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

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">BOSTON (3) VS CLEVELAND (7) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .188
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .400
D Ortiz dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .385
M Ramirez lf 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .462
M Lowell 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Drew rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .286
C Crisp cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .200
D Mirabelli c 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
J Varitek c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200
J Lugo ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .143

Totals 31 3 8 3 0 4 6

BATTING: HR - K Youkilis (1, 6th inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out), D Ortiz (1,
6th inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out), M Ramirez (2, 6th inning off J Lewis 0 on,
0 Out). RBI - K Youkilis (1), D Ortiz (1), M Ramirez (7). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, D Ortiz 1. GIDP - J Lugo. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - K Youkilis (1, catch).


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 3 1 0 0 2 0 2 .188
A Cabrera 2b 5 1 1 1 0 2 4 .294
T Hafner dh 4 0 0 0 0 4 4 .200
V Martinez 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .333
J Peralta ss 4 1 2 3 0 1 0 .353
K Lofton lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .294
C Blake 3b 4 1 2 2 0 1 0 .313
F Gutierrez rf 2 1 1 0 2 1 0 .167
K Shoppach c 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 .333

Totals 33 7 9 7 4 12 16

BATTING: 2B - J Peralta (2, T Wakefield). HR - C Blake (1, 5th inning off T
Wakefield 0 on, 0 Out), J Peralta (2, 5th inning off M Delcarmen 2 on, 2 Out).
RBI - C Blake 2 (2), A Cabrera (4), V Martinez (2), J Peralta 3 (7). 2-out RBI
- V Martinez, J Peralta 3, C Blake. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V
Martinez 2, K Lofton 1, K Shoppach 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 7.

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

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-A Cabrera-V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 003 00 -- 3
CLEVELAND - 000 070 00 -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 4 2/3 5 5 5 2 7 1 9.64
M Delcarmen 1/3 3 2 2 1 1 1 16.20
J Lester 3 1 0 0 1 4 0 4.91

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 5 6 2 2 0 4 2 3.60
J Lewis 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.06
R Betancourt 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

P Byrd pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.

HBP - K Shoppach (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 76-51; M
Delcarmen 25-13; J Lester 50-34; P Byrd 73-54; J Lewis 26-19; R Betancourt 6-6.
Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 4-3; M Delcarmen 0-0; J Lester 2-3; P Byrd
5-6; J Lewis 3-3; R Betancourt 0-3. Batters faced: T Wakefield 22; M Delcarmen
5; J Lester 11; P Byrd 21; J Lewis 7; R Betancourt 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 FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 8 1
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 x 7 9 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, MANNY DELCARMEN (5TH), JON LESTER (6TH) AND
DOUG MIRABELLI, JASON VARITEK (6TH)

CLE - PAUL BYRD, JENSEN LEWIS (6TH), RAFAEL BETANCOURT
(8TH) AND KELLY SHOPPACH

HOME RUNS: BOS - KEVIN YOUKILIS (1) OFF PAUL BYRD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
DAVID ORTIZ (1) OFF PAUL BYRD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
MANNY RAMIREZ (2) OFF JENSEN LEWIS IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CLE - CASEY BLAKE (1) OFF TIM WAKEFIELD IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
JHONNY PERALTA (2) OFF MANNY DELCARMEN IN THE 5TH, 2 ON</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 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 8 1
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 x 7 9 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, MANNY DELCARMEN (5TH), JON LESTER (6TH) AND
DOUG MIRABELLI, JASON VARITEK (6TH)

CLE - PAUL BYRD, JENSEN LEWIS (6TH), RAFAEL BETANCOURT
(8TH) AND KELLY SHOPPACH


WP - PAUL BYRD (1-0)
LP - TIM WAKEFIELD (0-1)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: BOS - KEVIN YOUKILIS (1) OFF PAUL BYRD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
DAVID ORTIZ (1) OFF PAUL BYRD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
MANNY RAMIREZ (2) OFF JENSEN LEWIS IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CLE - CASEY BLAKE (1) OFF TIM WAKEFIELD IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
JHONNY PERALTA (2) OFF MANNY DELCARMEN IN THE 5TH, 2 ON


TIME: 3:12 ATT: 44,008

PROBABLES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT (1-0, 3.00)
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (0-1, 16.62)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">BOSTON (3) VS CLEVELAND (7) - FINAL

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .188
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .400
D Ortiz dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .385
M Ramirez lf 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .462
M Lowell 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Drew rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .267
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .188
D Mirabelli c 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
J Varitek c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200
J Lugo ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .143

Totals 34 3 8 3 0 4 6

BATTING: HR - K Youkilis (1, 6th inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out), D Ortiz (1,
6th inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out), M Ramirez (2, 6th inning off J Lewis 0 on,
0 Out). RBI - K Youkilis (1), D Ortiz (1), M Ramirez (7). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, D Ortiz 1. GIDP - J Lugo. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - K Youkilis (1, catch).


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 3 1 0 0 2 0 2 .188
A Cabrera 2b 5 1 1 1 0 2 4 .294
T Hafner dh 4 0 0 0 0 4 4 .200
V Martinez 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .333
J Peralta ss 4 1 2 3 0 1 0 .353
K Lofton lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .294
C Blake 3b 4 1 2 2 0 1 0 .313
F Gutierrez rf 2 1 1 0 2 1 0 .167
K Shoppach c 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 .333

Totals 33 7 9 7 4 12 16

BATTING: 2B - J Peralta (2, T Wakefield). HR - C Blake (1, 5th inning off T
Wakefield 0 on, 0 Out), J Peralta (2, 5th inning off M Delcarmen 2 on, 2 Out).
RBI - C Blake 2 (2), A Cabrera (4), V Martinez (2), J Peralta 3 (7). 2-out RBI
- V Martinez, J Peralta 3, C Blake. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V
Martinez 2, K Lofton 1, K Shoppach 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 7.

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

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-A Cabrera-V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 003 000 -- 3
CLEVELAND - 000 070 00x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield (L, 0-1) 4 2/3 5 5 5 2 7 1 9.64
M Delcarmen 1/3 3 2 2 1 1 1 16.20
J Lester 3 1 0 0 1 4 0 4.91

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd (W, 1-0) 5 6 2 2 0 4 2 3.60
J Lewis 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.06
R Betancourt 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

P Byrd pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.

HBP - K Shoppach (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 76-51; M
Delcarmen 25-13; J Lester 50-34; P Byrd 73-54; J Lewis 26-19; R Betancourt
15-12. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 4-3; M Delcarmen 0-0; J Lester 2-3;
P Byrd 5-6; J Lewis 3-3; R Betancourt 0-6. Batters faced: T Wakefield 22; M
Delcarmen 5; J Lester 11; P Byrd 21; J Lewis 7; R Betancourt 6.

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

T--3:12. Att--44,008.
Weather: 66 degrees, overcast. Wind: 1 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BOSTON 3
CLEVELAND 7 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT CLEVELAND (7) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 5TH: C Blake homered to left. F Gutierrez singled to left.
K Shoppach hit by pitch, F Gutierrez to second. G Sizemore grounded into
fielder's choice to second, K Shoppach out at second, F Gutierrez to third.
A Cabrera reached on infield single to second, F Gutierrez scored, G Sizemore to
second. T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez singled to left, G Sizemore
scored, A Cabrera to second. M Delcarmen relieved T Wakefield. J Peralta
homered to right, A Cabrera and V Martinez scored. K Lofton singled to center.
K Lofton stole second. C Blake singled to center, K Lofton scored.
F Gutierrez walked, C Blake to second. K Shoppach struck out swinging.
(7 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 7.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis homered to left. D Ortiz homered to right. J Lewis
relieved P Byrd. M Ramirez homered to center. M Lowell grounded out to third.
J Drew flied out to left. C Crisp flied out to left. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT CLEVELAND (7) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boston Starting Lineups -- D Pedroia 2B, K Youkilis 1B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
M Lowell 3B, J Drew RF, C Crisp CF, D Mirabelli C, J Lugo SS, T Wakefield RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, A Cabrera 2B, T Hafner DH,
V Martinez 1B, J Peralta SS, K Lofton LF, C Blake 3B, F Gutierrez RF, K Shoppach C,
P Byrd RHP.

Umpires -- Paul Emmel (HP), Gary Cederstrom (1B), Dana Demuth (2B), Randy Marsh (3B),
Kerwin Danley (LF), Brian Gorman (RF).

Gametime Weather: 66 degrees, Overcast, wind out to center at 1 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia grounded out to third. K Youkilis flied out to
center. D Ortiz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera struck out swinging.
G Sizemore stole second. T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez lined out to
right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez singled to left. M Lowell grounded out to first,
M Ramirez to second. J Drew struck out swinging. C Crisp struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: J Peralta struck out swinging. K Lofton grounded out to
first. C Blake struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 3RD: D Mirabelli flied out to right. J Lugo grounded out to
pitcher. D Pedroia singled to right. K Youkilis singled to left, D Pedroia to
second. D Ortiz grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, K Youkilis out at
second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 3RD: F Gutierrez walked. K Shoppach struck out swinging.
G Sizemore grounded out to first, F Gutierrez to second. A Cabrera flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 4TH: M Ramirez lined out to center. M Lowell flied out to left.
J Drew singled to center. C Crisp lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 4TH: T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez lined out to
center. J Peralta doubled to deep left. K Lofton grounded out to first.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 0.

BOSTON 5TH: D Mirabelli struck out swinging. J Lugo lined out to left.
D Pedroia grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 5TH: C Blake homered to left. F Gutierrez singled to left.
K Shoppach hit by pitch, F Gutierrez to second. G Sizemore grounded into
fielder's choice to second, K Shoppach out at second, F Gutierrez to third.
A Cabrera reached on infield single to second, F Gutierrez scored, G Sizemore to
second. T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez singled to left, G Sizemore
scored, A Cabrera to second. M Delcarmen relieved T Wakefield. J Peralta
homered to right, A Cabrera and V Martinez scored. K Lofton singled to center.
K Lofton stole second. C Blake singled to center, K Lofton scored.
F Gutierrez walked, C Blake to second. K Shoppach struck out swinging. (7 Runs,
7 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, CLEVELAND 7.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis homered to left. D Ortiz homered to right. J Lewis
relieved P Byrd. M Ramirez homered to center. M Lowell grounded out to third.
J Drew flied out to left. C Crisp flied out to left. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.

CLEVELAND 6TH: J Varitek catching. J Lester relieved M Delcarmen.
G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera struck out swinging. T Hafner struck out swinging.
G Sizemore safe at second on error by first baseman K Youkilis. V Martinez
flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.

BOSTON 7TH: J Varitek singled to left. J Lugo grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, J Varitek out at second. D Pedroia lined out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.

CLEVELAND 7TH: J Peralta fouled out to first. K Lofton struck out looking.
C Blake grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.

BOSTON 8TH: R Betancourt relieved J Lewis. K Youkilis flied out to right.
D Ortiz flied out to left. M Ramirez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.

CLEVELAND 8TH: F Gutierrez struck out swinging. K Shoppach reached on
infield single to third. G Sizemore flied out to right. A Cabrera grounded
into fielder's choice to third, K Shoppach out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.

BOSTON 9TH: M Lowell fouled out to catcher. J Drew flied out to left.
C Crisp lined out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, CLEVELAND 7.</div>

 

Seven-run fifth powers Indians past Red Sox

<h3>CLEVELAND 7, BOSTON 3</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Three games in a row the Boston Red Soxhave failed to get five innings out of their starting pitcher.Three games in a row the Cleveland Indians have taken advantage.

The Indians scored seven runs in the fifth inning Tuesday enroute to a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox in Game Four of theAmerican League Championship Series.


Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta homered in the decisive frame andstarter Paul Byrd shut down the Boston offense for five inningsfor Cleveland, which opened up a commanding three games to onelead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

Game Five is here Thursday.


After Boston took the opening game of the series, 10-3 lastFriday, the Indians have put on a clinic in wearing downpitchers, knocking out Curt Schilling in Game Two, DaisukeMatsuzaka in Game Three and Tim Wakefield on Tuesday, all after4 2/3 innings.


With the game scoreless, Blake led off the fifth with a soloblast to left field on a knuckleball that Wakefield left up inthe zone.


The 41-year-old righthander had not pitched since the final weekof the regular season, sitting out the ALDS against the Angelsdue to an injury to the back of his right shoulder. If he wasrusty, it did not show early as he cruised through the first 32/3 without allowing a hit.


But Blake's blast opened the floodgates for the Indians, asFranklin Gutierrez followed with a single before Wakefield hitKelly Shoppach with a pitch to put runners on first and secondwith no outs.


After Grady Sizemore grounded into a fielder's choice, AsdrubalCabrera created the turning point of the game on a seeminglyinnocent groundball on the infield. The rookie chopped a softline drive that was headed straight for second baseman DustinPedroia and an inning-ending double play.


But Wakefield got a glove on the ball, slowing it up just enoughto allow Gutierrez to score and Cabrera to reach safely.Wakefield struck out Travis Hafner, but Victor Martinez followedwith a single to chase the Boston starter.


Righthander Manny Delcarmen was the first man out of thebullpen, and he surrendered a three-run homer to Peralta to putCleveland on top, 6-0. The Indians added one more run in theframe when Kenny Lofton single, stole second and scored onBlake's second hit of the frame.


Wakefield, who came into Tuesday's start with a 4-5 record and a6.12 ERA in his postseason career, was charged with five runsand five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

That was plenty of support for Byrd, who started 17 of the first19 batters he faced with strikes. The veteran righthander waslifted after allowing back-to-back homers to Kevin Youkilis andDavid Ortiz to open the sixth. He was charged with two runs andsix hits in five-plus innings while striking out four and notissuing a walk.


It was the second Game Four win of the postseason for Byrd, whoalso won the ALDS clincher against the Yankees.


Rookie Jensen Lewis came out of the bullpen first for Clevelandand allowed a homer to Manny Ramirez, making the Red Sox thefirst team in ALCS history to hit back-to-back-to-back blasts,but that was all they could muster against the staunch Indiansbullpen.


The winner of the ALCS will advance to the World Series to playthe Colorado Rockies, who swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in theNLCS.


The Indians are on the brink of their first trip to the WorldSeries since losing in seven games to the Florida Marlins in1997.

 

Seven-run fifth powers Indians past Red Sox

<h3>CLEVELAND 7, BOSTON 3</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Three games in a row the Boston Red Soxhave failed to get five innings out of their starting pitcher.Three games in a row the Cleveland Indians have taken advantage.

The Indians scored seven runs in the fifth inning Tuesday enroute to a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox in Game Four of theAmerican League Championship Series.


Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta homered in the decisive frame andstarter Paul Byrd shut down the Boston offense for five inningsfor Cleveland, which opened up a commanding three games to onelead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

Game Five is here Thursday.


"It's an amazing feeling, I've never been closer (to the WorldSeries) in my career," Byrd said. "It was a magical night for meand the Indians fans.


"We want to put the series away at home, but they're a good teamso we're not taking anything for granted," Byrd said.

After Boston took the opening game of the series, 10-3 lastFriday, the Indians have put on a clinic in wearing downpitchers, knocking out Curt Schilling in Game Two, DaisukeMatsuzaka in Game Three and Tim Wakefield on Tuesday, all after4 2/3 innings.


"We know where we are," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Alot of these guys have been in this situation before. We can'tlook ahead, we just have to play the game ahead of us."

Only 10 times in postseason history has a team down 3-1rebounded to win the series. Boston, which overcame a 3-0deficit to the New York Yankees, was the last.


With the game scoreless, Blake led off the fifth with a soloblast to left field on a knuckleball that Wakefield left up inthe zone.


"He gave me a knuckleball up that I could hit," Blake said."Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. I was just tryingto hit it up the middle."




The 41-year-old righthander had not pitched since the final weekof the regular season, sitting out the ALDS against the Angelsdue to an injury to the back of his right shoulder. If he wasrusty, it did not show early as he cruised through the first 32/3 without allowing a hit.


But Blake's blast opened the floodgates for the Indians, asFranklin Gutierrez followed with a single before Wakefield hitKelly Shoppach with a pitch to put runners on first and secondwith no outs.


After Grady Sizemore grounded into a fielder's choice, AsdrubalCabrera created the turning point of the game on a seeminglyinnocent groundball on the infield. The rookie chopped a softline drive that was headed straight for second baseman DustinPedroia and an inning-ending double play.


But Wakefield got a glove on the ball, slowing it up just enoughto allow Gutierrez to score and Cabrera to reach safely.Wakefield struck out Travis Hafner, but Victor Martinez followedwith a single to chase the Boston starter.


Righthander Manny Delcarmen was the first man out of thebullpen, and he surrendered a three-run homer to Peralta to putCleveland on top, 6-0. The Indians added one more run in theframe when Kenny Lofton single, stole second and scored onBlake's second hit of the frame.


Wakefield, who came into Tuesday's start with a 4-5 record and a6.12 ERA in his postseason career, was charged with five runsand five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

That was plenty of support for Byrd, who started 17 of the first19 batters he faced with strikes. The veteran righthander waslifted after allowing back-to-back homers to Kevin Youkilis andDavid Ortiz to open the sixth. He was charged with two runs andsix hits in five-plus innings while striking out four and notissuing a walk.


It was the second Game Four win of the postseason for Byrd, whoalso won the ALDS clincher against the Yankees.


Rookie Jensen Lewis came out of the bullpen first for Clevelandand allowed a homer to Manny Ramirez, making the Red Sox thefirst team in ALCS history to hit back-to-back-to-back blasts,but that was all they could muster against the staunch Indiansbullpen.


The winner of the ALCS will advance to the World Series to playthe Colorado Rockies, who swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in theNLCS.


The Indians are on the brink of their first trip to the WorldSeries since losing in seven games to the Florida Marlins in1997.

 

Seven-run fifth powers Indians past Red Sox

<h3>CLEVELAND 7, BOSTON 3</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Three games in a row the Boston Red Soxhave failed to get five innings out of their starting pitcher.Three games in a row the Cleveland Indians have taken advantage.

The Indians scored seven runs in the fifth inning Tuesday enroute to a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox in Game Four of theAmerican League Championship Series.


Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta homered in the decisive frame andstarter Paul Byrd shut down the Boston offense for five inningsfor Cleveland, which opened up a commanding three games to onelead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

Game Five is here Thursday.


"It's an amazing feeling, I've never been closer (to the WorldSeries) in my career," Byrd said. "It was a magical night for meand the Indians fans.


"We want to put the series away at home, but they're a good teamso we're not taking anything for granted," Byrd said.

After Boston took the opening game of the series, 10-3 lastFriday, the Indians have put on a clinic in wearing downpitchers, knocking out Curt Schilling in Game Two, DaisukeMatsuzaka in Game Three and Tim Wakefield on Tuesday, all after4 2/3 innings.


"We know where we are," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Alot of these guys have been in this situation before. We can'tlook ahead, we just have to play the game ahead of us."

Only 10 times in postseason history has a team down 3-1rebounded to win the series. Boston, which overcame a 3-0deficit to the New York Yankees, was the last.


With the game scoreless, Blake led off the fifth with a soloblast to left field on a knuckleball that Wakefield left up inthe zone.


"He gave me a knuckleball up that I could hit," Blake said."Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. I was just tryingto hit it up the middle."


The 41-year-old righthander had not pitched since the final weekof the regular season, sitting out the ALDS against the Angelsdue to an injury to the back of his right shoulder. If he wasrusty, it did not show early as he cruised through the first 32/3 without allowing a hit.


But Blake's blast opened the floodgates for the Indians, asFranklin Gutierrez followed with a single before Wakefield hitKelly Shoppach with a pitch to put runners on first and secondwith no outs.


After Grady Sizemore grounded into a fielder's choice, AsdrubalCabrera created the turning point of the game on a seeminglyinnocent groundball on the infield. The rookie chopped a softline drive that was headed straight for second baseman DustinPedroia and an inning-ending double play.


But Wakefield got a glove on the ball, slowing it up just enoughto allow Gutierrez to score and Cabrera to reach safely.Wakefield struck out Travis Hafner, but Victor Martinez followedwith a single to chase the Boston starter.


"It's a reaction play," Wakefield said of Cabrera's hit. "It'sone of those things where if I let it go it's a double play, IfI catch it it's a double play."


Righthander Manny Delcarmen was the first man out of thebullpen, and he surrendered a three-run homer to Peralta to putCleveland on top, 6-0. The Indians added one more run in theframe when Kenny Lofton single, stole second and scored onBlake's second hit of the frame.


"The formula that we used tonight, bringing in Manny Delcarmenbehind (Wakefield), is something we've done a lot just becauseof the differential in speed, giving the hitters a differentlook," Francona said. "He fell behind 2-1, that's when he reallyelevated a ball that Jhonny caught up with."


Wakefield, who came into Tuesday's start with a 4-5 record and a6.12 ERA in his postseason career, was charged with five runsand five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

That was plenty of support for Byrd, who started 17 of the first19 batters he faced with strikes. The veteran righthander waslifted after allowing back-to-back homers to Kevin Youkilis andDavid Ortiz to open the sixth. He was charged with two runs andsix hits in five-plus innings while striking out four and notissuing a walk.


It was the second Game Four win of the postseason for Byrd, whoalso won the ALDS clincher against the Yankees.


Rookie Jensen Lewis came out of the bullpen first for Clevelandand allowed a homer to Manny Ramirez, making the Red Sox thefirst team in ALCS history to hit back-to-back-to-back blasts,but that was all they could muster against the staunch Indiansbullpen.


The winner of the ALCS will advance to the World Series to playthe Colorado Rockies, who swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in theNLCS.


The Indians are on the brink of their first trip to the WorldSeries since losing in seven games to the Florida Marlins in1997.

 

Seven-run fifth powers Indians past Red Sox

<h3>CLEVELAND 7, BOSTON 3</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Three games in a row the Boston Red Soxhave failed to get five innings out of their starting pitcher.Three games in a row the Cleveland Indians have taken advantage.

The Indians scored seven runs in the fifth inning Tuesday enroute to a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox in Game Four of theAmerican League Championship Series.


Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta homered in the decisive frame andstarter Paul Byrd shut down the Boston offense for five inningsfor Cleveland, which opened up a commanding three games to onelead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

"We had the big inning, Byrdie gave us a chance to win theballgame, and the bullpen was able to finish it off," Clevelandmanager Eric Wedge said..


Game Five is here Thursday.


"It's an amazing feeling, I've never been closer (to the WorldSeries) in my career," Byrd said. "It was a magical night for meand the Indians' fans. "We want to put the series away at home,but they're a good team so we're not taking anything forgranted."


After Boston took the opening game of the series, 10-3 lastFriday, the Indians have put on a clinic in wearing downpitchers, knocking out Curt Schilling in Game Two, DaisukeMatsuzaka in Game Three and Tim Wakefield on Tuesday, all after4 2/3 innings.


"They have all been one pitch away from getting out of it," saidcatcher Jason Varitek. "We know where we are," Boston managerTerry Francona said. "A lot of these guys have been in thissituation before. We can't look ahead, we just have to play thegame ahead of us."


Only 10 times in postseason history has a team down 3-1rebounded to win the series. Boston, which overcame a 3-0deficit to the New York Yankees, was the last.


With the game scoreless, Blake led off the fifth with a soloblast to left field on a knuckleball that Wakefield left up inthe zone.


"He gave me a knuckleball up that I could hit," Blake said."Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. I was just tryingto hit it up the middle."


The 41-year-old righthander had not pitched since the final weekof the regular season, sitting out the ALDS against the Angelsdue to an injury to the back of his right shoulder. If he wasrusty, it did not show early as he cruised through the first 32/3 without allowing a hit.


"It didn't affect me at all," Wakefield said of the layoff. "Ifelt fine physically. I felt fine."


"When it's working, it's awfully tough," Blake said ofWakefield's knuckleball. "He really had us shut down the firstfour innings. You're swinging at 68 or 70 (mph) and the ball'smoving. You either get jammed, swing and miss or get lucky anddo what I did."


But Blake's blast opened the floodgates for the Indians, asFranklin Gutierrez followed with a single before Wakefield hitKelly Shoppach with a pitch to put runners on first and secondwith no outs.


"I felt like I was controlling the ball," Wakefield said of thefifth inning. "It was good, but it wasn't like the second,third, and fourth innings."


After Grady Sizemore grounded into a fielder's choice, AsdrubalCabrera created the turning point of the game on a seeminglyinnocent ground ball on the infield.


The rookie chopped a soft line drive that was headed straightfor second baseman Dustin Pedroia and an inning-ending doubleplay. But Wakefield got a glove on the ball, slowing it up justenough to allow Gutierrez to score and Cabrera to reach safely.Wakefield struck out Travis Hafner, but Victor Martinez followedwith a single to chase the Boston starter.


"It's a reaction play," Wakefield said of Cabrera's hit. "It'sone of those things where if I let it go it's a double play, IfI catch it it's a double play."


Righthander Manny Delcarmen was the first man out of thebullpen, and he surrendered a three-run homer to Peralta to putCleveland on top, 6-0.


"I wasn't trying to do anything special," Peralta said. "I wastrying to hit it up the middle. I put a good swing on it. Itfelt great to hit a home run there. It really helped the team."

The Indians added one more run in the frame when Kenny Loftonsingle, stole second and scored on Blake's second hit of theframe.


"The formula that we used tonight, bringing in Manny Delcarmenbehind (Wakefield ), is something we've done a lot just becauseof the differential in speed, giving the hitters a differentlook," Francona said. "He fell behind 2-1, that's when he reallyelevated a ball that Jhonny caught up with."


Wakefield, who came into Tuesday's start with a 4-5 record and a6.12 ERA in his postseason career, was charged with five runsand five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

That was plenty of support for Byrd, who started 17 of the first19 batters he faced with strikes. The veteran righthander waslifted after allowing back-to-back homers to Kevin Youkilis andDavid Ortiz to open the sixth. He was charged with two runs andsix hits in five-plus innings while striking out four and notissuing a walk.


"I went out there and my goal going in was to move the ball inand out," Byrd said. "I think sometimes (Boston) can scarepeople and shy away from throwing the ball in thinking, they'regoing to hit another home run."


It was the second Game Four win of the postseason for Byrd, whoalso won the ALDS clincher against the Yankees.


Rookie Jensen Lewis came out of the bullpen first for Clevelandand allowed a homer to Manny Ramirez, making the Red Sox thefirst team in ALCS history to hit back-to-back-to-back blasts,but that was all they could muster against the staunch Indiansbullpen.


The winner of the ALCS will advance to the World Series to playthe Colorado Rockies, who swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in theNLCS.


The Red Sox will try to stay alive in Game Five behind ace JoshBeckett, who has won two starts already in this postseason,including Game One against Cleveland.


"There is no one better for us," Boston third baseman MikeLowell said of Beckett. "It's kind of ironic how it worked out."

The Indians are on the brink of their first trip to the WorldSeries since losing in seven games to the Florida Marlins in1997.

 

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

The only thing better than watching the Indians beat the Yanks is watching the Indians beat the Red Sox.</p>

I can't wait for them to get to then WS and have their asses handed to them by the Rockies.</p>