GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (31-19) at BOSTON (36-15)

AL: CLEVELAND (31-19) at BOSTON (36-15)

<h3>Healthy Matsuzaka takes the mound for Red Sox</h3>

Cleveland (31-19) at Boston (36-15) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka overcame some intestinalproblems to earn his sixth straight win last time out. TheBoston Red Sox hope his health is better on Wednesday when hetakes the mound in the series finale against the visitingCleveland Indians.

Matsuzaka (7-2, 4.43 ERA) struggled through five innings withthe flu at the Texas Rangers, surrendering five runs and sevenhits in the Red Sox's 10-6 victory.

The 26-year-old righthander's win was the first in Boston'scurrent five-game winning streak, which includes the first twogames of the series against the Indians.

On Tuesday, Josh Beckett came off the disabled list to tossseven strong innings in a 4-2 win. On Monday, Curt Schillingstruck out a season-high 10 in seven frames en route to a 5-3win.

Matsuzaka will try to become the third Red Sox starter in a rowto hold what was the American League's top-scoring offense down.

Cleveland had the AL's top scoring offense until running intothe circuit's second-best pitching staff in Boston. The DetroitTigers' 14-run explosion vaulted them over both Boston andCleveland for the league lead in runs.

Paul Byrd (5-1, 3.81) will be charged with keeping the Red Sox'sbats down. The Indians' resident control artist has won fivegames while issuing just three total walks on the season.

Byrd owns a 3-2 career mark with a 4.54 ERA in six startsagainst Boston. The veteran righthander has been tough againstRed Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, holding him hitless in sixat-bats. Youkilis is riding a 21-games hit streak and has ninestraight multi-hit games.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

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

CLEVELAND BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .266 8 24 Coco Crisp CF .234 1 15
Casey Blake 3B .271 7 26 Kevin Youkilis 1B .358 8 30
Travis Hafner DH .260 9 34 David Ortiz DH .316 9 38
Ryan Garko 1B .329 7 20 Manny Ramirez LF .268 8 31
Trot Nixon RF .275 2 21 J.D. Drew RF .232 2 16
Jhonny Peralta SS .290 10 33 Mike Lowell 3B .326 9 39
David Dellucci LF .233 2 9 Jason Varitek C .270 5 25
Josh Barfield 2B .233 2 24 Alex Cora SS .319 2 13
Kelly Shoppach C .326 1 7 Dustin Pedroia 2B .302 2 11

Paul Byrd RHP (5-1, 3.81) Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (7-2, 4.43)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (5-1, 3.81)
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (7-2, 4.43)

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

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 10 mph, out to left</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.266, 8 HR, 24 RBI)
C BLAKE (.271, 7 HR, 26 RBI)
T HAFNER (.260, 9 HR, 34 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL CLEVELAND AT BOSTON
NOTE: CLEVELAND THIRD BASEMAN CASEY BLAKE SINGLED IN THE
FIRST INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.234, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.358, 8 HR, 30 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.316, 9 HR, 38 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 0 0 .264
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
T Hafner dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326

Totals 4 0 2 0 0 0 3

BATTING: GIDP - T Nixon. Team LOB - 2.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
A Cora ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-A Cora-K Youkilis).


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.81

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.37

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 17-13. Ground
balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 2-1. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 5.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.290, 10 HR, 33 RBI)
D DELLUCCI (.233, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.233, 2 HR, 24 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
T Hafner dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326

Totals 4 0 2 0 0 0 3

BATTING: GIDP - T Nixon. Team LOB - 2.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .356
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
A Cora ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-A Cora-K Youkilis).


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.74

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.37

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 11-10; D Matsuzaka
17-13. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 2-1; D Matsuzaka 2-1. Batters faced: P
Byrd 4; D Matsuzaka 5.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, out to 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 3 0
BOSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.232, 2 HR, 16 RBI)
M LOWELL (.326, 9 HR, 39 RBI)
J VARITEK (.270, 5 HR, 25 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
T Hafner dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Barfield 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .237
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 0 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. GIDP - T
Nixon. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Barfield (6, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .356
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
A Cora ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-A Cora-K Youkilis).


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.74

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.30

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 11-10; D Matsuzaka
32-22. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 2-1; D Matsuzaka 2-4. Batters faced: P
Byrd 4; D Matsuzaka 9.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY JASON VARITEK SCORED J.D. DREW.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M LOWELL ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: A CORA (.319, 2 HR, 13 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 0 3 1
BOSTON 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.264, 0-FOR-1)
C BLAKE (.275, 1-FOR-1)
T HAFNER (.264, 1-FOR-1)</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 0 0 .264
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
T Hafner dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Barfield 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .237
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 0 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. GIDP - T
Nixon. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Barfield (6, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (7, ground ball).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .356
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
J Drew rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .230
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
J Varitek c 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .268
A Cora ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299

Totals 9 1 2 1 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (15, P Byrd). RBI - J Varitek (26). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - D Pedroia 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-A Cora-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
BOSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 3.67

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.30

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 22-18; D Matsuzaka
32-22. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 3-3; D Matsuzaka 2-4. Batters faced: P
Byrd 9; D Matsuzaka 9.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, out to 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 3 1
BOSTON 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.233, 0-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.356, 0-FOR-1)
D ORTIZ (.320, 1-FOR-1)</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 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
C Blake 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
T Hafner dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Barfield 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .237
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319

Totals 11 0 3 0 0 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. GIDP - T
Nixon. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Barfield (6, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (7, ground ball).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .356
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
J Drew rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .230
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
J Varitek c 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .268
A Cora ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299

Totals 9 1 2 1 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (15, P Byrd). RBI - J Varitek (26). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - D Pedroia 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-A Cora-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 3.67

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 4.24

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 22-18; D Matsuzaka
46-31. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 3-3; D Matsuzaka 3-5. Batters faced: P
Byrd 9; D Matsuzaka 12.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL CLEVELAND AT BOSTON
NOTE: BOSTON FIRST BASEMAN KEVIN YOUKILIS SINGLED IN THE
THIRD INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 22 GAMES.</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 3 1
BOSTON 0 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.329, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
T NIXON (.273, 0-FOR-1)
J PERALTA (.288, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at BOSTON

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
C Blake 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
T Hafner dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Barfield 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .237
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319

Totals 11 0 3 0 0 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. GIDP - T
Nixon. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Barfield (6, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (P Byrd-R Garko).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .359
D Ortiz dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .318
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
J Drew rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .230
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
J Varitek c 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .268
A Cora ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299

Totals 12 1 3 1 0 0 4

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (15, P Byrd). RBI - J Varitek (26). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - D Pedroia 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Pedroia-A Cora-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 3.60

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 4.24

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 34-27; D Matsuzaka
46-31. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 3-5; D Matsuzaka 3-5. Batters faced: P
Byrd 12; D Matsuzaka 12.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, out to left.</div>