Red Sox-Indians: Repeat Performance

It was all too similar to game one.

A superb outing by the Cleveland Indains' starting pitcher. The Boston Red Sox scoring first with via thet help of an error. The Indians coming back to take the lead but not jumping on the Red Sox when they had the chance. The Sox taking the lead and the Indians battling back.

A key member of the Tribe bullpen getting out of a jam in one inning only to give up a home run in the next. When it was over, the Indians had to look themselves in the mirror as losers in nine of their last 12 games.

The script was the same, the players were different.

Paul Byrd went six strong innings of six-hit, one-run (unearned) baseball and notched six strikeouts. Franklin Gutierrez made the error that contributed to the run and then got picked off second in the third and cost the Indians a run of their own.

The Indians had two on with two outs in the third and failed to score. They had two on with one out in the fourth and failed to score. Had two on with one out in the fifth after scoring two, and couldn't score again. Had the bases loaded in the seventh and only scored once.

Once again failing to put the Red Sox away when they had the chance. Once again having it come back and bite them in the ninth.

Jensen Lewis worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth to keep the score tied at three, but then gave up a game-winning home run to Jason Varitek in the ninth and another run to boot, making it 5-3.

Game, set, match: Red Sox.

Another potential win turned into a loss for the 5-9 Cleveland Indians. Only a game ahead of the Detroit Tigers. Yes, the Tigers who started 0-7.

A slow start may have been expected, but not like this. The bullpen could not have been expected to have a lights out year like 2007 but it seems as if each night another Indians' reliever fails to come through.

Great starting pitching is wasted by a putrid offense that fails to score in bunches or land the knockout blow. That spring in their step the Tribe seemed to have last year is clearly not there, and they need to do some soul searching to find it.

In 2007, the Tribe had to overcome a lot of things. Injuries to the starting rotation, a rebuilt bullpen, sub par years from Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore, rookies thrown into the fire, home games in Milwaukee, the opening-weekend snow and subsequent scheduling debacle.

And despite that they made it to within one game of the World Series.

In 2008, everything seemed lined up for a serious title run. Everyone was healthy and tested. Very little roster turnover. Players primed for bounce back years. A team ready to make the next step.

Unfortunately, their next step in 2008 has been backwards. They need to do a complete 180 if they want to fulfill the potential they have. It's still early, but the early results are not pretty. But until then Tribe fans will have to swallow their pride and realize the better team won the first series in 2008 just like in the 2007 ALCS.