BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
The Red Sox offense beats the
Indians in the second inning

April 16, 2013 ... For their entire existence, the Red Sox have always hailed from Boston, but it would be hard to imagine an occasion in which they played more for their city than in Tuesday night's 7-2 victory over the Indians.  One day after two bombs at the Boston Marathon killed three and injured close to 200, the Red Sox tried to create a diversion for their ravenous fan base by performing the simple act of playing a baseball game.  Maybe for those nine innings and three-plus hours, New Englanders could turn away from somber news coverage and watch the Red Sox improve to 9-4 on the season.  Jonny Gomes suggested the idea of a Boston area code-numbered jersey to clubhouse manager Tom McLaughlin, who carried out the task on short notice. After the game, the jersey was hanging on a post in the clubhouse.

The Boston bats, helped by a meltdown from Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez, broke through with a seven-spot in the top of the second inning.  Mike Napoli, fresh off his walk-off hit on Monday, delivered two doubles in that second, including a bases-clearing double.

This was the first time the Red Sox played against Indians manager Terry Francona since his departure from Boston after the 2011 season. Francona won two World Series championships in his eight seasons with the Sox.  Before the game, the Red Sox and Indians lined up along the baselines for a moment of silence. "Sweet Caroline," a Fenway Park staple, was played moments before the first pitch.

Felix Doubront, who was making his second start of the year, did enough to get the win. The lefty went five innings and allowed four hits, two runs and four walks. He struck out seven.  After a scoreless first, Jimenez completely fell apart in the second, walking five batters.  Napoli started the rally with a double. Jimenez put the next three batters on via a walk, the latter of which forced in a run. Pedro Ciriaco drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Then came an RBI single from Jacoby Ellsbury, a walk to Shane Victorino and yet another walk to Pedroia that forced in another run.  At that point, Francona had no choice but to go to his bullpen. On came righty Cody Allen, and Napoli greeted him with a three-run double to center.

Sox starters have yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start this season. They are 6-2 with a 2.09 ERA.  The Sox left the park hoping they had, in some small way, done something that would register back home.