2007 American League Division Series

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

Game 1, October 3

Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...

in Boston, Massachusetts
In Game 1, Boston starter Josh Beckett

Josh Beckett

Joshua Patrick Beckett is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. During his career in the playoffs, he won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with the Florida Marlins, and received the 2007 ALCS MVP award with the Red Sox.-Florida Marlins :A...

threw a complete-game shut out, allowing the Red Sox to win the opener. After giving up a leadoff single to the game's first batter, Chone Figgins

Chone Figgins

Desmond DeChone "Chone" Figgins is an American Major League Baseball third baseman for the Seattle Mariners. Figgins is a utility player, playing all positions except catcher, pitcher, and first base.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:...

, Beckett proceeded to retire nineteen straight Angels batters with just the second Angels hit coming off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...

in the top of the seventh inning (Guerrero was stranded at first base after Beckett got the next two batters out).

Beckett was backed by a solo home run from Kevin Youkilis

Kevin Youkilis

Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...

in the bottom of the first inning, then a two-run home run from David Ortiz

David Ortiz

David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...

in the third inning, scoring Youkilis who had doubled to left field in the previous at bat. Beckett shut out the Angels, surrendering just four hits, walking none, and striking out eight batters.

Los Angeles starter John Lackey

John Lackey

John Derran Lackey is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Lackey was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 1999 and helped the franchise win its first World Series title in 2002, which was his first season in the major leagues...

gave up nine hits and four runs over six innings, settling down after the third inning, giving up a hit and a walk before exiting after the sixth inning. Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana

Ervin Ramon Santana is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Name:...

relieved Lackey in the seventh inning and threw two perfect innings, but the Angels offense couldn't put any runs on the board, and they dropped the opener by a 4–0 score.

Game 2, October 5

Fenway Park

in Boston, Massachusetts

Neither starting pitcher in Game 2 made it into the sixth inning of the contest. Game 2 became a battle of the bullpens beginning with the Red Sox in the fifth inning with starter Daisuke Matsuzaka

Daisuke Matsuzaka

is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...

lasting just innings giving up three runs on seven hits. Meanwhile, Angels starter Kelvim Escobar

Kelvim Escobar

Kelvim Jose Escobar Bolivar is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed...

gave up three runs on just four hits and five walks. Scot Shields

Scot Shields

Robert Scot Shields is a former American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He played his entire baseball career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, serving as their setup man since...

came on in relief of Escobar and pitched two hitless, scoreless innings, walking three batters, one intentionally. Boston's four relievers—López

Javier López

Javier Alfonso López is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants. López previously played for the Colorado Rockies , Arizona Diamondbacks , Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates . He is a left-handed specialist known for his sidearm delivery...

, Delcarmen

Manny Delcarmen

Manuel "Manny" Delcarmen is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has been called "The Pride of Hyde Park".-Early life:...

, Okajima

Hideki Okajima

is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox organization in the United States, currently with their AAA affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox. He played with the Yomiuri Giants and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league from 1994-2006...

, and Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Robert Papelbon is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Before joining the Phillies, Papelbon played with the Boston Red Sox from 2005-2011....

—threw hitless, scoreless innings striking out four and only walking two batters (both by Papelbon). In the bottom of the ninth, after a Julio Lugo

Julio Lugo

Julio Cesar Lugo is a Dominican professional baseball infielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. Lugo is the older brother of baseball pitcher Ruddy Lugo....

single, the Angels intentionally walked Ortiz giving him four walks on the night—tying a post-season record. The Red Sox won Game 2 on a three-run walk-off home run

Walk-off home run

In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...

from Manny Ramírez

Manny Ramírez

Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...

off Angels closer Francisco Rodríguez. With the win, the Red Sox took a 2–0 series lead over Los Angeles.

Game 3, October 7

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...

in Anaheim, California

Anaheim, California

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...

In Game 3, Curt Schilling shut down the Angels until the ninth inning. In the fourth, David Ortiz and Manny Ramírez both homered off Jered Weaver in the fourth inning to put the Sox up 2–0, then broke the game open with seven runs in the eighth to complete a sweep. This was the Red Sox' ninth consecutive postseason game victory over the Angels.

Composite box

2007 ALDS (3–0): Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...

Game 1, October 4

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...

Johnny Damon

Johnny David Damon is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter. From 2000–2008, he was third among active players in runs and seventh in hits and stolen bases . He is currently second among active leaders in triples , five behind Carl Crawford...

led off the game with a home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

off Cleveland starter CC Sabathia, but Game 1 quickly became a one-sided affair as Chien-Ming Wang

Chien-Ming Wang

Chien-Ming Wang is a Taiwanese Major League Baseball pitcher. He was initially signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees for the 2000 season, and played for the Staten Island Yankees...

was tagged for eight earned runs in innings. Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton

Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...

's two-RBI single in the bottom half of the first gave the Indians a lead that they would not relinquish. Sabathia earned the win despite walking six in five innings, and departed after throwing 114 pitches. Lofton tallied three hits and four RBI for Cleveland. The win marked Cleveland's first over the Yankees since , snapping an eight-game losing streak.

Game 2, October 5, "The Bug Game"

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Game 2 featured an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel between Fausto Carmona

Fausto Carmona

Fausto C. Carmona is a right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. Carmona made his major league debut with the Indians on April 15, 2006...

and postseason veteran Andy Pettitte

Andy Pettitte

Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...

. Carmona looked to be the hard-luck loser until the eighth, when heralded phenom Joba Chamberlain

Joba Chamberlain

Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Chamberlain was born and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chamberlain's parents, Harlan Chamberlain and Jackie Standley, were never married and split up when Joba was 18 months old...

allowed the tying run to score on two walks

Base on balls

A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...

and two wild pitch

Wild pitch

In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...

es. With that and Melky Cabrera

Melky Cabrera

Melky Astacio Cabrera is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...

's third inning home run

Home run

to show for the game's only runs, the game went into extras

Extra innings

Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...

, where Travis Hafner

Travis Hafner

Travis Lee Hafner is a left-handed hitting designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians of the American League Central Division. His nickname, "Pronk", was given to him by former teammate Bill Selby during spring training of when people sometimes referred to him as "The Project" and other times...

drove home the winning run on an eleventh-inning single.

Late in the game, a swarm of tiny insects

Chironomidae

Chironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...

circled the mound in the late innings. Play was stopped for a short time to accommodate the players, including Chamberlain, who threw only 12 of his 25 pitches for strikes in suffering a blown save without surrendering a hit.

Game 3, October 7

Yankee Stadium (I) in The Bronx, New York

The Yankees would take Game 3 for their only win of the series despite an early exit from starter Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens

William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...

, who left with a strained hamstring. Rookie Phil Hughes relieved him and threw scoreless innings for the win, striking out four. Cleveland led 3–1 halfway through when Johnny Damon

Johnny Damon

hit a three-run home run

Home run

off starter Jake Westbrook

Jake Westbrook

Jacob Cauthen "Jake" Westbrook is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher currently with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is known as a sinker ball pitcher and has also hit a grand slam home run....

, giving the Yankees the lead for good. Any hope for Cleveland to rally was put out of reach by a key sixth inning error that allowed two unearned runs to score on a Robinson Canó

Robinson Canó

Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...

single.

Game 4, October 8

Yankee Stadium (I) in The Bronx, New York
Chien-Ming Wang

Chien-Ming Wang

Chien-Ming Wang is a Taiwanese Major League Baseball pitcher. He was initially signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees for the 2000 season, and played for the Staten Island Yankees...

was called upon to start Game 4 on three days' rest for the Yankees. Grady Sizemore

Grady Sizemore

Gradius "Grady" Sizemore III is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...

hit a leadoff

Leadoff hitter

In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...

home run

Home run

off Wang, who would subsequently be charged with three other earned runs in lasting only one-plus innings. Cleveland starter Paul Byrd

Paul Byrd

Paul Gregory Byrd is an American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2009. He is known as being the "nicest guy in baseball"...

labored but earned the win with five innings of two-run ball. Mike Mussina

Mike Mussina

Michael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....

came on in relief for New York and threw solid innings, but gave up a key two-run single to Víctor Martínez that proved to be the difference in the Indians’ 6–4 win. Yankees Captain Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter

Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...

, a hero of many postseasons in the past, hit into two rally-killing double plays. The Yankees chipped away in the late innings on three solo home runs, including one in the seventh by Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez

Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...

, but could not mount a comeback against Joe Borowski, who earned the save. The loss marked the third time in five years (2003

2003 World Series

The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...

, 2004

2004 American League Championship Series

The 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series to decide the American League champion for the 2004 season. It was played between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, at Fenway Park and the original Yankee Stadium, from October 12 to October 20, 2004...

, and 2007) the Yankees were eliminated from a postseason series at home. This was the final postseason game ever played at the old Yankee Stadium and the final game that Joe Torre managed for the Yankees, as of 2010.

Composite box

2007 ALDS (3–1): Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

over New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

Series quotes

External links

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