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October 12, 2007
BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- Manny Ramirez certainly did his share of damage at the plate Friday night in helping the Red Sox rout Cleveland in Game One of the ALCS.
That was just a continuation of his productive hitting in the three-game sweep over the Angels in the ALDS.
But to give you an idea of how hot Ramirez is these days, it's necessary to look at what he did defensively Friday night, too. And he's on such a roll that even when he doesn't make a catch he gets credit for it.
That's what happened in the eighth inning. With Casey Blake on third base and one out, Asdrubal Cabrera laced a low liner to left-center.
Ramirez got a good jump on the ball and made a diving "catch" of the ball, ultimately rolling head over heels but managing to secure the ball in the webbing of his glove. Blake scored on the sacrifice fly.
But the truth was -- as shown by replays -- that Ramirez trapped the ball. The ball hit the turf a split-second before Ramirez's diving reach for it. Left fielder umpire Gary Cederstrom, though, ruled it a catch.
Ramirez also turned in a solid defensive play in the second, going back and a bit to his left to haul in a line drive drilled by Kenny Lofton with two outs. Just when it appeared as if the ball would get over Manny's head, he reached up at the last minute and gloved the ball, robbing Lofton of an extra-base hit.
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 11:56 PM | Permalink
