Nixon's The One! Tribe Top Bo-Sox In Eleven 13-6
Trot Nixon made a lot of key hits in Fenway Park over the years, but Saturday night's heroics had a bit of a different fell to it. The long time Boston Red Sox outfielder signed as a free agent during the off-season with the Cleveland Indians, so when he hit a pinch hit single in the top of the eleventh inning, Boston fans were not pleased. The hit not only put Cleveland ahead in a game that had been deadlocked at 6-6 since the sixth inning, but it ended up opening the flood gates of the Indians offense. Cleveland would end up scoring 7 runs that inning, including a three run homer by Franlin Guttierez, as they defeated Boston 13-6, and send the A.L.C.S. back to Cleveland's Jacobs Field tied at a game apiece.
Cleveland was the long time home of the late "Polka King" Frankie Yankovic. Well the first ten innings of game two of the A.L.C.S. resembled the Polka classic "I Don't Want Her, You Can Have Her She's Too Fat For Me." A game that most observers thought would be a classic low scoring pitchers duel between a savvy veteran and a fireballing phenom, was anything but. Cleveland's young hurler Fausto Carmona was less than effective going only four innings and allowing 4 runs on 5 hits striking out and walking 5 as well. Boston's veteran warrior Curt Schilling did not fare any better going four and two thirds allowing 5 runs on 9 hits, reliever Manny Delcarmen gave up the sixth run to Cleveland in the sixth. Rafael Perez who had been lightning in a bottle all year long for Cleveland in their bullpen was ineffective as well allowing 2 runs in just a third of an inning. Boston had homers from Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell, while Cleveland countered with long balls from Jhonny Peralta and Grady Sizemore.
But both bullpens were lights out after Cleveland tied the game in the top of the sixth. The Indians unsung hero was truly reliever Rafael Bettancourt, who shut the Sox down for two and a third, but got no credit in the box score. Boston's night fell apart with the man who has been suspect ever since they traded for him reliever Eric Gagne. Closer Jonathan Paplebon threw 2 scoreless frames before Gagne came on to open the eleventh. Gagne who right now may be as despised in Boston as Bill Buckner was back in the day was charged with two runs and got the loss. Cleveland would then score 3 more off Javier Lopez and 2 more off Jon Lester to put the game away. The two teams will match up Monday in Cleveland as Daisuke Matsuzaka faces off against Jake Westbrook.
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