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BOSTON ( PORCELLO ) CLEVELAND ( SALAZAR ) |
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| 7.5un | 1 Final 3 |
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969 | BOSTON | +1.5,-150 | +1.5,-190 | 970 | CLEVELAND | -1.5,+130 | -1.5,+165 |
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All Games | 78-83 | -5.2 | 82-72 | 4.6 | 0.266 | 0.323 | 0.416 | 0.739 | 4.7 | 0.264 | 0.322 | 0.424 | 0.746 | Road Games | 35-45 | -3 | 41-35 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.300 | 0.381 | 0.680 | 4.6 | 0.265 | 0.328 | 0.426 | 0.755 | vs Right-handed Starters | 57-58 | -1.3 | 59-50 | 4.6 | 0.261 | 0.320 | 0.414 | 0.734 | 4.7 | 0.262 | 0.321 | 0.420 | 0.741 | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +2.5 | 3-4 | 4.1 | 0.236 | 0.290 | 0.418 | 0.708 | 3.4 | 0.256 | 0.337 | 0.424 | 0.761 | Grass Games | 67-75 | -11.3 | 75-61 | 4.7 | 0.269 | 0.327 | 0.419 | 0.746 | 4.7 | 0.264 | 0.321 | 0.422 | 0.744 | Day Games | 26-25 | +1.4 | 30-18 | 5.6 | 0.289 | 0.346 | 0.457 | 0.803 | 5.4 | 0.273 | 0.329 | 0.446 | 0.775 |
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All Games | 4.6 | 0.266 | 0.323 | 161 | 5606 | 1491 | 291 | 33 | 161 | 0.416 | 706 | 475 | 1140 | 71 | 1133 | 135 | 96 | 147 | 75 | Road Games | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.300 | 80 | 2821 | 680 | 115 | 18 | 81 | 0.381 | 304 | 236 | 599 | 40 | 556 | 67 | 40 | 68 | 32 | Righty Starters | 4.6 | 0.261 | 0.320 | 115 | 4004 | 1047 | 216 | 23 | 116 | 0.414 | 512 | 343 | 800 | 45 | 808 | 100 | 72 | 108 | 57 |
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All Games | 4.25 | 1.402 | 500 | 258 | 236 | 511 | 76 | 190 | 432 | 19-24 | 40 | 20 | 66.7% | Road Games | 4.29 | 1.449 | 247.7 | 129 | 118 | 260 | 38 | 99 | 203 | 9-14 | 20 | 13 | 60.6% |
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All Games | 80-80 | -14.5 | 78-79 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.323 | 0.401 | 0.724 | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.293 | 0.386 | 0.680 | Home Games | 38-41 | -17.8 | 47-31 | 4.6 | 0.275 | 0.343 | 0.418 | 0.762 | 4.5 | 0.251 | 0.307 | 0.412 | 0.719 | vs Right-handed Starters | 55-48 | -2.9 | 54-47 | 4.5 | 0.261 | 0.330 | 0.408 | 0.738 | 4.0 | 0.236 | 0.286 | 0.391 | 0.677 | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -2.6 | 3-4 | 3.6 | 0.240 | 0.293 | 0.402 | 0.694 | 3.1 | 0.205 | 0.271 | 0.341 | 0.612 | Grass Games | 75-78 | -18.6 | 74-76 | 4.1 | 0.257 | 0.325 | 0.401 | 0.726 | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.296 | 0.393 | 0.689 | Day Games | 25-28 | -8.4 | 28-24 | 4.0 | 0.257 | 0.332 | 0.388 | 0.720 | 4.0 | 0.249 | 0.306 | 0.386 | 0.692 |
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All Games | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.323 | 160 | 5407 | 1387 | 300 | 29 | 141 | 0.401 | 638 | 532 | 1149 | 85 | 1141 | 153 | 78 | 138 | 71 | Home Games | 4.6 | 0.275 | 0.343 | 79 | 2663 | 731 | 174 | 13 | 61 | 0.418 | 351 | 279 | 568 | 42 | 604 | 66 | 38 | 80 | 30 | Righty Starters | 4.5 | 0.261 | 0.330 | 103 | 3519 | 919 | 204 | 22 | 89 | 0.408 | 436 | 363 | 743 | 70 | 759 | 82 | 55 | 87 | 38 |
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All Games | 3.18 | 1.250 | 449.6 | 192 | 159 | 414 | 38 | 148 | 436 | 16-16 | 37 | 11 | 77.1% | Home Games | 3.25 | 1.259 | 249.3 | 118 | 90 | 238 | 23 | 76 | 245 | 7-8 | 14 | 7 | 66.7% |
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9/20/2015 | HILL(L) | @ TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 4-3 | W | 175 | 9 ov | U | 10 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9/21/2015 | RODRIGUEZ(L) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 8-7 | W | +110 | 8 un | O | 10 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 9/22/2015 | OWENS(L) | TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | 2-5 | L | -115 | 9 un | U | 8 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 9/23/2015 | PORCELLO(R) | TAMPA BAY | SMYLY(L) | 2-6 | L | -115 | 8.5 un | U | 7 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 9/24/2015 | MILEY(L) | TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(R) | 2-4 | L | -125 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 9/25/2015 | HILL(L) | BALTIMORE | GAUSMAN(R) | 7-0 | W | +100 | 8 ev | U | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 9/26/2015 | BRESLOW(L) | BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | 8-0 | W | +115 | 9 un | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 9/27/2015 | OWENS(L) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 2-0 | W | +105 | 8.5 ov | U | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 9/28/2015 | RODRIGUEZ(L) | @ NY YANKEES | NOVA(R) | 5-1 | W | 120 | 8.5 un | U | 10 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 9/29/2015 | PORCELLO(R) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 10-4 | W | 170 | 8 ev | O | 11 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 9/30/2015 | MILEY(L) | @ NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | 9-5 | W | 155 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 10/1/2015 | HILL(L) | @ NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 1-4 | L | 130 | 8 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 10/2/2015 | OWENS(L) | @ CLEVELAND | TOMLIN(R) | 2-8 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | O | 5 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 10/3/2015 | BRESLOW(L) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 0-2 | L | 182 | 7.5 un | U | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10/4/2015 | PORCELLO(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | |
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9/20/2015 | TOMLIN(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 6-3 | W | -170 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9/22/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | @ MINNESOTA | SANTANA(R) | 1-3 | L | -120 | 8 un | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 9/23/2015 | KLUBER(R) | @ MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 2-4 | L | -135 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9/24/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 6-3 | W | 125 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 9/25/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 6-0 | W | -155 | 7 ev | U | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9/26/2015 | TOMLIN(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | MEDLEN(R) | 9-5 | W | 115 | 8 un | O | 12 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 9/27/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | YOUNG(R) | 0-3 | L | -120 | 8 ov | U | 2 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 9/28/2015 | KLUBER(R) | MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | 2-4 | L | -170 | 8 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 9/30/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 1-7 | L | -170 | 7 un | O | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 9/30/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 10-2 | W | -130 | 8 un | O | 12 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 10/1/2015 | BAUER(R) | MINNESOTA | DUFFEY(R) | 2-4 | L | +100 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 10/2/2015 | TOMLIN(R) | BOSTON | OWENS(L) | 8-2 | W | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10/3/2015 | KLUBER(R) | BOSTON | BRESLOW(L) | 2-0 | W | -195 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10/4/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | |
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| | | BOSTON: BOSTON (AP) - A revamped lineup and change in attitude has the Boston Red Sox looking to repeat a feat they performed just two seasons ago when they went from worst to World Series champions.
Like the hip-hop song they blasted in their locker room after the 2013 division and World Series titles were clinched in Fenway Park, the Red Sox started at the bottom.
They've carried the theme over this season.
''There's a good vibe going around,'' said first baseman Mike Napoli, who rallies spirits in the clubhouse by growing beards with teammates. ''It feels a little like 2013 in here. We're just having fun.''
During this past offseason, GM Ben Cherington looked to grow a weak offense that finished 11th in the AL in scoring.
Cherington spent $88 million to sign Hanley Ramirez, who began in the organization's minor league system before stints with Miami and Los Angeles, and signed third baseman Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million deal.
It was a quick fix for a lineup that lacked pop besides another strong season by Big Papi.
''This has a chance to be a lineup that doesn't give the opposition too many breathers or take a hitter off - so to speak,'' manager John Farrell said. ''There's the ability to do some damage up and down the lineup.''
The 39-year old Ortiz posted a .263 average with 35 homers and 104 RBIs last season, his eighth time in 12 reaching 30/100 with the club.
The revised order still leaves the question of how Red Sox starting pitching will hold up.
Cherington moved quickly after left-hander Jon Lester opted not to return, signing instead with the Cubs.
The GM acquired right-hander Rick Porcello from Detroit for slugger Yoenis Cespedes, traded for lefty Wade Miley and signed free agent Justin Masterson, who was coming off an injury-plagued season. The trio is expected to join Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly.
Some have questioned whether they have a top-of-the-rotation type. Buchholz thinks they'll feed off the doubters and strive.
''I think we're going to fly under the radar for the most part, which I think is a good thing,'' he said. ''At some point they're going to say, `They've got their stuff in order and they've got a pretty good staff.'''
They aren't hiding from how bad last season ended after going 71-91 and finishing 25 games out in the AL East.
''Our record says what we were, and that wasn't good,'' Farrell said.
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A FUN TRIO
Just a few days into spring training, Ortiz dubbed himself, Ramirez and Sandoval as ''The Three Amigos.'' The three are expected to bring both pop and some interesting times in the clubhouse.
''This will be a lively group and, I think, a fun one to be part of,'' Farrell said. ''I think the biggest thing is, they love to play the game. You can see the joy come out of them when they do well, and there's no question they'll draw from one another - the confidence they'll draw from one another.''
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NO STICKER SHOCK HERE
The Red Sox pledged more than $180 million to bring in Ramirez and Sandoval.
''The proven power hitter obviously has a hefty price tag attached to it,'' Farrell said.
Ramirez hit 13 homers with 71 RBIs. Sandoval had 16 with 73 and won a World Series with San Francisco.
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KEEP QUIET AND PLAY
Shane Victorino, who had his 2014 season cut short by back surgery, isn't about to try to analyze what went wrong last season. He feels like it's time to move on and make up for it.
''You try to be the best team you can be,'' he said. ''Don't want to sit here and talk about this and talk about that. You've got to go out there and do it. There's no other way of looking at it.''
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KEEP AN EYE ON THIS
Ortiz didn't want to listen to any new rules about speeding up the game by having batters keep one foot in the box in between pitches. He even joked that he'll run out of money if he's fined.
''This game has been going on for over 100 years,'' he said. ''It's the nature of the game. I don't care who you are, you're not going to change. The pitch comes through, you come out of the box, you come back in.'' | | CLEVELAND: CLEVELAND (AP) - While their AL Central rivals jockeyed during the offseason, one trying to outdo the other to improve their chances of winning a World Series title, the Indians watched.
That was the plan.
No, they didn't make any blockbuster trades, sign a big-name, big-ticket free agent or overhaul their roster with new faces. The Indians, who somehow stayed in contention last season until the waning days of September, didn't feel the need to make radical changes. It wasn't necessary.
The pieces are in place for Cleveland to have a special 2015 season.
''The team knows it,'' said second baseman Jason Kipnis. ''We got two winning seasons in a row. We had an 85-win season when we had about three guys playing good. The possibilities are there, the potential is there. That whole last year we never had more than a seven-game winning streak, never really got hot.
''We got the same corps. Same group of guys. We kind of want another chance at this again - and we're getting another chance.''
The Indians return virtually the same team that went 85-77 last season, finishing third behind division champion Detroit and wild-card winner Kansas City, which ended a postseason drought dating to 1985, won the pennant and pushed San Francisco to seven games in the World Series.
Watching the Royals inspired the Indians. And as he prepares for his third season in Cleveland, manager Terry Francona senses a different drive in his players.
They're hungry.
''Our veteran guys are trying to get better,'' he said. ''Our younger guys are excited to prove what they can do. I didn't see anybody just kind of go home and want to kind of keep the status quo. We're all excited about that.''
Francona said they're upping expectations both on performance and results.
''They're kind of at a stage where they're embracing trying to see if we can go up against some of these teams and, not only maybe hold our own, but maybe do a little more than that,'' Francona said.
There's no denying Francona's magical touch. The man who helped end Boston's supposed baseball curse, who got the Indians to the postseason in 2013, has an uncanny ability to convince players buy in to his program and get them to believe they can overcome any obstacles: injuries, payroll, low expectations, the Tigers lineup.
This spring, Francona didn't have to sell the Indians, who haven't won a World Series since 1948, on the idea they can compete. They already know that. Now it's a matter of taking the next step.
''When guys believe they can do it, and then they start to do it, then you see the confidence take over and guys take off, and you can accomplish a lot,'' he said. ''That's part of the fun of the season, to see how good you can get. I'd rather enjoy, as much as we can, the journey.''
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KLUBER UBER ALLES
All Corey Kluber did in his first major-league season was win 18 games, re-write some record books, dominate almost every time he pitched and win the AL Cy Young.
The 28-year-old could do it again.
Seemingly programmed because of his consistent performances and composed demeanor, Kluber gives the Indians a long-needed and legitimate No. 1 starter capable of winning every time he gets the ball. He scares opponents and makes his teammates better.
The Indians have discussed a long-term contract extension for the right-hander, who isn't even eligible for arbitration.
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YOUR TABLE, MR. BRANTLEY
Michael Brantley just might be baseball's most unassuming star, and he plans to keep it that way. The 27-year-old's breakout 2014 season - he batted .327 with 20 homers, 97 RBIs and a third-place finish in MVP voting - was followed by obligatory can-he-do-it-again questions.
Francona thinks Brantley might be poised for bigger things. The spotlight will find Brantley, but he's not craving it.
''He's so consistent at a high level that I don't see that going away,'' he said. ''He's so confident in what he's doing that I think he enjoys playing the game and the other things that come with it, I think he could take it or leave it. He has a really good understanding of who he is.''
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BETTER BE BETTER
For the Indians to get where they want, Kipnis (.240), CF Michael Bourn (106 games) and DH Nick Swisher (offseason knee surgeries) need to bounce back and produce more than they did in `14.
No position player is more important than Kipnis, a 2013 All-Star who was injured most of last season.
''He can affect the game so many ways - steal a base, get a bunt down, hit a ball in the gap,'' Francona said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (BOSTON-CLEVELAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Red Sox-Indians Preview* =========================
By SCOTT GARBARINI STATS Writer
Boston (78-82) at Cleveland (79-80), 3:10 p.m. EDT
Both the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox entered 2015 with playoff aspirations that went unmet.
The Indians do have a chance to close out their campaign with a series sweep Sunday when the clubs face off at Progressive Field.
Cleveland (80-80) couldn't overcome a 10-19 start but is finishing strong, having gone 22-15 since Aug. 25 for the AL's third-best winning percentage behind playoff entrants Toronto and Texas. A victory can secure a third finish above .500 in ex-Red Sox skipper Terry Francona's four seasons.
"In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean a lot but cosmetically it looks better," Francona said. "Regardless of what happens, it's the last game of the season and since we have a game I'd prefer to win,"
Boston (78-83) is 17-11 since Sept. 4 but has scored just three runs while losing three straight. After recording five hits in Friday's 5-2 defeat, the Red Sox managed three singles off Corey Kluber in eight innings of their 2-0 setback on a cold and soggy night.
"Pitchers probably had an advantage in these conditions, but that was not the reason why we struggled," Red Sox manager Torey Lovullo said. "Give all the credit to Kluber. I think he was feeling very good out there tonight."
Kluber fanned nine to finish with 245. The Indians lead the AL with 1,397 strikeouts with Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar all among the top eight in that category.
Salazar (13-10, 3.51 ERA) has dealt with scant support as well of late, with the Indians scoring once in consecutive road losses to Minnesota and Kansas City. He received no backing while allowing two runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 3-0 defeat to the Royals on Sept. 27.
Cleveland has won five of Salazar's last five home assignments, during which he's 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA and permitted two or less runs each time. The right-hander is 6-2 with a 3.06 in 11 overall starts at Progressive Field in 2015.
Salazar also won his lone prior encounter with the Red Sox Aug. 17, yielding a run and four hits through seven innings of an 8-2 triumph at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox have lost five straight in Cleveland since a three-game sweep April 16-18, 2013.
Rick Porcello (9-14, 5.02) has had more recent success against the Indians, having won four consecutive meetings while posting a 1.09 ERA. He's 5-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 starts at Progressive Field, where he last tossed six shutout innings with Detroit on June 20, 2014.
Porcello is 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA in seven starts since returning from a triceps strain Aug. 26 and stopped a two-start losing streak by permitting four runs with eight strikeouts over eight innings in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the New York Yankees.
The right-hander has also made strides on the road, compiling a 3-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in his last four starts after having a 5.82 ERA through his first 14.
Carlos Santana went 2 for 3 with a solo homer Saturday and is hitting .324 with three homers off Porcello, while Yan Gomes is 5 for 10 in the matchup.
Boston's Mookie Betts drew a walk Saturday to reach base safely in his 36th consecutive game. He's hitting .360 with 32 runs scored over the stretch.
David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia were held out of Saturday's lineup due to the wet conditions but are expected to play in the finale.
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| Last Updated: 5/19/2024 10:59:06 AM EST. |
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