Shin-Soo Choo got his swing back in the first inning—he rocked a two run homer scoring Michael Brantley. Travis Hafner did a great job of getting pitches out of Daisuke Matsuzaka. After nines pitches, Prunk took the walk. Orlanda Cabrera was hit by a pitch, but the Indians couldn’t make anymore out of the first inning leaving two runners on.
During the very next at bat, Boston answered back. David Ortiz singled to center followed by a single to left from J.D Drew. Jason Varitek walked to load the bases. Marco Scutaro scored Ortiz off an infield fly. Jacoby Ellsbury grounded out to first scoring Drew.
The Indians didn’t let the Red Sox keep the tie for long. In the bottom of the second, Matt LaPorta singled to center. Brantley took the walk and Asdrubal Cabrera singled into center to score LaPorta.
Neither team would score again until the sixth. Dennys Reyes relied Matsuzaka which was shortly proved to be a bad decision. Buck and LaPorta were both hit by a pitch, then Jack Hannahan was walked to load the bases. Dan Wheeler then came in to relied Reyes. Brantley made it to first on a fielder’s choice to third with LaPorta out at third. Travis Buck scored. With two runners on, A. Cabrera homered to right scoring Hannahan and Brantley.
In the top of the seventh, Carol Crawford singled to shortstop, followed by a home run by Adrian Gonzalez. The game was 4-7 going into the eighth. With nobody on, LaPorta homered to left to tally another run. The Tribe won it 8-4.
On the mound for the Tribe, Mitch Talbot started off the game allowing two earned runs and striking outs seven. Talbot pitched 4.1 innings before Chad Durbin came in to strike out one. After just one batter, Rafael Perez relived Durbin, pitching 1.1 innings striking out two. Frank Hermann then made an appearance striking out one but allowed two runs. Collectively, the Indians stuck out 11 batters.
Matsuzaka started off the game for the Red Sox striking out two and allowing three runs in the first five innings. Reyes came in the fifth also allowing three runs. Reyes was pulled that same and relieved by Wheeler who allowed one run. Tim Wakefield closed out the game, striking out two and allowing one run.
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