Game 1 of the ALCS did not prove to be the pitching duel between Cy Young candidates that many had expected, as the Red Sox battered Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia en-route to a 10-3 victory, the Providence Journal reports. Sabathia was rocked for eight runs in four and a third innings, while Josh Beckett coasted through six, giving up two runs on four hits.
"He didn't have it tonight...he never got in sync," said Indians manager Eric Wedge about his beleaguered starter. Wedge was more impressed with Beckett, saying, "He was on." The right hander was helped by an explosive Sox offense, including Manny Ramirez, who twice walked with the bases loaded and singled in another run, and David Ortiz, who like Ramirez reached base all five times he batted. (More Boston Red Sox stories.)