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INDIANS 7, RED SOX 3: Postgame notes »
October 16, 2007
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
CLEVELAND -- At the tail end of the regular season, and during the first round of the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox were clearly locked in offensively. The bats were electrified, charged up and producing.
What happened?
Ever since Boston’s three-run fifth inning, including back-to-back homers by Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell, in Game Two of the ALCS at Fenway, the Red Sox’ explosive barrage quickly became a dud when the club arrived at Jacobs Field.
In Game Three, a 4-2 loss to Cleveland, Boston produced two runs on seven hits, and it didn’t get much better in Game Four early on last night as the Indians pummeled the Red Sox into submission en route to a 7-3 victory. Cleveland leads the best-of-seven series, 3-1.
The Indians’ pitchers have made some adjustments, plus their bullpen has been tremendous. Red Sox manager Terry Francona even said Tuesday afternoon that the Tribe’s relievers have stuck it to the Boston batters pretty good.
The focus in the ALDS against the Angels, and in the first two games of this series, was the fact Ramirez and David Ortiz were reaching base in record numbers. The 3-4 hitters in the order for Boston entered last night’s game by reaching base in 37 of 54 plate appearances. And, the hitters around them were producing to equal a pretty potent lineup.
It fizzled.
The Red Sox could not maintain that momentum in Cleveland as the Indians are now the ones who are producing offensively.
Just ask Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield.
The knuckleballer, who was left off the ALDS roster due to a sore shoulder, was solid through four innings last night. His knuckler was dancing uncontrollably against the Indian batters, so much so that he didn’t allow a hit until Jhonny Peralta’s two-out double in the fourth.
It was the fifth inning, however, when the veteran faltered.
He allowed a lead-off solo homer to the Indians’ Casey Blake, followed by a Franklin Gutierrez single. Then Wakefield hit Kelly Shoppach before Grady Sizemore reached on a fielder’s choice. Asdrubal Cabrera singled before Travis Hafner struck out. With two outs, Wakefield allowed a RBI-single to Victor Martinez and that ended his outing.
Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen didn’t fair too well.
The right-hander surrendered a three-run homer to Peralta, a single to Kenny Lofton before Blake posted his second RBI of the inning as Cleveland climbed out to a 7-0 lead.
As quickly as it appeared the Red Sox had lost their offensive prowess, they regrouped, made some adjustments and fired it back up.
For the first time in LCS history, a club hit back-to-back-to-back home runs as Kevin Youkilis, Ortiz and Ramirez crushed solo homers to cut the Sox’ deficit to four, 7-3.
It was the second time in postseason history that a team belted three consecutive blasts. The Yankees’ Tim Raines, Derek Jeter and Paul O’Neil accomplished the feat in the 1997 ALDS against the Indians.
That sign of life was brief for the Red Sox and they couldn't keep it going as Boston lost its third straight game. If the Red Sox can't find what's missing in Game Five on Thursday, their season will be over.
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 11:09 PM | Permalink
