

Curt Schilling worked seven strong innings as the Red Sox posteda 5-3 victory in the series opener Monday.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS

CLEVELAND BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .271 8 24 Julio Lugo SS .230 3 30
Jhonny Peralta SS .283 10 33 Coco Crisp CF .240 1 15
Travis Hafner DH .259 9 33 Kevin Youkilis 1B .354 7 28
Victor Martinez C .315 8 40 Manny Ramirez DH .267 8 31
Trot Nixon RF .283 2 21 J.D. Drew RF .238 2 16
Ryan Garko 1B .333 7 20 Mike Lowell 3B .328 9 39
David Dellucci LF .238 2 9 Jason Varitek C .269 4 24
Josh Barfield 2B .237 2 24 Wily Mo Pena LF .250 3 6
Mike Rouse 3B .143 0 2 Dustin Pedroia 2B .298 2 10

Jeremy Sowers LHP (1-4, 6.29) Josh Beckett RHP (7-0, 2.66)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS (1-4, 6.29)
BOS - JOSH BECKETT (7-0, 2.66)

UMPIRES: HP - CHUCK MERIWETHER
1B - ALFONSO MARQUEZ
2B - TIM TIMMONS
3B - RICK REED

WEATHER: 79 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 12 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS

CLEVELAND BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .271 8 24 Julio Lugo SS .230 3 30
Jhonny Peralta SS .283 10 33 Coco Crisp CF .240 1 15
Travis Hafner DH .259 9 33 Kevin Youkilis 1B .354 7 28
Victor Martinez C .315 8 40 Manny Ramirez DH .267 8 31
Trot Nixon RF .283 2 21 J.D. Drew RF .238 2 16
Ryan Garko 1B .333 7 20 Mike Lowell 3B .328 9 39
David Dellucci LF .238 2 9 Jason Varitek C .269 4 24
Josh Barfield 2B .237 2 24 Wily Mo Pena LF .250 3 6
Mike Rouse 3B .143 0 2 Dustin Pedroia 2B .298 2 10

Jeremy Sowers LHP (1-4, 6.29) Josh Beckett RHP (7-0, 2.66)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS (1-4, 6.29)
BOS - JOSH BECKETT (7-0, 2.66)

UMPIRES: HP - CHUCK MERIWETHER
1B - ALFONSO MARQUEZ
2B - TIM TIMMONS
3B - RICK REED

WEATHER: 78 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 10 mph, in from left</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.230, 3 HR, 30 RBI)
C CRISP (.240, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.354, 7 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: GIDP - T Hafner. Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .354
M Ramirez dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-J Lugo-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 0 -- 0
BOSTON - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.29

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.61

J Beckett 3-3. J Beckett 2-0. J Beckett 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
STARTING BATS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS AND VICTOR MARTINEZ
BOS - JOSH BECKETT AND JASON VARITEK

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.271, 8 HR, 24 RBI)
J PERALTA (.283, 10 HR, 33 RBI)
T HAFNER (.259, 9 HR, 33 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.230, 3 HR, 30 RBI)
C CRISP (.240, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.354, 7 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .354
M Ramirez dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (J Peralta at 1st base). DP: 1 (C
Crisp-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
BOSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.29

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.61

Pitches-strikes: J Beckett 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 0-1.
Batters faced: J Beckett 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KEVIN YOUKILIS SCORED JULIO LUGO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K YOUKILIS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.267, 8 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.315, 8 HR, 40 RBI)
T NIXON (.283, 2 HR, 21 RBI)
R GARKO (.333, 7 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS BOSTON (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .358
M Ramirez dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .236
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 5 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (17, J Sowers). RBI - K Youkilis (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (J Peralta at 1st base). DP: 1 (C
Crisp-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 6.34

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.61

IBB - M Ramirez (by J Sowers). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 21-13; J Beckett
12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 1-2; J Beckett 0-1. Batters faced: J
Sowers 6; J Beckett 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J VARITEK (.269, 4 HR, 24 RBI)
W PENA (.250, 3 HR, 6 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.298, 2 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS BOSTON (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .358
M Ramirez dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .236
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 5 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (17, J Sowers). RBI - K Youkilis (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (J Peralta at 1st base). DP: 1 (C
Crisp-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 6.34

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.56

IBB - M Ramirez (by J Sowers). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 21-13; J Beckett
22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 1-2; J Beckett 0-4. Batters faced: J
Sowers 6; J Beckett 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 1 0 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: D DELLUCCI (.238, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.237, 2 HR, 24 RBI)
M ROUSE (.143, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS BOSTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .358
M Ramirez dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .236
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (17, J Sowers). RBI - K Youkilis (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (J Peralta at 1st base). DP: 1 (C
Crisp-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 6.22

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.56

IBB - M Ramirez (by J Sowers). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 35-21; J Beckett
22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 2-4; J Beckett 0-4. Batters faced: J
Sowers 9; J Beckett 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 1 0 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.234, 1-FOR-1)
C CRISP (.238, 0-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.358, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS BOSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
M Rouse 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .139

Totals 9 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .358
M Ramirez dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .236
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (17, J Sowers). RBI - K Youkilis (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (J Peralta at 1st base). DP: 1 (C
Crisp-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 6.22

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.52

IBB - M Ramirez (by J Sowers). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 35-21; J Beckett
34-23. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 2-4; J Beckett 1-5. Batters faced: J
Sowers 9; J Beckett 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>