On Manny's Blast, Sox Outslug Indians

Manny Ramirez hit the game-winning, three-run homer last night in the eighth inning, breaking a 5-5 tie after the Indian's intentionally walked David Ortiz.  With two outs and Ortiz having hit a home run the inning before to tie the game at 5, Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge, decided to go with the righty-on-righty matchup between Guillermo Mota and Ramirez.  The move did not pay off, as Ramirez drove the ball the other way to right center to put Boston up 8-5.  Papelbon pitched the 9th for his 9th save in as many chances.

On a night when Curt Schilling had some of his nastiest stuff of the season, the Indians tagged him for 5 runs in 6 innings anyway.  Schilling was quoted by ESPN.com: "I had great stuff, a great split. This is one of those nights where the linescore doesn't match what was going on."  These things happen.  Francona, in fact, left his ace in the game for 133 pitches because his stuff was that good.  Unfortunately Schilling lost a 5-4 lead in the 7th, failing to become only the third Sox pitcher to get 5 April wins (Pedro Martinez in 2000 and Babe Ruth in 1917 are the others).

The win and the fashion it came in were great signs for the Sox.  As I pointed out Monday, this team not begun to scratch the surface of its offensive potential, even as Schilling and Beckett had started off superhuman.  Last night, Schilling had a down performance, but the offense carried the day.  Boston fans should expect many more such instances in which the offense is able to carry the team past a poor pitching performances when everyone (ore even just most everyone) hits as they are capable.  This is an underrated offense.  Though analysts recognize the danger of the Ortiz-Manny combination, most have felt the team is a step down from previous iterations of the past three years.  While the team will likely not replicate 2003 offensively (.491 team SLG, 961 runs scored), it's should be ahead of last year's group and could be close to 2004.

With a 3 for 4 game, Manny has raised his average to .300.  His heroics in the game came only after a gaffe on the bases that turned into an bizarre double play.  Jake Westbrook caught Ramirez daydreaming off second base, resulting in a pickle.  The Indians overthrew to second base on the rundown, fortuitously tagging Jason Varitek out at second as he tried to advance from first with Manny caught up, before throwing to third to get Manny.  As Francona was eloquently quoted, "Manny tooketh away, but he gaveth a lot more later."  And Manny being Manny -- i.e., hitting game-winning dingers -- is great news.

Another good sign for the Sox -- and this has happened quietly -- has been Keith Foulke's performance.  Though he gave up a two-out RBI double last night in the 8th with a three-run lead, Foulke has a 3.95 ERA and 0.88 WHIP on the season.  He had an important 1-2/3 inning perfect stretch (3 Ks), holding a one-run lead, in Boston's victory over Toronto on Sunday and has shown flashes of the dominant closer he was for the Sox in 2004.  Even if Foulke remains in the relief role he's had (middle innings to setting up), he figures to be a key part of the team.  Should he get back to his old level, it would allow Papelbon to work into the rotation if Wells does not come back (which at this point is likely).  Another option to think about for later in the season is Craig Hansen, who has been mowing down hitters in AA to the tune of a .111 BA and 0 ER.

Though the Sox are looking for another starter to fill Wells's void in the rotation, we'll leave speculation about Clemens filling the hole for someone else to blog about for now.  But rest assured: There will be a bidding war come June and July for a Rocket Relaunch in Boston, New York (2 games back in second, by the way), or Houston with Texas possibly vying for an initial mission.