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Matsuzaka gem lifts Red Sox over Indians
2007-07-25
Diasuke Matsuzaka out-pitched C.C. Sabathia to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 1-0 road win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, the victory keeping the AL East leaders 7 games ahead of the New York Yankees. The high-priced Japanese import pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits while walking three and striking out five to raise his rookie record to 12-7. His compatriot Hideki Okajima pitched a perfect eighth inning and Jonathan Papelbon struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the ninth inning for his 23rd save as Boston matched a season-high winning streak with their fifth straight victory. "You have to tip your cap to Dice-K (Matsuzaka). He threw a great game out there," Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis told reporters. "You have to tip your cap to all of our pitchers." Youkilis scored the game's only run in the fourth inning when Cleveland left fielder Ben Francisco misjudged a fly ball that fell in. "Who'd have ever thought that would be the only run of the game?" Youkilis said. Sabathia only gave up that one run in seven innings but fell to 13-5. "I'm grateful for the one run that my team mates were able to score against him, and that obviously made the difference," Matsuzaka said. "We had won some games in a row coming into this one, I'm very glad that I didn't stop the winning streak." It was the Red Sox's first 1-0 win in Cleveland in 60 years. *The New York Yankees won their fifth straight game, beating the Kansas City Royals 9-4 behind Wang Chien-ming's 11th victory and four hits by Derek Jeter. New York has scored 63 runs during the winning streak and is within 4 games off the wild card lead. *The Texas Rangers swept a double-header from the visiting Seattle Mariners, winning 2-1 and 4-3 as Eric Gagne saved both games. Texas third baseman Travis Metcalf had four hits and the game-winning RBI double in the second game. *The Chicago White Sox swept a double-header from the Detroit Tigers in Chicago, following a 5-3 win by rallying from a 7-1 deficit to win the nightcap 8-7. Bobby Jenks saved both games for Chicago. *The Baltimore Orioles held a special pre-game "send off" to Cal Ripken Jr, who joins former San Diego Padres great Tony Gwynn in entering the Hall of Fame this weekend. Following the ceremony, Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera registered a first win since June 22 in a 3-0 triumph over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Ripken threw out the game's first pitch, which was caught by former team mate Eddie Murray, also a Hall of Famer.
Baseball salutes Ripken, Gwynn at Hall (2007-07-30)Ripken, Gwynn set for Hall of Fame induction (2007-07-29)Matsuzaka gem lifts Red Sox over Indians (2007-07-25)Ripken takes closer look at Cooperstown (2007-05-10)Rutgers team to weigh in on Imus storm (2007-04-10)
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