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Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
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Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
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Blogs:
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Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
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Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Akron trounces Howard to reach .500
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Jake Westbrook rides his signature pitch to Game 3 victory
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
CLEVELAND: It turned Big Papi into a moving target and left Manny a mere mortal.
In inducing David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and the rest of the big boppers in the Boston Red Sox's lineup to hit into a trio of double plays (in addition to one large human target), the effectiveness of Jake Westbrook's sinkerball is a big reason the Indians find themselves ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.
Aside from a mistake up in the zone to Jason Varitek in the seventh inning of the 4-2 Tribe victory Monday, Westbrook rode his signature pitch to a Game 3 win while departing to a loud standing ovation.
Westbrook walked more batters (three) than he struck out (two). But it was his 15 ground-ball outs that mattered most in his 62/3 innings.
''He made pitches at the right times,'' Varitek said of Westbrook. ''I popped up a back-up cutter. It was a good pitch for me to drive because it didn't cut like the first one. But he made pitches and got those ground balls when he needed them.''
Although Westbrook allowed seven hits, he had one frustrated Red Sox hitter after another pounding the ball into the dirt when it mattered most.
Kevin Youkilis reached on a walk with one out in the first inning, but Westbrook got Ortiz to ground into a double play. An inning later, the Red Sox had the bases loaded with no outs via a leadoff walk by Ramirez, a Mike Lowell single and an error that allowed J.D. Drew to reach safely.
But once again the Tribe's right-hander wiggled out of the jam by inducing Varitek to fly out to right in his first at-bat and then coaxed former Indian Coco Crisp to hit into another inning-ending double play.
The inning ''was a pivotal point,'' Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. ''Westbrook came out and looked a little strong early, got some pitches up, (and we) ended up (with the) bases loaded and nobody out. . . . Then it looked like he got locked in (and) started letting the sinker work.''
Things got really weird in the fourth as another Red Sox rally was short-circuited when Ramirez's ball through the left side of the infield hit Ortiz on the leg as the 6-foot-4, 230-pound slugger headed to third after reaching on a leadoff double.
Although Ramirez was credited with a hit on the play, Westbrook stranded him at first base after a pair of ensuing groundouts.
Kenny Lofton handed the Tribe an early 2-0 lead with a home run 384 feet to right-center field that just bounced off the top of the yellow home-run indicator that outlines the Jacobs Field outfield.
The Indians padded their lead to 4-0 with two fifth-inning runs that chased Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka after just 42/3 innings.
''Dice was just missing in some situations,'' Varitek said. ''I thought he threw the ball pretty well. The ball came out of his hand pretty good.''
The Red Sox mounted another rally in the sixth inning a two-on, two-out variety with Ramirez at the plate. After getting ahead in the count 3-1, Ramirez bounced into the Red Sox's third double play of the game.
''We were just a few hits from really breaking open that game,'' Varitek said. ''There were some freaky things that happened. We just have to continue to battle.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: It turned Big Papi into a moving target and left Manny a mere mortal.
Get the full article here.
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