The Ghost of the ALCS Still Haunts Cleveland - Jenn

Tonight's game was starting to bring back horrible memories of October. The Sox were down by three runs, similar to the three games they were down just five months ago. But just like they did back in October, our boys from Boston fought their way back and got the win.

Lester gave another sub-par performance allowing 5 hits, 5 walks, and 4 runs over just 4 1/3 innings. So by the time the 4th was over, the 1 run lead the Sox had in the first, had turned into a 3 run deficit. But again, it was only the 4th inning. There were 5 left and as the Sox have proven on more than one occasion, they have a way of making a comeback.

Tonight was one of those comebacks. And the two men that made it possible were none other than Manny and Big Papi. That's right, Big Papi was hitting again. And he didn't just get one hit. He got two. Neither of them were the clutch, awe-inspiring hits we're used to. But a hit is a hit. And actually, now that I think about it, one of them was clutch. It was a 2 out bloop single in the top of the ninth.

Lugo had already scored on Pedroia's sacrifice fly to deep left. And Papi stepped to the plate with two outs in the inning. If he struck out, as he already had twice, the Indians would be going to the 9th with a tie score and a chance of taking the win. Especially if Timlin stayed in (but more on him later). But instead, on a 1-1 pitch, Ortiz hit the ball to short left. This was the rare occasion when the shift helped Ortiz instead of hurt him. See, with the shift on, the third baseman becomes short stop, the short stop takes over second base and the second baseman takes position in short right. All the outfielders take up their positions deep in the outfield. Because of this positioning Blake couldn't get out fast enough and Michaels couldn't get in. So the ball dropped squarely between them landing Ortiz on first base.

That would be the end of Ortiz. He did what needed to be done and was pulled for the younger, faster Jacoby Ellsbury. That way if Manny got a double, there was a good chance Ellsbury would score and give the Sox the lead. Too bad Ellsbury's speed wouldn't be needed.

Indians closer Joe Borowski threw just one pitch. A pitch that was up and over the plate. And Manny did what he does best - hammered it over the wall in left. It was Manny's third home run of the season that put the Sox on top 6-4, and forced Cleveland to relive the pain of last October. That home run would be enough to bring Papelbon in for the 9th and keep Cleveland in the loss column.

On a side note, some might find the timing of the end of Papi's batting drought quite interesting: within 24 hours of the Yanks uncovering Big Papi's shirt in the foundation of their new stadium, #34 gets two hits. That kind of timing would make some believe the curse that was supposed to be on the Yanks was actually on Ortiz. I however believe it's just a very strange coincidence and what actually got Papi out of his slump was that mental health day I talked about in my last post.

But bigger than Papi's 2 hits was the shocking 1,2,3, 8th inning courtesy of Mike Timlin. That's right Mike Timlin. The same relief pitcher who up until tonight had not retired a single batter in his last two outings and ended last night's game with an astounding 81 ERA. But tonight was a new night. Timlin took the mound and faced three batters. David Dellucci popped out to short left. Franklin Gutierrez lined out to JD Drew in right. And then Indians third baseman, Casey Blake, struck out on just three pitches. Three up, three down and Timlin can finally walk off the mound with his head held high. These three outs bring Timlin's ERA down to a not yet respectable 20.25. And while I'll admit this was a noteworthy feat, I'll also say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

So are Ortiz and Timlin finally out of their slumps? The uncovering of a "cursed shirt" says yes. For one of them. Too bad Timlin's jersey wasn't found along with it.