October 10,
2016
...
The season ended for the Red Sox, their championship aspirations
turned to dust when the Cleveland Indians completed a three-game
sweep of the American League Division Series. The 4-3 loss was much
like the two before it in that the Red Sox were never able to get
their high-powered offense going. They led for one inning in the
entire series and never scored more than one run in any inning.
The Sox
were frustrated right to the end, leaving two runners on base in the ninth
inning when Travis Shaw popped up to right field. It was a feeble conclusion to
what was an otherwise productive and hopeful season after consecutive last-place
finishes.
Then came
a moment, that perhaps will better define the season. The crowd of 39,530, the
largest at Fenway Park since at least 1945, stayed in place as the Indians
celebrated. "Papi, Papi," they chanted. Then it turned, as though by unanimous
vote, to "We Want David."
When Ted
Williams played his final game on Sept. 28, 1960, he homered in the eighth
inning and was replaced in the top of the ninth. The crowd beseeched him to
somehow acknowledge their cheers but he never did.
But David
Ortiz did. After the Indians withdrew to the visitors' clubhouse for champagne
and revelry, Ortiz emerged from the dugout. With tears in his eyes, he stood on
the mound and tipped his cap to the crowd. It was his final act as a player
after 20 seasons, three championships, and 541 home runs.
Ortiz was
0 for 1 with two walks and a sacrifice fly. When he drew a walk in the eighth
inning, he stood on first and urged the crowd to cheer louder.
The roar
grew louder when Hanley Ramirez drove a single into left field to get the Red
Sox to within a run. But that was as close as the Sox would get. They scored
only seven runs in the series and hit .214. In all, the Red Sox lost eight of
their last nine games.
Buchholz
allowed four hits over the first three innings but held the Indians scoreless.
He finally cracked in the fourth inning. Jose Ramirez singled and Lonnie
Chisenhall walked to start the inning. Coco Crisp dropped down a sacrifice bunt
that paid off when rookie Tyler Naquin singled to right field to plate two.
Red Sox
starters pitched only 11 2/3 innings in the series, giving up 12 runs on 18
hits. Buchholz was the best of the bunch, giving up two runs over four innings.
Drew
Pomeranz started the fifth inning and retired the side in order, striking out
two. Then the Indians struck again. Jose Ramirez walked and Chisenhall bunted
him along. But this time Crisp homered to left field and the Indians had a 4-1
lead. The Red Sox bullpen was perfect from there, giving their teammates a
chance.
Indians
starter Josh Tomlin retired 12 of the first 14 Red Sox batters and took a 2-0
lead into the fifth inning. He was right around 90 miles per hour with his
fastball but the Red Sox took pitch after pitch in the strike zone.
Xander
Bogaerts singled to center field with one out and scored when Andrew Benintendi
doubled off the wall in left. Bogaerts read the ball perfectly and scored with a
headfirst slide across the plate. With Benintendi on second, Sandy Leon struck
out and Jackie Bradley Jr. grounded to first.
With a 4-1
lead, Tomlin allowed a leadoff single by Pedroia in the sixth inning. That was
enough for Francona, who went to Andrew Miller. Pinch hitter Aaron Hill struck
out but Mookie Betts doubled high off the wall, sending Pedroia to third. Ortiz
was next and he was able to line a slider to center field for a sacrifice fly.
Ortiz thought he had a single and slapped his hands together as the ball was
caught. Hanley Ramirez was next and Miller struck him out on five pitches.
Ramirez swung and missed at three sliders.
Miller
came back out for the seventh inning. With one out, manager John Farrell pinch
hit Chris Young for Benintendi. The rookie was 3 for 9 in the series. Young
walked. Leon, batting right-handed, battled Miller but lined out to third.
Bradley, a lefty hitter, remained in the game and Miller struck him out on three
pitches.
Ortiz came up in the eighth with a runner on and Cody Allen
walked him on four pitches. When Ortiz got to second base, he was run for.
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