Stealing Signals: Leaving The Sox Hung Out To Dry.

Indians 7, Red Sox 3 – One would think that if you hear the Red Sox had hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, that they would win the game. One would be more inclined to think so if the three who had hit them were Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez. Problem is that J.D. Drew and Coco Crisp both made outs after them in that 7th inning, and the Indians had jacked up Tim Wakefield and Manny Delcarmen in the fifth inning for seven runs, propelled by homers from Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta, along with a two run single from Victor Martinez. Paul Byrd was solid, giving up the first two of those homers to Youkilis and Ortiz, and joking about hitting 90 on the radar gun. Now, the Sox hope Josh Beckett can start them mount one of the tougher comebacks in sport — returning from 3-1 down to win a series. The Sox have done it before, and better — like anyone can forget, but let’s figure that C.C. Sabathia will be much, much more prepared and amped to go up against Beckett after getting shelled in Fenway in Game One. Let’s say that Fox execs have ground their teeth to nubbins already with their obsession about ratings for the World Series in two less-than-large markets being low (as if anything on their prime time line-up outside of House is any great shakes.) Despite the douchebaggery of a certain segment of Indians fans at the Jake towards a couple of Lady… Sox fans, there’s still stuff to like about the team they root for, a complete top-to-bottom deal that’s firing on all cylinders and establishing leads that Joe Borowski can’t blow. The Red Sox are capable of similar things, but in this playoff series, their weaknesses are being shown all at once.

Photo: AP/Tony Dejak