GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (1-2) at CLEVELAND (2-1)

AL: BOSTON (1-2) at CLEVELAND (2-1)

<h3>Indians look to build commanding lead in ALCS</h3>

<div class="pre">Boston at Cleveland 8:21 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">American League Championship Series Indians lead, 2-1</div>

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians are showing no fearagainst the Boston Red Sox.


The Indians will look to build a commanding lead in thebest-of-seven American League Championship Series when they hostthe Red Sox in Game Four on Tuesday.


After splitting the first two games of the series in Boston, theIndians forged their way ahead in this series courtesy of asurprisingly strong pitching performance from Jake Westbrook,who led Cleveland to a 4-2 victory Monday in Game Three.

The Indians will try to get another solid outing from anunlikely source when they send Paul Byrd to the mound Tuesday.The veteran righthander won the clinching game of the ALDivision Series against the New York Yankees, allowing two runsin five innings.


Byrd earned a win against Boston on May 30 at Fenway Park,allowing two runs - one earned - in six innings. He owns a 4-2record with a 4.12 ERA in seven starts against the Red Sox inhis career.


"Well, (Byrd) was a guy that was very consistent for us thisyear," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "You know what you'regoing to get from Paul. He knows himself very well. He knowshow to get hitters out his way.


"He just goes out there and does his thing, and he's been doingit for a lot of years. He's pitched in a lot of big ballgames."

The Red Sox will counter with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, whowill be making his first start of the postseason. The40-year-old righthander was left off the ALDS roster due toshoulder and back injuries.


Wakefield, however, does not feel that there will be any lastingeffects from not pitching in over two weeks. He has notpitched in a game since allowing four runs - three earned - inseven innings in a win against Minnesota on September 29.

"I really don't have any concerns," Wakefield said. "I was ableto throw a simulated game last week in Boston. I got my workdown in between there and I feel ready to go."


Wakefield threw 77 pitches and went five innings in thesimulated contest. He is 4-5 with a 6.12 ERA in 16 career games- nine starts - in the postseason.


Cleveland had been searching for a shut-down starting pitcherduring the ALCS. Surprisingly, Jake Westbrook turned out to bethe guy.


Westbrook pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Kenny Lofton providedsome offensive fireworks in Monday's triumph.


"Anytime you can get a 2-1 lead in the series, it's special,"Indians closer Joe Borowski said.


The Indians entered the series with two of the top starters inthe AL going in Games One and Two in C.C. Sabathia and FaustoCarmona. When neither 19-game winner was able to complete fiveinnings, Cleveland was left searching for an answer in therotation.


Westbrook (1-0), who suffered the Indians' lone ALDS loss to theNew York Yankees, was an unlikely choice to shut down a Bostonoffense that had scored 35 runs in five postseason games andboasted the formidable duo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez inthe middle of the order.


But Westbrook stepped up to the challenge, pounding the strikezone early in at-bats and getting ahead of the Red Sox hittersto set up his trademark sinker.


"You try to get early contact and you try to keep hitters offbase," Westbrook said. "But when they are on base, that's whatyou try do is to get a double play. That's kind of what Iworked for."


The righthander started the first 11 hitters he faced withstrikes and threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 27 batters hefaced. He induced 14 ground-ball outs and allowed two runs andseven hits while walking three and striking out two to earn hisfirst career postseason win.


"He did a great job keeping the ball down in the zone,"Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez said. "He was getting aheadof hitters."


Lofton staked his pitcher to an early lead when he got to Bostonstarter Daisuke Matsuzaka in the second for a two-run blast.With Ryan Garko aboard following a one-out single, Lofton drovethe first pitch he saw from Matsuzaka just over the right fieldwall for a 2-0 advantage.


"I wanted to be aggressive at that point and I got lucky,"Lofton said.

 

Re: AL: BOSTON (1-2) at CLEVELAND (2-1)

I think Boston will win 7-3.</p>

Make your predictions...</p>

 

Re: AL: BOSTON (1-2) at CLEVELAND (2-1)

Wakefield is going to get knocked around. 7-6 Indians.</p>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BOSTON CLEVELAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Dustin Pedroia 2B .167 0 0 Grady Sizemore CF .231 1 1
Kevin Youkilis 1B .364 0 0 Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .333 0 3
David Ortiz DH .444 0 0 Travis Hafner DH .273 1 2
Manny Ramirez LF .444 1 6 Victor Martinez 1B .364 0 1
Mike Lowell 3B .333 1 6 Jhonny Peralta SS .308 1 4
J.D. Drew RF .273 0 0 Kenny Lofton LF .308 1 2
Coco Crisp CF .250 0 0 Casey Blake 3B .250 0 0
Doug Mirabelli C .000 0 0 Franklin Gutierrez RF .100 1 4
Julio Lugo SS .182 0 0 Kelly Shoppach C .000 0 0

Tim Wakefield RHP (NO RECORD) Paul Byrd RHP (NO RECORD)</div>

 

Re: AL: BOSTON (1-2) at CLEVELAND (2-1)

5 guys have hit a HR each for Cleveland, while only 2 guys for Boston. That sucks. </p>

Ortiz needs to step up.</p>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
WARMUPS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD (NO RECORD)
CLE - PAUL BYRD (NO RECORD)

UMPIRES: HP - PAUL EMMEL
1B - GARY CEDERSTROM
2B - DANA DEMUTH
3B - RANDY MARSH
LF - KERWIN DANLEY
RF - BRIAN GORMAN

WEATHER: 65 Degrees, overcast
WIND: 2 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
STARTING BATS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD AND DOUG MIRABELLI
CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.154, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.364, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.444, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.231, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
A CABRERA (.333, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
T HAFNER (.273, 1 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .400
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .444
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 8-7. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-1. Batters
faced: P Byrd 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Randy
Marsh. LF--Kerwin Danley. RF--Brian Gorman.

Weather: 66 degrees, overcast. Wind: 1 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.444, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
M LOWELL (.333, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
J DREW (.273, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .400
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .444
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .308
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (1, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.00

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 17-11; P Byrd 8-7. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 0-1; P Byrd 1-1. Batters faced: T Wakefield 4; P Byrd 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Randy
Marsh. LF--Kerwin Danley. RF--Brian Gorman.

Weather: 66 degrees, overcast. Wind: 1 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.308, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
K LOFTON (.308, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
C BLAKE (.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .400
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .308
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (1, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.00

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 17-11; P Byrd 22-19. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 0-1; P Byrd 2-1. Batters faced: T Wakefield 4; P Byrd 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Randy
Marsh. LF--Kerwin Danley. RF--Brian Gorman.

Weather: 66 degrees, overcast. Wind: 1 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D MIRABELLI (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J LUGO (.182, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.154, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .400
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .308
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 4 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (1, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 0.00

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 25-18; P Byrd 22-19. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 1-1; P Byrd 2-1. Batters faced: T Wakefield 7; P Byrd 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Randy
Marsh. LF--Kerwin Danley. RF--Brian Gorman.

Weather: 66 degrees, overcast. Wind: 1 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: F GUTIERREZ (.100, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
K SHOPPACH (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.231, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .214
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .385
D Ortiz dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .364
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 12 0 3 0 0 3 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, D Ortiz 1. Team
LOB - 3.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .308
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 4 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (1, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 -- 0
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 0.00

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 3 0 0 0 3 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 25-18; P Byrd 44-35. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 1-1; P Byrd 4-2. Batters faced: T Wakefield 7; P Byrd 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Randy
Marsh. LF--Kerwin Danley. RF--Brian Gorman.

Weather: 66 degrees, overcast. Wind: 1 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.500, 1-FOR-1)
M LOWELL (.308, 0-FOR-1)
J DREW (.250, 0-FOR-1)</div>