July 24, 2007
...
While there may be some debate about the top pitching matchup
involving the Red Sox this season, tonight's duel between Daisuke
Matsuzaka and C.C. Sabathia must be up for the No. 1 billing. That's
what happens when you get a 1-0 Red Sox win in a game that featured
two of baseball's elite starters.
But based on
recent events, it wasn't exactly guaranteed. Over his last three starts, since
an outstanding eight innings of shutout ball against the Devil Rays July 3,
Matsuzaka had given up six runs to Detroit, four to Toronto, and three to
Chicago. And, though he allowed fewer runs in each outing, six walks against the
White Sox wasn't reassuring.
But his 98
pitches tonight, over seven innings, befuddled the Cleveland hitters just
enough to give him the win, and the Red Sox their fifth straight triumph. This
one came in front of 39,339 people at Jacobs Field in a game in which the Sox'
patchwork lineup meant the offense came back to earth - mostly because of
Sabathia.
The
machinations of the Boston lineup almost didn't matter in the early innings,
because Sabathia was dominating everyone, from the previously red-hot Coco Crisp
to the stone-cold Wily Mo Pena. And Matsuzaka (12-7) was matching him nearly
pitch for pitch, inning for inning.
But in the
fourth the Red Sox dented the big lefty for a run. That was the only inning in
which Sabathia got into even a hint of trouble, though he nearly didn't give up
anything at all. With one out, Kevin Youkilis hit a fly ball that bounced just
before ricocheting into the glove of right fielder Trot Nixon, for a single.
After Manny Ramirez's single, which sent Youkilis to second, and a strikeout by
Crisp, Mike Lowell blooped a ball into left field. This one also hit the turf
right in front of the Ben Francisco's glove, scoring Youkilis.
The Sox had
only single runners in the first and sixth innings, with no one getting past
first base either time. Not all that surprising against Sabathia, who entered
the game 13-4 with a 3.81 ERA, against a team that is merely average (14-14)
when facing lefty starters.
Though
Matsuzaka got himself in - and out of - jams throughout his seven innings, he
was the one who emerged from unscathed, after those three straight unimpressive
starts. He allowed a leadoff single to Grady Sizemore in the first, and Sizemore
stole second. Suddenly the bases were full when Casey Blake hit a fielder's
choice, Victor Martinez walked, Travis Hafner hit another fielder's choice, and
Ryan Garko was hit by a pitch. But Matsuzaka struck out Jhonny Peralta to end
the inning. And, after that, the Indians would get no runner farther than second
in the next five innings, as Matsuzaka kept his pitch count low, a rarity over
his last few outings.
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C.C. SABATHIA |
After seven
innings, Sabathia left the game to his relievers, with Rafael Betancourt getting
first crack. Julio Lugo extended his hitting streak to 14 games, tying a career
high, with a double off the wall in left. But, even against Betancourt, the Sox
still couldn't put another run across, with Lugo stranded at second.
Matsuzaka
left the fragile lead to his bullpen in the eighth, even having thrown just 98
pitches.
Hideki
Okajima retired all three men he faced in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon got
his 23d save by working the ninth.
David Ortiz
will play tomorrow tonight Francona confirmed after the game. He said Ortiz
would have been available to pinch hit tonight. Jonathan Papelbon got his 23d
save, and the Sox have converted all 15 of their save opportunities on the road
this season. Julio Lugo tied his career high by extending his hitting streak to
14 games with an eighth-inning double. The Sox earned their ninth shutout of
the season, tying Oakland for the most in the American League.
