Game 69: They Just Wouldn't Die

Final Score:

Boston Red Sox 10, Cleveland Indians 9

Good recaps courtesy of The Joy of Sox and The House that Dewey Built. I was about ready to tune out by the eighth inning...the Sox were up by five runs and I was apparently under the misapprehension that we were still in Fenway where bullpen problems are much less frequent. Clearly, I had not counted on the Indians, who went to score four runs in two innings off our benighted bullpen and made the save a bit more whiteknuckled than I would have originally expected or desired.

Actually, I'm being unfair. I missed out on FOX/ESPN broadcast, so I don't know how much squeezing was going on, but the Indians managed to tarnish the Golden Buddha a bit with 10 hits, four runs and two walks. Given his recent performances, it sounds like Wells was being squeezed pretty heavily, but he only lasted five innings. C. C. Sabathia fared much worse - nine runs on nine hits in 4 and 2/3rds innings as both Manny and V-Tek hit three-run jacks. Manny enjoyed his return to Cleveland, going 3 for 5 with four RBI and two runs.

As for the bullpen problems, it's the Indians. At home. Coming off a nine game winning streak. To expect that Boston would shut them down completely is unrealistic. Although last night's last two innings were even more unnerving than the first four, when the Indians kept pulling out leads, Embree did get two strikeouts to go along with that homerun and Foulke got one to go along with the dinger he gave up. It was a cause for excitement, not panic and dismay.

Game 2 tonight, with Guns and Corn against Kevin Millwood. Hopefully the nasty breaking balls will be on, the strikezone squeeze will be off and Boston can stop the Tribe's bats cold. GO SOX!!!