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Ramirez blast lifts Red Sox over Indians

Apr 15, 2008 - 4:21 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Manny Ramirez has no problem picking up the slack for David Ortiz.

Ramirez completed the comeback with a two-run homer in the ninth inning and Ortiz had two hits as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-4, on Monday night.

In a rematch of last season's American League Championship Series, it was Boston coming back once again. Cleveland was leading the Red Sox, 3-1, in the ALCS, but the Red Sox won the final three games and eventually went on to win their second World Series since 2004.

It was much of the same on Monday.

"It was fun at the end," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "There is something to be said for perseverance."

The Red Sox trailed the Indians, 4-1, but had closed the gap to 4-3 by the time Indians closer Joe Borowski entered to start the ninth.

Julio Lugo, who was hitless in his last 16 at-bats, started the inning with a double to left. A sacrifice bunt by Coco Crisp and a sac fly by Dustin Pedroia tied the score at 4-4, but the Red Sox were far from done.

"Crisp laid down a perfect bunt and it gave me a chance to find a way to put the ball in the air," Pedroia said.

Ortiz, who snapped an 0-for-17 with a single in the first inning, blooped a single into shallow left. Ramirez followed by blasting Borowski's 82 mile-per-hour fastball 412 feet into the left field bleachers for his 493rd career homer.

"It was right there," Ramirez said. "It seemed like a fastball or something. It was 80 (mph), so it might have been a changeup."

Ramirez is now tie for 24th place on the all-time home run list with Fred McGriff and Lou Gehrig.

"I got to keep going," Ramirez said.

Mike Timlin (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the win and Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect nine for his fifth save in as many chances.

It was the second consecutive blown save for Borowski (0-2), who gave up four runs in the ninth last Monday at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He now has given up eight runs in four innings to start the season to go along with two blown saves.

"I just felt like I had nothing - like I was throwing through water," Borowski said. "I was stuck in one gear. I had no extra gear. Not only that, I couldn't locate for crap. Instead of being two inches off the plate, everything was down the middle."

Borowski's velocity has been noticeably down since spring training and has reached the point of concern.

"I think we're gong to go get (the arm) checked," Borowski said. "Maybe it's nothing, maybe it is. I'll meet with the trainers and hopefully have better news tomorrow."

"I am going to have to talk to him and see how feels," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "That being said, the ball doesn't seem to be coming out of his hand the same."

While much has been made of Ortiz's slow start to the season, Ramirez is not worried.

"He is going to be fine," Ramirez said. "It's only been a few games. If he doesn't hit, I will hit for him."

Ortiz entered the game with only one hit in his last 29 at-bats, and was given Sunday off against the New York Yankees. The rest seemed to pay immediate dividends as he singled in his first at-bat.

"I don't know if you saw it, but all the guys were on the top step of the dugout," Francona said. "Everyone was pulling for him. It was great to see him get a hit."

Borowski's outing wasted another strong effort from Indians starter Jake Westbrook. The losing pitcher in Game Seven of the ALCS, Westbrook allowed two runs - one earned - on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He left with a 4-2 lead, but the Indians' bullpen let him down.

Kevin Youkilis' solo home run off Rafael Betancourt to lead off the eighth cut the Indians' lead to 4-3. It was the first homer of the season for Youkilis, who destroyed Indians pitching last year in the ALCS batting - .500 with three home runs.

Cleveland extended its lead to 4-1 in the fifth on Travis Hafner's two-run single off Red Sox starter Jon Lester.

Lester held the Indians hitless for the first three innings, but struggled with his command as the game wore on. The young lefthander allowed four runs on five hits, but walked five batters to only three strike outs.

Victor Martinez also added an RBI single for the Indians, who have lost the first game of the past four series.