Boston Forces Game Seven Beats Cleveland 12-2
In 1999 the Cleveland Indians had a 2-0 lead in the A.L.D.S. over the Boston Red Sox in a best of five series. Cleveland fans were already making plans for the A.L.C.S. and a possible return to the World Series for the second time in three seasons. However Boston had different plans, winning the next three games knocking Cleveland out of the Post Season and advancing to the A.L.C.S. Indians manager Mike Hargrove was fired as a result, and the end of an era had begun at Jacobs Field. Cleveland missed the playoffs the next year for the first time since 1995. They were back in the playoffs in 2001 but after gaining a 2-1 lead in the A.L.D.S. they lost the next two games and went home for the year. It was the last time Cleveland would get to the playoffs in what Cleveland dubbed "The Era Of Champions."
Well after game four most Cleveland fans were again making plans for a trip to the World Series. After all they had a 3-1 series lead in the best of seven A.L.C.S. over Boston. Boston after a dynamic performance in a game one victory, looked lethargic in the next three games and as a result lost all three. Cleveland fans were positively giddy, knowing they had two 19 game winners facing Boston in the next two games C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. Many fans were already starting to talk about how Cleveland matched up against the surprise representative from the National League the Colorado Rockies.
Well things don't always go according to Hoyle, and as someone said a long time ago that's why they play the games. Boston beat CC Sabathia Thursday night in game five by a final score of 7-1 to send the series back to Fenway. Game six matched up young power over veteran craftiness as Cleveland's Fausto Carmona took on the aging gunslinger Curt Schilling. Neither pitcher would be a factor in their first matchupin game two a game Cleveland would win in 11 innings 13-6.
Cleveland's two game lead has now comepletly evaporated after Boston tied the series at 3-3 as they just piled on the Indians winning by a final score of 12-2. But the game really ended in the bottom of the first, as JD Drew hit a grand slam off Carmona, giving the Red Sox a 4-0 lead and Cleveland never recovered. The Indians scored a solo run in the top of the second as catcher Victor Martinez hit a home run off Schilling, to make it a 4-1 game. But the Sox blew it open in the third knocking Carmona from the game, and eventually winning by the score of 12-2. Carmona was knocked around for 7 runs on 6 hits and four walks in two plus innings. Cleveland reliever Rafael Perez who has looked like former Boston reliever Calvin Schiraldi circa 1986 in the last two games gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in just one third of an inning. Schilling who went 7 innings allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits for the win. Carmona got the loss. It now all comes down to a one game series Sunday at Fenway. Jake Westbrook on the mound for the Indians. Boston is hoping that their starter Daisuke Matsuzaka is more successful Sunday than he was in game three which he lost.
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