The Cleveland Indians had three chances to advance to the World Series after taking a 3-1 lead in the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox. Now, they are down to one after the Carmine pasted the Tribe tonight, 12-2, at Fenway Park. Fausto Carmona couldn’t throw strikes again, and couldn’t get out of the third inning. Now, it’s all on the right arm of Jake Westbrook if the Indians are going to win the American League pennant.
Carmona got in trouble in the first thanks to a pair of infield hits by Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. After a walk to David Ortiz, the young righthander almost escaped like Houdini. He fanned Manny Ramirez, and got Mike Lowell on a short fly to right. But, he fell behind to J.D. Drew 3-1, and the Boston rightfielder got his first meaningful hit of the series when he belted one into the centerfield bleachers to give the BoSox a 4-0 lead.
After a solo shot by Victor Martinez in the second, the Tribe had a chance to get back in the game in the top of the third following leadoff singles from Trot Nixon and Casey Blake. But, Curt Schilling got Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Travis Hafner in order to preserve the three run lead, and the Sox put it away with a six run bottom of the inning where the Tribe used both Rafael Perez and Aaron Laffey in relief.
If there a hero for Cleveland in the game, it was the rookie southpaw who saved the rest of the bullpen by throwing 4-2/3 frames of scoreless relief. His performance meant Eric Wedge did not have to use a Jensen Lewis or Rafael Betancourt in a game that was out of reach.
So, tomorrow night it is up to Westbrook, the game three winner, against Daisuke Matsuzaka with everything on the line. Game Seven means both managers will be ready to go to the bullpen at the first sign of trouble. There is already speculation that Boston will use Josh Beckett in relief if the need comes up. I doubt Wedge will use C.C. Sabathia, who hasn’t been effective in the ALCS, but he could use Paul Byrd if need be.
There is no truth to the rumor that Tim McCarver will help manage the Sox in the ultimate game. I have always respected McCarver as an analyst, but he has seemed a little pro-Boston in the telecasts. Even when Joe Buck gave Laffey some praise in the bottom of the seventh, McCarver quickly chimed in with how good Schilling was. The Boston pitcher had completed seven frames allowing two runs, and I’m sure everyone watching was aware he pitched well.
Also, a word about Beckett, who was miffed about Kenny Lofton’s bat drop in Game 5. Yes, Lofton’s move is a tad annoying, but he has been doing it since he entered the majors in 1992. It wasn’t like it was the first time he has done it. And, if Beckett wants to be the judge of baseball ettiquette, he should start in his own clubhouse where there sits a guy who showed up a pitcher after he hit a home run to cut a lead to four runs.
The last time the Indians played a deciding game in the post-season was 2001, when they lost a fifth game to Seattle in the Division Series. The last time they won a deciding game was ten years ago, when they beat the Yankees in the Division Series. The 2007 Indians haven’t done anything easy all year, what else did you expect.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 