Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Robbers order bar patrons to empty pockets
Sex-toy study at Duke University raises some eyebrows
Akron man turns himself in after authorities turn up heat
Man appears alive at own funeral
Take comfort in knowing Browns could be bigger losers
Blogs:
Pets:
Not 101 Dalmations…but close!
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your perusal
Akron Zips:
No. 1 UA soccer remains perfect, Zips football defeats rival Flashes
Tribe Matters:
Tribe makes roster moves
Cleveland Browns:
Lewis doesn't like boycott
Kent State Sports:
Kent State falls to Akron, 20-28
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Knicks
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Wrestling, bowling teams prepare for season
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (62) The Stupak Amendment
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Perfect Weather for an Autumn Drive
Let's Talk Real Estate:
RUMORS: Downtown Restaurant Explosion
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
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.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
