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October 10, 2007
The Indians have two aces on their staff, based on their numbers during the regular season.
C.C. Sabathia, the 6-foot-7, 290-pound left-hander who will start Game 1 of the ALCS Friday night at Fenway Park, went 19-7 with a 3.21 earned-run average. Fausto Carmona, a right-hander, was 19-8 with a 3.06 E.R.A.
That is a formidable 1-2 starting-pitching punch that the Red Sox will be facing in this series.
But Boston has a solid 1-2 punch, too. And on the Red Sox' side, Boston's top two starters in the series, Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling, also boast an established postseason pedigree of excellence, unlike postseason rookies Sabathia and Carmona.
Beckett, who pitched the Marlins to the 2003 World Series title, enhanced his reputation as a big-game pitcher by authoring a complete-game shutout of the Angels in Game 1 of the ALDS. Schilling, who has helped pitch Arizona (2001) and Boston (2004) to World Series crowns, contributed seven shutout innings in Game 3, helping the red Sox polish off a first-round sweep.
"Those two guys don't mind being in the spotlight or pitching in pressure situations," said Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "Some people enjoy that. Others can't handle the pressure of the postseason. We're very fortunate to have guys like Beckett and Schilling on our team."
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 1:28 PM | Permalink
