GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (60-39) at CLEVELAND (58-41)

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - PITCHING CHANGE
BOS: HIDEKI OKAJIMA (2-0, 0.92) STARTING THE 8TH
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.322, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: H Okajima relieved D Matsuzaka.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
CLEVELAND 0 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V Martinez (.322, 0-FOR-1)</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 0 0 0 1 6 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - HIDEKI OKAJIMA
CLE - RAFAEL BETANCOURT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.301, 2-FOR-3)
C CRISP (.282, 0-FOR-3)
M LOWELL (.305, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">BOSTON (1) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .226
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .314
M Ramirez dh 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 .301
C Crisp cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .282
M Lowell 3b 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .305
J Varitek c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .264
J Drew rf 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 .249
W Pena lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197

Totals 30 1 6 1 0 7 8

BATTING: 2B - J Lugo (18, R Betancourt). RBI - M Lowell (71). 2-out RBI - M
Lowell. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, K Youkilis 1.
Team LOB - 5.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .275
C Blake 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
V Martinez c 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .321
T Hafner dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .257
R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .321
J Peralta ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .279
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .243
B Francisco lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .279
J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .254

Totals 28 0 4 0 3 5 16

BATTING: 2B - R Garko (18, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - T Hafner 1, C Blake 1, J Peralta 2, J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore 2 (27, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek 2), J
Barfield (12, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 100 00 -- 1
CLEVELAND - 000 000 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 7 4 0 0 3 5 0 3.79
H Okajima 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.91

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 7 5 1 1 0 7 0 3.70
R Betancourt 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.17

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 99-60; H Okajima
14-10; C Sabathia 106-68; R Betancourt 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Matsuzaka 7-9; H Okajima 1-2; C Sabathia 9-5; R Betancourt 1-2. Batters faced:
D Matsuzaka 29; H Okajima 3; C Sabathia 26; R Betancourt 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Ed Hickox. 3B--C.B. Bucknor.

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</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 0 0 0 0 1 6 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - HIDEKI OKAJIMA
CLE - RAFAEL BETANCOURT

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.279, 0-FOR-3)
T NIXON (.243, 0-FOR-2, BB)
B FRANCISCO (.279, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">BOSTON (1) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .226
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .314
M Ramirez dh 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .300
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .281
M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .304
J Varitek c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .264
J Drew rf 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 .249
W Pena lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197

Totals 33 1 6 1 0 8 8

BATTING: 2B - J Lugo (18, R Betancourt). RBI - M Lowell (71). 2-out RBI - M
Lowell. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, K Youkilis 1.
Team LOB - 5.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .275
C Blake 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
V Martinez c 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .321
T Hafner dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .257
R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .321
J Peralta ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .279
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .243
B Francisco lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .279
J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .254

Totals 28 0 4 0 3 5 16

BATTING: 2B - R Garko (18, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - T Hafner 1, C Blake 1, J Peralta 2, J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore 2 (27, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek 2), J
Barfield (12, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 100 000 -- 1
CLEVELAND - 000 000 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 7 4 0 0 3 5 0 3.79
H Okajima 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.91

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 7 5 1 1 0 7 0 3.70
R Betancourt 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.15

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 99-60; H Okajima
14-10; C Sabathia 106-68; R Betancourt 23-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Matsuzaka 7-9; H Okajima 1-2; C Sabathia 9-5; R Betancourt 3-2. Batters faced:
D Matsuzaka 29; H Okajima 3; C Sabathia 26; R Betancourt 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Ed Hickox. 3B--C.B. Bucknor.

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - PITCHING CHANGE
BOS: JONATHAN PAPELBON (0-2, 1.77) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.279, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
CLEVELAND 0 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J Peralta (.279, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BATTERIES: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON
(9TH) AND JASON VARITEK

CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, RAFAEL BETANCOURT (8TH) AND VICTOR
MARTINEZ

HOME RUNS: BOS - NONE

CLE - NONE</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

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

BATTERIES: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON
(9TH) AND JASON VARITEK

CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, RAFAEL BETANCOURT (8TH) AND VICTOR
MARTINEZ


WP - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (12-7)
LP - C.C. SABATHIA (13-5)
SAVE - JONATHAN PAPELBON (23)

HOME RUNS: BOS - NONE

CLE - NONE


TIME: 2:53 ATT: 39,339

PROBABLES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT (13-3, 3.41)
CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA (12-4, 3.52)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">BOSTON (1) VS CLEVELAND (0) - FINAL

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .226
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .314
M Ramirez dh 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .300
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .281
M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .304
J Varitek c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .264
J Drew rf 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 .249
W Pena lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197

Totals 33 1 6 1 0 8 8

BATTING: 2B - J Lugo (18, R Betancourt). RBI - M Lowell (71). 2-out RBI - M
Lowell. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, K Youkilis 1.
Team LOB - 5.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .275
C Blake 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
V Martinez c 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .321
T Hafner dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .257
R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .321
J Peralta ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .278
T Nixon rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .242
B Francisco lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .273
J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .254

Totals 31 0 4 0 3 7 16

BATTING: 2B - R Garko (18, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - T Hafner 1, C Blake 1, J Peralta 2, J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore 2 (27, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek 2), J
Barfield (12, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 100 000 -- 1
CLEVELAND - 000 000 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka (W, 12-7) 7 4 0 0 3 5 0 3.79
H Okajima (H, 17) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.91
J Papelbon (S, 23) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.72

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia (L, 13-5) 7 5 1 1 0 7 0 3.70
R Betancourt 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.15

HBP - R Garko (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 99-60; H Okajima
14-10; J Papelbon 12-10; C Sabathia 106-68; R Betancourt 23-15. Ground
balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 7-9; H Okajima 1-2; J Papelbon 0-1; C Sabathia
9-5; R Betancourt 3-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 29; H Okajima 3; J Papelbon
3; C Sabathia 26; R Betancourt 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Ed Hickox. 3B--C.B. Bucknor.

T--2:53. Att--39,339.
Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in
from right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BOSTON 1
CLEVELAND 0 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (1) AT CLEVELAND (0) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOSTON 4TH: D Pedroia grounded out to second. K Youkilis singled to right.
M Ramirez singled to left, K Youkilis to second. C Crisp struck out swinging.
M Lowell singled to left, K Youkilis scored, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek
fouled out to first. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (1) AT CLEVELAND (0) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOSTON 4TH: D Pedroia grounded out to second. K Youkilis singled to right.
M Ramirez singled to left, K Youkilis to second. C Crisp struck out swinging.
M Lowell singled to left, K Youkilis scored, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek
fouled out to first. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (1) AT CLEVELAND (0) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boston Starting Lineups -- J Lugo SS, D Pedroia 2B, K Youkilis 1B, M Ramirez DH,
C Crisp CF, M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, J Drew RF, W Pena LF, D Matsuzaka RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, C Blake 3B, V Martinez C,
T Hafner DH, R Garko 1B, J Peralta SS, T Nixon RF, B Francisco LF, J Barfield 2B,
C Sabathia LHP.

Umpires -- Joe West (HP), Ed Rapuano (1B), Ed Hickox (2B), C.B. Bucknor (3B).


Gametime Weather: 72 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from right at 12 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: J Lugo flied out to left. D Pedroia grounded out to third.
K Youkilis singled to center. M Ramirez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore singled to right center. G Sizemore stole
second. C Blake grounded into fielder's choice to third, G Sizemore out at
third. V Martinez walked, C Blake to second. T Hafner grounded into fielder's
choice to first, V Martinez out at second, C Blake to third. R Garko hit by
pitch, T Hafner to second. J Peralta struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 2ND: C Crisp struck out swinging. M Lowell flied out to right.
J Varitek grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: T Nixon flied out to right. B Francisco bunt grounded out
to pitcher. J Barfield flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 3RD: J Drew struck out swinging. W Pena grounded out to second.
J Lugo flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore singled to left center. C Blake flied out to
left. V Martinez struck out swinging. G Sizemore stole second. T Hafner
grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 4TH: D Pedroia grounded out to second. K Youkilis singled to right.
M Ramirez singled to left, K Youkilis to second. C Crisp struck out swinging.
M Lowell singled to left, K Youkilis scored, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek
fouled out to first. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 4TH: R Garko doubled to deep left. J Peralta grounded out to
shortstop. T Nixon walked. B Francisco struck out swinging. J Barfield
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 5TH: J Drew struck out swinging. W Pena struck out looking. J Lugo
grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 5TH: G Sizemore struck out swinging. C Blake flied out to left.
V Martinez walked. T Hafner grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 6TH: D Pedroia flied out to center. K Youkilis grounded out to
third. M Ramirez reached on infield single to third. C Crisp grounded into
fielder's choice to third, M Ramirez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 6TH: R Garko flied out to left. J Peralta fouled out to third.
T Nixon popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 7TH: M Lowell grounded out to shortstop. J Varitek struck out
swinging. J Drew struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1,
CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 7TH: B Francisco singled to left. J Barfield bunted into
fielder's choice to first, B Francisco out at second. G Sizemore flied out to
center. J Barfield stole second. C Blake flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 8TH: R Betancourt relieved C Sabathia. W Pena grounded out to
second. J Lugo doubled to deep left. D Pedroia fouled out to catcher.
K Youkilis flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 8TH: H Okajima relieved D Matsuzaka. V Martinez flied out to
right. T Hafner flied out to left. R Garko grounded out to third. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 9TH: M Ramirez struck out looking. C Crisp bunt grounded out to
pitcher. M Lowell grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 9TH: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima. J Peralta popped out to
second. T Nixon struck out swinging. B Francisco struck out looking. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0.</div>

 

Matsuzaka outduels Sabathia as Red Sox win fifth straight

<h3>BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and C.C. Sabathiadidn't look like two pitchers who were struggling.

Matsuzaka and Sabathia hooked up in a classic pitchers' duel asthe Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, onTuesday night.


Matsuzaka, who was 1-2 with 7.31 ERA in his previous threestarts, held the Indians scoreless in seven innings while givingup four hits. The Japanese righthander struck out five andwalked three.


Matsuzaka (12-7) bounced back from his previous start againstthe Indians. On May 30 he gave up six runs and a season-high 12hits in a 6-2 defeat. The loss at the time snapped aseason-high six-game winning streak.


He worked in-and-out of trouble the whole game, but the Indianswere unable to capitalize on any opportunities, going 0-for-8with runners in scoring position.


Cleveland loaded the bases in the first, but Matsuzaka struckout Jhonny Peralta to end the threat.


Matsuzaka would get out of a jam in the fourth. The Indians hadfirst and second and one out, but the righthander stuck out BenFrancisco and Josh Barfield to end the inning.


In the seventh Francisco led off with a single to left, but waserased as Barfield failed to execute a sacrifice bunt. With twoouts, Barfield stole second, but Matsuzaka got Casey Blake topop out before turning it over to the bullpen.


Hideki Okajima pitched a perfect eighth and closer JonathanPapelbon worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save in 24opportunities.


Sabathia (13-5) hasn't looked like an elite pitcher in the monthof July. The burly lefthander entered the game with a 1-2record and an 8.41 ERA in his past three games.


Boston put together a rally in the fourth to score the game'sonly run.


Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez each hit one-out singles.After a Coco Crisp strikeout, Mike Lowell blooped a single intoshallow left off of Sabathia in front of diving Francisco, whobroke back on contact allowing the ball to drop in.

The fourth would be the only inning that the Red Sox had arunner past first base against Sabathia. The lefthander, whoturned 27 three days ago, allowed just the one run and five hitswhile striking out seven.


It was the third 1-0 game Sabathia has been involved in thisseason. The Indians are 1-2 in those games and Sabathia is 1-1with a no-decision.


The win was the Red Sox fifth in a row, and fourth withoutslugger David Ortiz. Ortiz, who has a strained left shoulder,is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday.

 

Matsuzaka outduels Sabathia as Red Sox win fifth straight

<h3>BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and C.C. Sabathiadidn't look like two pitchers who were struggling.

Matsuzaka and Sabathia hooked up in a classic pitchers' duel asthe Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, onTuesday night.


Matsuzaka, who was 1-2 with 7.31 ERA in his previous threestarts, held the Indians scoreless in seven innings while givingup four hits. The Japanese righthander struck out five andwalked three.


"I think my stuff was the same," Matsuzaka said through aninterpreter. "My command was better and I was able to pitchbetter with runners on base."


Matsuzaka (12-7) bounced back from his previous start againstthe Indians. On May 30 he gave up six runs and a season-high 12hits in a 6-2 defeat. The loss at the time snapped aseason-high six-game winning streak.


"Obviously because I lost my last start against them, I didn'twant to lose to them again," Matsuzaka said. He workedin-and-out of trouble the whole game, but the Indians wereunable to capitalize on any opportunities, going 0-for-8 withrunners in scoring position.


"We were able to get runners in scoring position a couple oftimes," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We were one hit awayfrom scoring a run or having a big inning. We just didn't do agood job out there in those situations."


Cleveland loaded the bases in the first, but Matsuzaka struckout Jhonny Peralta to end the threat.


Matsuzaka would get out of a jam in the fourth. The Indians hadfirst and second and one out, but the righthander stuck out BenFrancisco and Josh Barfield to end the inning.


In the seventh Francisco led off with a single to left, but waserased as Barfield failed to execute a sacrifice bunt. With twoouts, Barfield stole second, but Matsuzaka got Casey Blake topop out before turning it over to the bullpen.


"It seemed like we were one swing away, one at-bat away fromgetting something going," Barfield said."


"Cleveland made him work, but he worked out of it," Red Soxmanager Terry Francona said. "It's not easy to put zeroes upagainst that lineup."


Matsuzaka's night ended after that at-bat, despite throwing only98 pitches, because Francona said he was going to the bullpen.

"He (Francona) told me he was going to go to (Hideki) Okajimaand (Jonathan) Papelbon," Matsuzaka said. "When you here thosenames it is tough to argue."


The plan worked out as Okajima pitched a perfect eighth andPapelbon worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save in 24opportunities.


Sabathia (13-5) hasn't looked like an elite pitcher in the monthof July. The burly lefthander entered the game with a 1-2record and an 8.41 ERA in his past three games.


Boston put together a rally in the fourth to score the game'sonly run.


Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez each hit one-out singles. Aftera Coco Crisp strikeout, Mike Lowell blooped a single intoshallow left off of Sabathia in front of diving Francisco, whobroke back on contact allowing the ball to drop in.

"It was a big swing," Francisco said. "You kind of freeze onthose. It's a play you'd like to make, but I came up short."

The fourth would be the only inning that the Red Sox had arunner past first base against Sabathia. The lefthander, whoturned 27 three days ago, allowed just the one run and five hitswhile striking out seven.


"I had good command and established both sides of the plate,"Sabathia said. "That was something I hadn't been doing my lastthree starts."


It was the third 1-0 game Sabathia has been involved in thisseason. The Indians are 1-2 in those games and Sabathia is 1-1with a no-decision.


The win was the Red Sox fifth in a row, and fourth withoutslugger David Ortiz. Ortiz, who has a strained left shoulder,is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday


"We're going to quit trying to do that," Francona said. "He'sgoing to play tomorrow and we'll see how that works."

 

Matsuzaka outduels Sabathia as Red Sox win fifth straight

<h3>BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and C.C. Sabathiadidn't look like two pitchers who were struggling.

Matsuzaka and Sabathia hooked up in a classic pitchers' duel asthe Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, onTuesday night.


Matsuzaka, who was 1-2 with 7.31 ERA in his previous threestarts, held the Indians scoreless in seven innings while givingup four hits. The Japanese righthander struck out five andwalked three.


"I think my stuff was the same," Matsuzaka said through aninterpreter. "My command was better and I was able to pitchbetter with runners on base."


Matsuzaka (12-7) bounced back from his previous start againstthe Indians. On May 30 he gave up six runs and a season-high 12hits in a 6-2 defeat. The loss at the time snapped aseason-high six-game winning streak.


"Obviously because I lost my last start against them, I didn'twant to lose to them again," Matsuzaka said. "He workedin-and-out of trouble the whole game, but the Indians wereunable to capitalize on any opportunities, going 0-for-8 withrunners in scoring position.


"We were able to get runners in scoring position a couple oftimes," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We were one hit awayfrom scoring a run or having a big inning. We just didn't do agood job out there in those situations."


Cleveland loaded the bases in the first, but Matsuzaka struckout Jhonny Peralta to end the threat.


Matsuzaka would get out of a jam in the fourth. The Indians hadfirst and second and one out, but the righthander stuck out BenFrancisco and Josh Barfield to end the inning.


In the seventh Francisco led off with a single to left, but waserased as Barfield failed to execute a sacrifice bunt. With twoouts, Barfield stole second, but Matsuzaka got Casey Blake topop out before turning it over to the bullpen.


"It seemed like we were one swing away, one at-bat away fromgetting something going," Barfield said.


"Cleveland made him work, but he worked out of it," Red Soxmanager Terry Francona said. "It's not easy to put zeroes upagainst that lineup."


Matsuzaka's night ended after that at-bat, despite throwing only98 pitches, because Francona said he was going to the bullpen.

"He (Francona) told me he was going to go to (Hideki) Okajimaand (Jonathan) Papelbon," Matsuzaka said. "When you here thosenames it is tough to argue."


The plan worked out as Okajima pitched a perfect eighth andPapelbon worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save in 24opportunities.


Sabathia (13-5) hasn't looked like an elite pitcher in the monthof July. The burly lefthander entered the game with a 1-2record and an 8.41 ERA in his past three games.


Boston put together a rally in the fourth to score the game'sonly run.


Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez each hit one-out singles. Aftera Coco Crisp strikeout, Mike Lowell blooped a single intoshallow left off of Sabathia in front of diving Francisco, whobroke back on contact allowing the ball to drop in.

"It was a big swing," Francisco said. "You kind of freeze onthose. It's a play you'd like to make, but I came up short."

The fourth would be the only inning that the Red Sox had arunner past first base against Sabathia. The lefthander, whoturned 27 three days ago, allowed just the one run and five hitswhile striking out seven.


"I had good command and established both sides of the plate,"Sabathia said. "That was something I hadn't been doing my lastthree starts."


It was the third 1-0 game Sabathia has been involved in thisseason. The Indians are 1-2 in those games and Sabathia is 1-1with a no-decision.


The win was the Red Sox fifth in a row, and fourth withoutslugger David Ortiz. Ortiz, who has a strained left shoulder,is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday


"We're going to quit trying to do that," Francona said. "He'sgoing to play tomorrow and we'll see how that works."

 

Matsuzaka outduels Sabathia as Red Sox win fifth straight

<h3>BOSTON 1, CLEVELAND 0</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and C.C. Sabathiadidn't look like two pitchers who were struggling.

Matsuzaka and Sabathia hooked up in a classic pitchers' duel asthe Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, onTuesday night.


Matsuzaka, who was 1-2 with 7.31 ERA in his previous threestarts, held the Indians scoreless in seven innings while givingup four hits. The Japanese righthander struck out five andwalked three.


"I think my stuff was the same," Matsuzaka said through aninterpreter. "My command was better and I was able to pitchbetter with runners on base."


Matsuzaka (12-7) bounced back from his previous start againstthe Indians. On May 30 he gave up six runs and a season-high 12hits in a 6-2 defeat. The loss at the time snapped aseason-high six-game winning streak.


"Obviously because I lost my last start against them, I didn'twant to lose to them again," Matsuzaka said. "He workedin-and-out of trouble the whole game, but the Indians wereunable to capitalize on any opportunities, going 0-for-8 withrunners in scoring position.


"We were able to get runners in scoring position a couple oftimes," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We were one hit awayfrom scoring a run or having a big inning. We just didn't do agood job out there in those situations."


Cleveland loaded the bases in the first, but Matsuzaka struckout Jhonny Peralta to end the threat.


Matsuzaka would get out of a jam in the fourth. The Indians hadfirst and second and one out, but the righthander stuck out BenFrancisco and Josh Barfield to end the inning.


In the seventh Francisco led off with a single to left, but waserased as Barfield failed to execute a sacrifice bunt. With twoouts, Barfield stole second, but Matsuzaka got Casey Blake topop out before turning it over to the bullpen.


"It seemed like we were one swing away, one at-bat away fromgetting something going," Barfield said.


"Cleveland made him work, but he worked out of it," Red Soxmanager Terry Francona said. "It's not easy to put zeroes upagainst that lineup."


Matsuzaka's night ended after that at-bat, despite throwing only98 pitches, because Francona said he was going to the bullpen.

"He (Francona) told me he was going to go to (Hideki) Okajimaand (Jonathan) Papelbon," Matsuzaka said. "When you hear thosenames it is tough to argue."


The plan worked out as Okajima pitched a perfect eighth andPapelbon worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save in 24opportunities.


Sabathia (13-5) hasn't looked like an elite pitcher in the monthof July. The burly lefthander entered the game with a 1-2record and an 8.41 ERA in his past three games.


Boston put together a rally in the fourth to score the game'sonly run.


Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez each hit one-out singles. Aftera Coco Crisp strikeout, Mike Lowell blooped a single intoshallow left off of Sabathia in front of diving Francisco, whobroke back on contact allowing the ball to drop in.

"It was a big swing," Francisco said. "You kind of freeze onthose. It's a play you'd like to make, but I came up short."

The fourth would be the only inning that the Red Sox had arunner past first base against Sabathia. The lefthander, whoturned 27 three days ago, allowed just the one run and five hitswhile striking out seven.


"I had good command and established both sides of the plate,"Sabathia said. "That was something I hadn't been doing my lastthree starts."


It was the third 1-0 game Sabathia has been involved in thisseason. The Indians are 1-2 in those games and Sabathia is 1-1with a no-decision.


The win was the Red Sox fifth in a row, and fourth withoutslugger David Ortiz. Ortiz, who has a strained left shoulder,is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday


"We're going to quit trying to do that," Francona said. "He'sgoing to play tomorrow and we'll see how that works."