How sweep it is to beat the Red Sox! Tied for first!
After the outstanding Game 4 effort in beating Beckett, the Indians began another Game 5. Ah Game 5's against Boston in other more highly spotlighted features did not bode well for Cleveland. The NBA Conference Semifinals losing 120-88. Also the famous "shot " by Michael Jordan stuck a dagger right into our heart beating the Cavaliers at the buzzer. In Major League Baseball, there was a drubbing from Josh Beckett losing 7-1 in the 2007 ALCS. Still another in 1999 in the ALDS losing 12-8 to Pedro Martinez. This was game 5 of 162 of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. What would this game bring to add to the Game 5 lore? Something totally wonderful.
It would bring power. Shin-Soo Choo would start off the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two run homerun to right center field. It would continue in the bottom of the 6th with a three run homerun by Asdrubal Cabrera off Dan Wheeler. It would also add a two run shot by Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox and a solo shot by Matt LaPorta would cap off the night.
It would bring a lot of beanings. It started with Orlando Cabrera getting beaned by Matsusaka in the 1st. In retaliation, Pedroia received a HBP by Talbot in the top of the 3rd inning. Dennys Reyes hit not one but two players in a row. First Buck, then LaPorta in the 6th inning . What was going on?
The mental lapses would continue for the Sox with a forgetful lack of a tag by the veteran Jason Varitek. 4 walks would be given up by Red Sox pitchers and 3 surrendered by the Tribe. What was different once again was that the Indians had 11 strikeouts by their pitching while only four were given by the Red Sox. These factors all contributed to the Red Sox dropping to 0-5.
The next game would be early. It was getaway day for the Red Sox and Indians. The Indians would be going back to the West Coast to face two fellow Cactus League teams and the Red Sox to their hated rivals, the Yankees and their home opener. I attended this Thursday game. Here are my personal observations.
It was freezing, or at least it felt this way. The temperature seemed to be dropping instead of rising.
The fog reminded me of some movie in London starring Sherlock Holmes or the Werewolf. How fitting since the Red Sox nation was indeed trying to solve the mystery of why their team had not won a game so far or were going through a horror movie coming through a fog, something Acta called Dracula weather. It was a very well pitched game. Nothing was going out of the park this day. Whenever the ball would get in the air, it would look to be going out and then be an easy popcorn fly ball and caught. I kept telling myself that the first one to score would win this game.
The Indians missed a first chance to score when Austin Kearns popped a bunt foul only to have it caught by Jarrod Saltalamacchia leaving Shelley Duncan stranded.The following inning however, Asdrubal Cabrera shocked the Sox by hitting a cue ball like he was playing pool nailing the ball down the third base corner pocket. It looked to me from my angle to be closer than it was to be too risky. I thought Everett could be tagged out but he was not. Thus the Indians were successful in making it a 1-0 lead.
The errors in judgment continued for the Red Sox when Darnell McDonald overran second base. From my angle, Darnell looked safe as well as Jacoby Ellsbury appeared to be out earlier in the game at second base at first view. The replays show things to be different at least for the Ellsbury call. I think however being on the road and 0-5 plays a psychological edge in how the game may be viewed. Thus it is harder to get close calls in your favor.
The Indians are now in first place tied with the favored Chicago White Sox and upstart KC Royals as they begin their first road trip test. It is not a typo. The late, great Dave Nilhaus will be honored adding emotion for the Mariners to do wellas well as Wedge trying to beat his former organization that he won AL Manager of the Year in 2007. After sweeping the Red Sox and about to face Wedge, the Indians will be full of emotion too. I hope the Indians can get off to a great start on the road and continue their winning ways. We shall see beginning tonight. It is fitting to say how sweep it is to slay the Goliath Red Sox, be tied for first for the moment in the American League Central and now honor a great baseball broadcaster named David. Yes the story is indeed fitting. Thank God for it all.
