BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
The Red Sox bullpen holds
down the Cleveland Indians

April 17, 2013 ... Usually, Koji Uehara comes out of Boston's bullpen first, only to be followed later in the game by Junichi Tazawa.  Perhaps the order doesn't matter as much as their consistent dominance. Together, they were vital in leading the sizzling Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Indians on Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Alfredo Aceves was clearly on the ropes when manager John Farrell came out to get him with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, Boston's once comfortable 5-0 lead down to 5-3 and Mark Reynolds at second base.  Junichi Tazawa, however, quickly restored order. The 26-year-old righty with filthy stuff snuffed out the rally, getting a groundout from Cord Phelps, a flyout to center by Lonnie Chisenhall and strikeout to Drew Stubbs.  In the seventh, Tazawa (1.13 ERA) blew away all three batters he faced, striking out the side.

It was only fitting that after Tazawa's brilliant work was complete, Uehara came on next. Tazawa threw a mere 14 pitches in his 1-2-3 inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.  When the exuberant Uehara (18 straight scoreless innings dating back to last season) came back into the dugout, he nearly leveled half of his teammates with a steady stream of high fives.

In the ninth, it was Andrew Bailey's turn, and he notched his first save of the season. Bailey, a closer for most of his career, is filling that role again, at least while Joel Hanrahan (right hamstring strain) is on the disabled list.

So Boston's bullpen faced 12 batters on the night, and retired all 12 of them.  It is still early in the season, but the Red Sox are clearly developing a winning feeling. They're off to a 10-4 start and have won five in a row.

Aceves, making his second start in place of the injured John Lackey, gave the Red Sox what he had, firing five shutout innings before running into a world of trouble in the sixth.   Offensively, the Sox got a surprising outburst from Mike Carp, who drilled two doubles and an RBI triple in his first start of the season.  Aceves earned the win, scattering seven hits and three runs over five-plus innings.

John Lackey, on the DL with a bicep strain, played long toss out to 130 feet. The plan is for him to pitch off a mound Thursday. From there, he would throw in the bullpen over the weekend and get in a game early next week. That could mean a simulated game or perhaps a minor league game.  Lefthander Franklin Morales started his rehabilitation assignment with three scoreless innings for Single A Greenville. He allowed one hit with two walks and one strikeout.  Lefthander Craig Breslow (shoulder) pitched in an extended spring training game Tuesday and felt fine.  The Sox and Indians combined for 25 strikeouts and 15 walks Tuesday. It was the first time in major league history that happened in a nine-inning game.