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Red Sox-Indians Preview

By MATT BECKER,
STATS Writer

(AP) -- Two weeks into the 2008 season, the Cleveland Indians have struggled to string together victories.

They ended 2007 the same way.

The reigning AL Central champion Indians look to win back-to-back games for the first time since the start of this season Monday when they open a two-game series against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of last season's ALCS.

After beating the New York Yankees in four games in the 2007 ALDS, Cleveland (5-7) appeared to be on the verge of its first World Series berth since 1997 as it jumped to a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox (7-6) in the ALCS.

The Indians could not close out Boston, however, as they were outscored 30-5 in the final three games, losing the AL pennant in seven.

Boston went on to win its second World Series title in four years, while the Indians are still looking for their first championship since 1948.

"It was tough. It took me a great deal of the offseason to get over it," Cleveland starting pitcher Paul Byrd told the team's official Web site. "There was a good bit of frustration."

While the Indians are seeking a bit of revenge from last season's disappointing finish, they are more concerned with simply winning some games.

"We just need to win some games," Indians left fielder Jason Michaels said. "These guys haven't talked about (Boston)."

Cleveland defeated Oakland 7-1 on Sunday, winning for just the third time in 10 games. The Indians have not won consecutive contests since opening the season with back-to-back victories over the Chicago White Sox.

Grady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with three RBIs on Sunday, and is 2-for-6 with a homer and a triple lifetime against Monday's scheduled starter Jon Lester (1-2, 4.50 ERA).

After allowing three hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-0 win at Oakland on April 2, Lester gave up four runs, five hits and walked four in 5 1-3 innings of a 7-2 loss to Detroit on Wednesday.

The left-hander made two relief appearances against the Indians in last season's ALCS, allowing three runs in 3 2-3 innings. This will be his first start in Cleveland since July 23 - his first game back after sitting out the first half of the 2007 season while recovering from lymphoma.

In his last start at Progressive Field, Lester gave up two runs, five hits and struck out six in six innings of a 6-2 victory. He is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts versus the Indians.

The Red Sox are coming off an 8-5 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday to take two of three from their arch-rival.

Manny Ramirez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI on Sunday, and is batting .392 (29-for-74) with eight home runs, seven doubles and 22 RBIs in 20 regular-season games against the Indians since 2005. He hit .409 (9-for-22) with two homers and 10 RBIs in last season's ALCS.

Ramirez is also 8-for-16 in his career against Monday's scheduled starter Jake Westbrook (1-1, 2.76).

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz is expected back in the lineup for the series opener after manager Terry Francona gave him Sunday night off.

Ortiz is off to the worst start of his career, batting .070 (3-for-43).

"Just trying to figure things out for a minute so I can go back to being Big Papi again," said Ortiz, who is hitless in seven career at-bats versus Westbrook.

The right-handed Westbrook allowed three runs and seven hits in a complete-game 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

Westbrook started Game 7 for Cleveland in last season's 2007 ALCS, allowing three runs and nine hits in six innings. He left with Cleveland trailing 3-2, but the Red Sox overpowered the Indians bullpen and won 11-2.

Westbrook is 3-2 with a 4.81 ERA in six career games against Boston.

http://cleveland.stats.com/mlb/preview.asp?g=280414105

Go Red Sox!

Bring on the Sox. I freaking hate those guys.

Go! Tribe!

LOL! I forgot about that

I maintain that I was brainwashed and I didn't believe in the Dolans.

I'm sitting here watching the pregame talk, and it just dawned on me....I really hate the fact that they changed the name of the stadium. I understand the economics, but to not be able to call it the jake...that doesn't feel natural.

nice pitch there jake!

Progressive Field...

Can't stand the Red Sox! I can't take any more Manny being Manny, we need to pay him back for watching his homer for 3 minutes in the ALCS!

Someone go bury a Grady Sizemore jersey under Fenway and start another curse!

Well there's your Manny being Manny, go sit down idiot.

I'll still call it the Jake...

Speaking of Jakes... Jake isn't off the best start of the game... though great pitch to strike out Manny.

Well, that team is too good not to score. Now we just need to get the bats going and going often to counteract it. Because once we get down and get to the 6th or later innings they have their Japanese guy and Papelbon.

It be great if we could tie right now or take the lead.

I think we're pretty lucky to get out of that first inning with only one run

Hopefully we get it going soon because I don't know how long we can hold them off from scoring even more.

j/c

How great is it listening to Mudcat? Id love for him to sit in the booth all game and tell stories.

edit* He was in the booth on STO, forgot this game was on ESPN as well.

Jake has settled down since the first... looked really good

Yeah, that was a really nice strikout by Westy there, he's holding the fort down well as usual.

Here we go!!!

Great hit by Pronk - COME ON VIC!!!

Good call Nas, you were right;as soon as we became patient looked at the strikes and balls we started to make contact.

Great job by Hafner, Martinez, and Garko is very good so far this season. I love guys who can get it done in the clutch like that, great AB.

westbrook has been great... it is really promising to see him pitch well

I just hope that last inning doesn't come back to hurt us... bases loaded and only one out and we got nothing!

Come on Betancourt, let's do it, blow that heat by Ortiz.

Joe Blow is back in full force!

Ballgame.

Why is this guy getting a paycheck?

Is ANYONE going to try and defend him now?

6-4 Red Sox... Wasted a great night from Westy.

That is absolutly horrible !!!!!!!

Put Borowski on waivers.

I'm serious, not knee jerking it.

It's about time he comes out, if he's there when I come to the game I'm booing my lungs out.

A great night by Westy and some great AB's by Haf and Martinez and others and that piece of you know what just gives it up.

Kick him of the team already, why haven't we done it yet! jesus.....

I could hit that 83 MPH fastball he served up. Throw it to one of the best RH hitters ever to play the game and what do you think is going to happen? 83 MPH? Eighty-Freakin-Three?

100 times out of 100 Manny takes that pitch yard. Might as well just put it on a tee.

Kick that piecr of you know what of the damn team already!

If he comes on the hill when I'm at the game I'm booing my lungs out.

Jobo a closer, yeah right, you've got to be freakin' kidding me.