Talk about a turnaround from the last 10 years. The Boston Red Sox won their first post-season game since Game 5 of the 1986 World Series by bashing the AL Central champion Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Sox ace Pedro Martinez lived up to his billing by allowing just 3 runs to the high powered Indians in 7 strong innings. Meanwhile the Sox bombed Cleveland for 11 runs off three home runs, two of which from Mo Vaughn who shedded his post-season choker image. Nomar Garciaparra also went deep in his first playoff game as the Sox opened the salvo in the ALDS with an 11-3 Game 1 win at Jacobs Field.
The Sox wasted no time getting to Indians starter Jaret Wright in the top of the first inning. Darren Lewis dumped a base hit into left field before John Valentin also ripped a base hit to left. Mo Vaughn broke his post-season slump with an opposite field home run just over the fence to put the Sox on top. Nomar Garciaparra grounded out to third, Mike Stanley was rung up for strike three on a curveball on the outside corner and Troy O'Leary struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Pedro Martinez took the ball in the bottom of the first and Kenny Lofton grounded out to short to start. Joey Cora flied out to right and David Justice was rung up for strike three on the inside corner to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Darren Bragg struck out swinging to start. Scott Hatteberg flied out to the centerfield warning track and Mike Benjamin flied out to the right field wall to end the inning. Manny Ramirez led off the bottom of the second with a line drive off the right field wall but somehow ended up with a single because he lollygagged to first thinking the ball was gone. That would prove to be fatal as Jim Thome flied out to left and Manny would get doubled off first on a bullet to Valentin off the bat of Travis Fryman to end the inning.
Lewis began the top of the third with a check swing single off the chest of Wright to start. Lewis moved to second on the grounder to third by Valentin but Vaughn popped up to left. Garciaparra popped up to third to end the inning. Pedro dominated the bottom of the third as Brian Giles struck out swinging to start. Sandy Alomar Jr also struck out swinging and Omar Vizquel popped up to Benjamin to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Stanley walked to start. O'Leary and Bragg both struck out swinging but Hatteberg singled off the glove of Wright. Benjamin grounded out to third to end the inning. Lofton singled in the hole at short to start the bottom of the fourth before Cora popped up to left. Justice popped up to Vaughn on the infield and Ramirez grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox blew the game open in the top of the fifth although things got scary as Lewis got hit in the head with a fastball. Valentin walked but Vaughn struck out swinging. Garciaparra then iced the game with a 3 run bomb to left field. Stanley singled to left to chase Wright from the game. Doug Jones came in to pitch and O'Leary popped up to left in foul territory. Bragg singled to center and Hatteberg walked to load the bases but Benjamin grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-0.
Pedro dominated the bottom of the fifth as Thome went down hacking to start. Fryman struck out swinging and Giles also swung at air to end the inning.
The Sox poured it on in the top of the sixth as Buford grounded out to short to start. Valentin dumped a base hit to left and Vaughn clobbered his second home run of the day to increase the lead. Garciaparra grounded out to second and Stanley struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-0.
Vaughn hits another one
The Indians rallied in the bottom of the sixth as Alomar Jr singled to center to start. Vizquel flied out to center but Lofton hit a home run into Lake Michigan to cut the lead. Cora popped up to right and Justice hit a bullet to Benjamin to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 8-2.
Indians strike back
O'Leary flied out to center to start the top of the seventh and Lofton ran down a line drive by Bragg. Hatteberg flied out to right to end the inning. Martinez came back for one last inning in the bottom of the seventh as Ramirez took strike three to start. Thome launched a home run all the way to Neptune to cut the lead but Hatteberg allowed strike three from Fryman to get away, allowing Travis to reached first. Giles doubled to right but Martinez got a big out when Alomar popped up to Vaughn in foul territory. Vizquel looped a ball to Garciaparra to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-3. That was it for Pedro who tossed a good game, allowing just 3 runs in 7 innings to keep the Sox ahead.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the eighth with Steve Reed taking over on the mound. Benjamin walked, Buford was plunked and Valentin dumped a base hit to left to load the bases. Indians manager Mike Hargrove brought in Jim Poole to pitch to Vaughn and Mo responded with smacking a double down the right field line to bring in both Benjamin and Buford. Paul Shuey was brought in to face Garciaparra and Nomar hit a sac fly to the left field wall to bring in Valentin. Stanley took strike three and O'Leary grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-3.
Vaughn does it again
Jim Corsi came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Lofton grounded out to second to start. Cora grounded out to second but Justice doubled down the first base line. Ramirez took strike three and Corsi sprinted off the mound to end the inning.
Paul Assenmacher came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Bragg flied out to left to start. Hatteberg and Benjamin both struck out swinging to end the inning. Corsi returned for the bottom of the ninth and Thome grounded out to first to start. Fryman took strike three and Giles grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had taken Game 1 by an 11-3 score.
Red Sox win!
Hero Vaughn
Damon Buford scored two runs and was hit with a pitch.
Darren Bragg was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Hero of The Night is Mo Vaughn. He out-hit the Indians by himself with two home runs and seven total rbis.
The Good:
Darren Lewis was 2 for 2 with a hit by pitch and a run scored before leaving due to injury.
Damon Buford scored two runs and was hit with a pitch.
John Valentin was 3 for 4 with a walk and 4 runs scored.
Pedro Martinez got the win by allowing 3 runs in 7 innings of work. He allowed 6 hits and struck out eight.
Jim Corsi tossed two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Nomar Garciaparra was just 1 for 4 but drove in 4 runs including a 3 run home run.
Mike Stanley was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but drew a walk.
Darren Bragg was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Scott Hatteberg was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.
Mike Benjamin was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Now that's the way to break a 13 game post-season losing streak. Not only did they win, they left no doubt and the big guns delivered in Vaughn and Garciaparra. Pedro Martinez also looked great and this set the Sox up big time. Lewis getting hit in the head sucked but otherwise not much went wrong in this game. The Indians one weakness is pitching and the Sox bats need to take advantage of that. Vaughn led the charge but the bottom of the order need to step it up at least once in the next three games. All the Sox need to do is win once in the next three games to get Pedro back on the mound for Game 5. Mike Hargrove is going with Dwight Gooden tomorrow, the Sox have a chance to exorcize the demon from 1986 and take one step closer to their first ALCS since 1990. Hopefully they can get it done. The Sox look to put the Indians on the brink tomorrow afternoon when Tim Wakefield goes up against Gooden. The game begins at 2:05 PM Eastern Time at Jacobs Field.
