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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians shoved Boston to the back of
the AL wild-card race. Now they'd like to do the same to Oakland
and Toronto.
The Indians swept a day-night doubleheader from the Red Sox on
Wednesday -- beating Pedro Martinez 2-1 in the opener and taking the
second game 5-4 with the help of Omar Vizquel's steal of home -- and
moved a half-game in front of the Athletics.
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Pedro vs. the Indians
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In 14 games vs. the Indians since joining the Red Sox in 1998, Pedro Martinez
is 9-1 with a 1.60 ERA
(* playoff game): |
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Date
|
IP
|
R
|
H
|
BB
|
SO
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Dec.
|
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4/17/98
|
9
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2
|
4
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0
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12
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--
|
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7/15/98
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9
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0
|
4
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2
|
9
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W
|
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7/21/98
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7
|
4
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
W
|
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9/29/98*
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7
|
3
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6
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0
|
8
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W
|
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4/25/99
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9
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2
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7
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1
|
10
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W
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5/29/99
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8
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2
|
5
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0
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9
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W
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8/3/99
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5
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1
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3
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1
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7
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--
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9/15/99
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7
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2
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8
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1
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14
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--
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10/6/99*
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4
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0
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3
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1
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3
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--
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10/11/99*
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6
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0
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0
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3
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8
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W
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4/30/00
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7
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0
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5
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3
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10
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W
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6/8/00
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8
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0
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1
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1
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10
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W
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9/14/00
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7
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3
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4
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1
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10
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W
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9/20/00
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8
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1
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5
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1
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9
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L
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Totals
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101
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20
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62
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19
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122
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9-1
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They also moved three games ahead of the Blue Jays and pushed
the Red Sox four games back.
"It's a relief for us to have a little space on them,"
Cleveland's Roberto Alomar said, but "Oakland's not going to let
up, Toronto's not going to let up and Boston's not going to let
up."
But there was a mood of quiet resignation in the Red Sox
clubhouse after they squandered a 3-0 lead in the second game. Not
even the prospect of finishing off the five-game series with a
doubleheader sweep Thursday lifted their spirits. They have only 11
games left.
"We knew this (series) was basically our season," said Derek
Lowe, who allowed a ninth-inning homer to Kenny Lofton that was the
difference in the opener. "We try to be as positive as we can, but
it's going to be tough."
Especially since the Indians have been hot on the road.
"We've had confidence in the last two weeks," Vizquel said.
"We won three of four in New York (against the Yankees) and we
beat Pedro today. We had to build from somewhere."
Martinez (17-6), gave up a run on first-inning singles by
Lofton, Vizquel and Alomar then retired 16 straight batters. He
went eight innings, striking out nine, walking one, allowing five
hits and lowering his ERA to a major-league best 1.78
"I'll give them one run and take my chances any time,"
Martinez said.
But Steve Woodard (2-3) worked six shutout innings as Martinez
lost his first game ever against Cleveland after beating them nine
times.
"I always told these guys one of these days we were going to
get him," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "Pedro pitched
Pedro's way today. Our pitching stayed right there with him."
Lofton had five hits and four runs in the doubleheader. Manny
Ramirez singled in the tying run in the seventh inning of the
second game and Jim Thome followed with a go-ahead RBI single.
Bob Wickman saved both games, giving him 12 since he was traded
by Milwaukee on July 28. He escaped a first-and-third, one-out
threat in the ninth inning of the opener after allowing Troy
O'Leary's RBI single. And he got Lou Merloni to hit into a
bases-loaded double play to end the eighth inning of the second
game.
Steve Karsay (5-8) got the win. Rheal Cormier (2-3) took the
loss.
Boston led 3-0 on run-scoring doubles by Merloni and an RBI
single by Brian Daubach before Alomar made it 3-2 with a two-run
single in the fifth. Vizquel, who had walked, and Alomar pulled off
a double steal before Ramirez walked, loading the bases.
Vizquel took off from third while Cormier was going into his
stretch, and stole home without a throw. A lefty, Cormier had his
back to Vizquel and the Boston defense was swung away from the left
side with lefty Thome, a pull hitter, at bat.
"You take your eyes off for a second and he's gone," Boston
catcher Scott Hatteberg said. "He timed it perfectly."
Trot Nixon gave Boston a 4-3 lead with his 10th homer in the
fifth before Cleveland went ahead in the seventh. Rich Garces gave
up the decisive singles to Ramirez and Thome.
Game notes
Cleveland second-game starter Dave Burba had nine
strikeouts, giving him a career-high 177. ... Martinez allowed a
first-inning run for the first time in 12 starts at home this
season. ... Ramirez went 0-for-3 against Martinez, then reached
base six straight times on four singles and two walks as he
extended his streak of reaching base by a hit or a walk to 44
games. ... Boston manager Jimy Williams was ejected in the eighth
of the opener by plate umpire Richard Rieker. Russell Branyan swung
and missed with a 1-2 count, the ball got away, and catcher Jason
Varitek tagged Branyan for an apparent out. Rieker ruled the ball
was fouled off and Williams was thrown out for arguing.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 2
Oakland 0
Oakland 4
Baltimore 0
(2nd game)
Cleveland 2
Boston 1
Cleveland 5
Boston 4
(2nd game)
Chi. White Sox 13
Detroit 6
Toronto 7
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 5
Tampa Bay 4
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 4
Texas 6
Minnesota 4
Montreal 4
Florida 2
Pittsburgh 7
Philadelphia 6
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 3
Milwaukee 3
Chicago Cubs 2
St. Louis 11
Houston 6
San Diego 15
Colorado 11
Los Angeles 1
Arizona 0
San Francisco 4
Cincinnati 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Peter Gammons examines Cleveland's rare victory over Pedro Martinez.
RealVideo: | 28.8
 Jim Thome knows that todays wins were big wins.
wav: 114 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Sandy Alomar Jr. says that his teammates got there hits at the right time.
wav: 59 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Scott Hatteberg knows that he and his teammates have not given up yet.
wav: 93 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Kenny Lofton says beating Pedro was big for the Indians' confidence.
wav: 108 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pedro Martinez likes his chances if he had to face the Indians again.
wav: 153 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Carl Everett had heated words with a Boston Globe reporter. (Courtesy: ESPN Radio)
wav: 238 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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