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Recap: Lackey shines in Sox redemption win

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The weather sucked (42 min delay to start), but John Lackey certainly did not. Once again, John Lackey did the opposite as I expected and dazzled in a 8-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians. I know I wasn't the only one who thought Justin Masterson was going to shut the Sox down and make us say "Why can't we get guys like that?", but the Sox made him work hard through six innings. Masterson was tagged for 5 runs on 6 hits, one of those hits a Mike Carp, 3-run homer in the second inning.

John Lackey pretty much made me look like a fool with his stellar outing tonight. Lackey went 7 very strong innings, giving up only 1 un-earned run, and two hits, while striking out 8 Indians' batters. His ERA has dropped to a cool 2.72, which may be the lowest we have seen John's ERA after the first inning of his first start of the season. Lackey did walk 3 batters, which had no effect on the score. Uehara and Aceves did a fine job shutting down the Indians in the final 2 innings, helping Lackey to his 3 win of the season.

Aside from the 3 RBI off the bat of Mike Carp by way of the long ball, the Sox got some run production from Pedroia and Ellsbury. Pedroia contributed with a pair of singles and 2 RBI, and Ellsbury with a single and 2 RBI. Everyone else in the starting lineup contributed at least one hit with the exception of Stephen Drew.

The Sox did a fantastic job redeeming themselves from last night's ass whoopin'. It is always nice to watch a convincing win, no matter what the weather is like.

Box Score

Recap: Everything goes wrong in Francona's return to Fenway

The Sox got trounced against Cleveland, 12-3, in between rain drops at Fenway tonight. 

They failed in basically every possible way. The offense was non-existent. David Ortiz slugged a three-run homer to account for the runs. Daniel Nava reached base four times -- two walks, two hits -- and everyone else combined to reach just six times.

Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster pitched just three innings, walking four and giving up five hits that produced four runs. He threw just 85 pitches, but John Farrell was forced to go to the 'pen to try to stop the slide. Long man Clayton Mortensen couldn't do any better, surrendering five runs on three walks and five hits over two innings, meaning that Farrell still had to use regular relievers for four innings. Alex Wilson, Craig Breslow, Junichi Tazawa, and Andrew Miller all took the mound.

The Indians' box score looks like something out of a video game. It's actually amazing they only scored 12 runs -- they reached base 24 times. Four players had multiple hits. Carlos Santana walked four times. It was ugly.

Oh, and Will Middlebrooks left in the 5th with back spasms. We couldn't even get through the game without an injury.

Back to Dempster. After a strong start he's gone cold, this being his third loss in four starts. He hasn't allowed fewer than two runs since May 2 in Toronto, and at the time Toronto was playing like a Babe Ruth team. What's going on? An injury he's hiding? Just a bad stretch of games? Or, what we don't want to think about, was his hot start merely a good stretch that can't be sustained?

All this is to say Terry Francona is going to smile wide tonight.

Box score

How we see it goin' down: Indians - Red Sox series

First Pitch: Thursday 7:10, Friday 7:10, Saturday 1:35, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Thursday: Zach McAllister, RHP (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 4.27 ERA)

Friday: Justin Masterson, RHP (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-4, 3.31 ERA)  

Saturday: Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-1, 3.15 ERA)

Sunday: Corey Kluber, RHP (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront, LHP (3-2, 5.61 ERA)

                                  Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 26-19 (1st AL Central)	Record: 28-19 (2nd AL East)
On road: 11-9	At home: 13-10
Streak: L2	Streak: W1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Gomes (.316)	Average: Ortiz (.351)
Homers: Reynolds (12)	Homers: Middlebrooks (8)
RBI: Reynolds (37)	RBI: Napoli (35)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Masterson (7)	Wins: Buchholz (7)
ERA: McAllister (2.65) | Smith (1.13)	ERA: Buchholz (1.73) | Breslow (1.17)
K's: Masterson (71)	K's: Buchholz (73)

Last time

The Sox bitch-slapped the Indians in Cleveland a little over a month ago. The Sox swept Cleveland with ease. 

Ubaldo Jimenez only lasted 1 2/3, surrendering 7 runs on only 2 hits! Yeah, 2 hits. Most of the damage was associated with the 5 walks he gave up. Napoli had the big bat in that game, with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies.

The Sox got a rare positive offensive performance against Justin Masterson, tagging him for 4 runs on 11 hits. Mike Napoli came up big again with a double and 2 RBI. Daniel Nava also came up with a pair of RBI in the second game.

Guess which two players came up big in game 3. Yup, you guessed it...I assumed you guessed it and didn't read on to see the names. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Napoli dug out a triple while knocking in a run in another multi-hit game, and Nava drove in another pair of runs. Please, repeat this performance.

 

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz

David Ortiz is batting .440 (11/25), with 3 homers, and 9 RBI over the last two series. Throw in a steal of 3rd last night and we have ourselves an MVP candidate. Well, not yet, but David is stealing the show in 2013. Ortiz is creeping up on Will Middlebrooks for the team lead in home runs and Napoli for the lead in RBI. F-U Shaughnessy.

Pitch Around: Mark Reynolds

Red Sox pitching did a good job containing him in the last series. Since then, he has picked up the power game considerably. Reynolds is tied for 5th in the majors in homers with 12, and 6th in RBI with 37. Avoid pitching him meatballs.

Don't Fall Behind: Justin Freakin' Masterson

The Red Sox have started figuring him out, especially in their last meeting. Recently, Justin has been on fire, going 3-0, with a 1.17 ERA, and 27 K's in his last 3 starts. Game 2 might get away from the Sox. He will always haunt the Sox, with a few bad outings thrown in from time to time.

How we see it goin' down

Cleveland has turned that tough start around and are atop the AL Central. They have played well over the last month, and have gotten some quality starts from the rotation. Terry Francona's return to Fenway is going to be interesting and hard fought. This has series split written all over it and it will be fun to watch.

First Pitch: Thursday 7:10, Friday 7:10, Saturday 1:35, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Thursday: Zach McAllister, RHP (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 4.27 ERA)

Friday: Justin Masterson, RHP (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-4, 3.31 ERA)  

Saturday: Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-1, 3.15 ERA)

Sunday: Corey Kluber, RHP (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront, LHP (3-2, 5.61 ERA)

                                  Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 26-19 (1st AL Central)	Record: 28-19 (2nd AL East)
On road: 11-9	At home: 13-10
Streak: L2	Streak: W1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Gomes (.316)	Average: Ortiz (.351)
Homers: Reynolds (12)	Homers: Middlebrooks (8)
RBI: Reynolds (37)	RBI: Napoli (35)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Masterson (7)	Wins: Buchholz (7)
ERA: McAllister (2.65) | Smith (1.13)	ERA: Buchholz (1.73) | Breslow (1.17)
K's: Masterson (71)	K's: Buchholz (73)

Last time

The Sox bitch-slapped the Indians in Cleveland a little over a month ago. The Sox swept Cleveland with ease. 

Ubaldo Jimenez only lasted 1 2/3, surrendering 7 runs on only 2 hits! Yeah, 2 hits. Most of the damage was associated with the 5 walks he gave up. Napoli had the big bat in that game, with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies.

The Sox got a rare positive offensive performance against Justin Masterson, tagging him for 4 runs on 11 hits. Mike Napoli came up big again with a double and 2 RBI. Daniel Nava also came up with a pair of RBI in the second game.

Guess which two players came up big in game 3. Yup, you guessed it...I assumed you guessed it and didn't read on to see the names. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Napoli dug out a triple while knocking in a run in another multi-hit game, and Nava drove in another pair of runs. Please, repeat this performance.

 

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz

David Ortiz is batting .440 (11/25), with 3 homers, and 9 RBI over the last two series. Throw in a steal of 3rd last night and we have ourselves an MVP candidate. Well, not yet, but David is stealing the show in 2013. Ortiz is creeping up on Will Middlebrooks for the team lead in home runs and Napoli for the lead in RBI. F-U Shaughnessy.

Pitch Around: Mark Reynolds

Red Sox pitching did a good job containing him in the last series. Since then, he has picked up the power game considerably. Reynolds is tied for 5th in the majors in homers with 12, and 6th in RBI with 37. Avoid pitching him meatballs.

Don't Fall Behind: Justin Freakin' Masterson

The Red Sox have started figuring him out, especially in their last meeting. Recently, Justin has been on fire, going 3-0, with a 1.17 ERA, and 27 K's in his last 3 starts. Game 2 might get away from the Sox. He will always haunt the Sox, with a few bad outings thrown in from time to time.

How we see it goin' down

Cleveland has turned that tough start around and are atop the AL Central. They have played well over the last month, and have gotten some quality starts from the rotation. Terry Francona's return to Fenway is going to be interesting and hard fought. This has series split written all over it and it will be fun to watch.

First Pitch: Thursday 7:10, Friday 7:10, Saturday 1:35, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Thursday: Zach McAllister, RHP (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 4.27 ERA)

Friday: Justin Masterson, RHP (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-4, 3.31 ERA)  

Saturday: Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-1, 3.15 ERA)

Sunday: Corey Kluber, RHP (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront, LHP (3-2, 5.61 ERA)

                                  Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 26-19 (1st AL Central)	Record: 28-19 (2nd AL East)
On road: 11-9	At home: 13-10
Streak: L2	Streak: W1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Gomes (.316)	Average: Ortiz (.351)
Homers: Reynolds (12)	Homers: Middlebrooks (8)
RBI: Reynolds (37)	RBI: Napoli (35)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Masterson (7)	Wins: Buchholz (7)
ERA: McAllister (2.65) | Smith (1.13)	ERA: Buchholz (1.73) | Breslow (1.17)
K's: Masterson (71)	K's: Buchholz (73)

Last time

The Sox bitch-slapped the Indians in Cleveland a little over a month ago. The Sox swept Cleveland with ease. 

Ubaldo Jimenez only lasted 1 2/3, surrendering 7 runs on only 2 hits! Yeah, 2 hits. Most of the damage was associated with the 5 walks he gave up. Napoli had the big bat in that game, with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies.

The Sox got a rare positive offensive performance against Justin Masterson, tagging him for 4 runs on 11 hits. Mike Napoli came up big again with a double and 2 RBI. Daniel Nava also came up with a pair of RBI in the second game.

Guess which two players came up big in game 3. Yup, you guessed it...I assumed you guessed it and didn't read on to see the names. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Napoli dug out a triple while knocking in a run in another multi-hit game, and Nava drove in another pair of runs. Please, repeat this performance.

 

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz

David Ortiz is batting .440 (11/25), with 3 homers, and 9 RBI over the last two series. Throw in a steal of 3rd last night and we have ourselves an MVP candidate. Well, not yet, but David is stealing the show in 2013. Ortiz is creeping up on Will Middlebrooks for the team lead in home runs and Napoli for the lead in RBI. F-U Shaughnessy.

Pitch Around: Mark Reynolds

Red Sox pitching did a good job containing him in the last series. Since then, he has picked up the power game considerably. Reynolds is tied for 5th in the majors in homers with 12, and 6th in RBI with 37. Avoid pitching him meatballs.

Don't Fall Behind: Justin Freakin' Masterson

The Red Sox have started figuring him out, especially in their last meeting. Recently, Justin has been on fire, going 3-0, with a 1.17 ERA, and 27 K's in his last 3 starts. Game 2 might get away from the Sox. He will always haunt the Sox, with a few bad outings thrown in from time to time.

How we see it goin' down

Cleveland has turned that tough start around and are atop the AL Central. They have played well over the last month, and have gotten some quality starts from the rotation. Terry Francona's return to Fenway is going to be interesting and hard fought. This has series split written all over it and it will be fun to watch.

First Pitch: Thursday 7:10, Friday 7:10, Saturday 1:35, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Thursday: Zach McAllister, RHP (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 4.27 ERA)

Friday: Justin Masterson, RHP (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-4, 3.31 ERA)  

Saturday: Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-1, 3.15 ERA)

Sunday: Corey Kluber, RHP (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront, LHP (3-2, 5.61 ERA)

                                  Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 26-19 (1st AL Central)	Record: 28-19 (2nd AL East)
On road: 11-9	At home: 13-10
Streak: L2	Streak: W1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Gomes (.316)	Average: Ortiz (.351)
Homers: Reynolds (12)	Homers: Middlebrooks (8)
RBI: Reynolds (37)	RBI: Napoli (35)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Masterson (7)	Wins: Buchholz (7)
ERA: McAllister (2.65) | Smith (1.13)	ERA: Buchholz (1.73) | Breslow (1.17)
K's: Masterson (71)	K's: Buchholz (73)

Last time

The Sox bitch-slapped the Indians in Cleveland a little over a month ago. The Sox swept Cleveland with ease. 

Ubaldo Jimenez only lasted 1 2/3, surrendering 7 runs on only 2 hits! Yeah, 2 hits. Most of the damage was associated with the 5 walks he gave up. Napoli had the big bat in that game, with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies.

The Sox got a rare positive offensive performance against Justin Masterson, tagging him for 4 runs on 11 hits. Mike Napoli came up big again with a double and 2 RBI. Daniel Nava also came up with a pair of RBI in the second game.

Guess which two players came up big in game 3. Yup, you guessed it...I assumed you guessed it and didn't read on to see the names. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Napoli dug out a triple while knocking in a run in another multi-hit game, and Nava drove in another pair of runs. Please, repeat this performance.

 

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz

David Ortiz is batting .440 (11/25), with 3 homers, and 9 RBI over the last two series. Throw in a steal of 3rd last night and we have ourselves an MVP candidate. Well, not yet, but David is stealing the show in 2013. Ortiz is creeping up on Will Middlebrooks for the team lead in home runs and Napoli for the lead in RBI. F-U Shaughnessy.

Pitch Around: Mark Reynolds

Red Sox pitching did a good job containing him in the last series. Since then, he has picked up the power game considerably. Reynolds is tied for 5th in the majors in homers with 12, and 6th in RBI with 37. Avoid pitching him meatballs.

Don't Fall Behind: Justin Freakin' Masterson

The Red Sox have started figuring him out, especially in their last meeting. Recently, Justin has been on fire, going 3-0, with a 1.17 ERA, and 27 K's in his last 3 starts. Game 2 might get away from the Sox. He will always haunt the Sox, with a few bad outings thrown in from time to time.

How we see it goin' down

Cleveland has turned that tough start around and are atop the AL Central. They have played well over the last month, and have gotten some quality starts from the rotation. Terry Francona's return to Fenway is going to be interesting and hard fought. This has series split written all over it and it will be fun to watch.

First Pitch: Thursday 7:10, Friday 7:10, Saturday 1:35, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Thursday: Zach McAllister, RHP (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 4.27 ERA)

Friday: Justin Masterson, RHP (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-4, 3.31 ERA)  

Saturday: Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-1, 3.15 ERA)

Sunday: Corey Kluber, RHP (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront, LHP (3-2, 5.61 ERA)

                                  Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 26-19 (1st AL Central)	Record: 28-19 (2nd AL East)
On road: 11-9	At home: 13-10
Streak: L2	Streak: W1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Gomes (.316)	Average: Ortiz (.351)
Homers: Reynolds (12)	Homers: Middlebrooks (8)
RBI: Reynolds (37)	RBI: Napoli (35)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Masterson (7)	Wins: Buchholz (7)
ERA: McAllister (2.65) | Smith (1.13)	ERA: Buchholz (1.73) | Breslow (1.17)
K's: Masterson (71)	K's: Buchholz (73)

Last time

The Sox bitch-slapped the Indians in Cleveland a little over a month ago. The Sox swept Cleveland with ease. 

Ubaldo Jimenez only lasted 1 2/3, surrendering 7 runs on only 2 hits! Yeah, 2 hits. Most of the damage was associated with the 5 walks he gave up. Napoli had the big bat in that game, with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies.

The Sox got a rare positive offensive performance against Justin Masterson, tagging him for 4 runs on 11 hits. Mike Napoli came up big again with a double and 2 RBI. Daniel Nava also came up with a pair of RBI in the second game.

Guess which two players came up big in game 3. Yup, you guessed it...I assumed you guessed it and didn't read on to see the names. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Napoli dug out a triple while knocking in a run in another multi-hit game, and Nava drove in another pair of runs. Please, repeat this performance.

 

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz

David Ortiz is batting .440 (11/25), with 3 homers, and 9 RBI over the last two series. Throw in a steal of 3rd last night and we have ourselves an MVP candidate. Well, not yet, but David is stealing the show in 2013. Ortiz is creeping up on Will Middlebrooks for the team lead in home runs and Napoli for the lead in RBI. F-U Shaughnessy.

Pitch Around: Mark Reynolds

Red Sox pitching did a good job containing him in the last series. Since then, he has picked up the power game considerably. Reynolds is tied for 5th in the majors in homers with 12, and 6th in RBI with 37. Avoid pitching him meatballs.

Don't Fall Behind: Justin Freakin' Masterson

The Red Sox have started figuring him out, especially in their last meeting. Recently, Justin has been on fire, going 3-0, with a 1.17 ERA, and 27 K's in his last 3 starts. Game 2 might get away from the Sox. He will always haunt the Sox, with a few bad outings thrown in from time to time.

How we see it goin' down

Cleveland has turned that tough start around and are atop the AL Central. They have played well over the last month, and have gotten some quality starts from the rotation. Terry Francona's return to Fenway is going to be interesting and hard fought. This has series split written all over it and it will be fun to watch.

Recap: Red Sox pounce on Jimenez, ride out 7-2 win

Boston got its first sporting distraction since the Marathon bombing as the Red Sox went to Cleveland and beat the Indians soundly, 7-2.

First, the game stuff: It was a weird one. The pitching was all over the place. Ubaldo Jimenez got scorched for Cleveland, registering his second-shortest career outing after walking five batters and allowing all seven Boston runs in an inning and a third. The walks continued with the bullpen, despite the fact that Cleveland managed to keep the Sox off the scoreboard further, as Indians relievers combined for four more walks. 

On the other hand, the Indians pitchers managed to make Boston hitters miss, striking out a whopping 16 batters in total, including Daniel Nava four times. (Nava's OPS is down to a paltry 1.087.)

On the Sox side, Felix Doubront struggled more than his box score would indicate. He struck out seven batters over five innings, but walked four and gave up two runs on four hits. Most importantly, Doubront continues to be inefficient. It took him 104 pitches to get through five innings, and his 5th inning was very shaky. This forced John Farrell to use Clayton Mortensen and Alex Wilson for two innings each, putting some pressure on Alfredo Aceves to at least be serviceable tomorrow (not a sure thing, obviously).

Mike Napoli continued his hot hitting, getting two of the Sox' six hits, and driving in three runs on a double in the 2nd. Also of note: Jonny Gomes singled and walked three times in four plate appearances.

For non-game stuff, there were Boston tributes across the majors tonight. At Progressive Field, the Red Sox and Indians both wore black armbands, and the Indians held a moment of silence before the game. The Red Sox printed off a jersey reading Boston Strong with the number 617 that they hung in the dugout. Meanwhile, the Indians played Sweet Caroline during warmups, as did several teams throughout the league (including the Yankees after the 3rd inning in their game). While the game was a welcome distraction, it was clear that teams and players across the league wanted to recognize what had happened.

Box score

Image via @redsox

FOX: Red Sox and Indians could match up in trades

Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports that the Red Sox have inquired on a couple of Cleveland's finest: Justin Masterson and Shin-Soo Choo.

As Morosi states, there's a lot of logic in Boston and Cleveland matching up on trades. The Sox finally have a relatively well-stocked farm system, and the Indians probably aren't making a serious run at contending for the next year or two anyway, so it makes sense to push their focus out a year or two.

I have problems with both of these players that would result in me being cautious in bringing them in.

For Masterson, I've just never trusted him to stay healthy. That herky-jerky delivery is just begging for Tommy John surgery, and I don't know how he can stay on the field all year without wearing down.

Shin-Soo, meanwhile, I believe in strongly. However, so does Scott Boras. And he's only got a year left. Are the Red Sox a legit contender next year? Likely not. And Boras isn't going to want Choo to extend early...so why give anything up?

My preferred trade candidate from Cleveland: Asdrubal Cabrera. Greatest name in sports (if you're close friends with him like I am, you can call him Drubsy), solid all-around player, good pop for a short stop -- he'd be a good add. No idea what he would cost.

Jays trade Aviles to Indians

Just when Mike Aviles was getting comfortable in Toronto, they shipped him out of town. Yup, two weeks after the Jays received Aviles in exchange for compensation for John Farrell, he was traded to the wonderful city of Cleveland.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays have shipped Aviles and utility man Yan Gomes to the Indians in exchange for right-hander Esmil Rogers.

Aviles, who turns 32 next March, batted .250/.282/.381 with 13 home runs, 60 RBI and a .663 OPS in 136 games this season for the Red Sox. He earned $1.2 million in 2012 and is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter. The Indians already have Asdrubal Cabrera and Jason Kipnis as starters at shortstop and second base respectively, so Aviles could be in the mix at third base or as a backup infielder.

It seems Mike Aviles was just a pawn in Toronto's grand scheme to take over the AL East. Or, they just thought he has more trade value than what he is worth to the franchise, as they prep for another disappointing season. The latter makes more sense.

I don't know about Mike, but I would rather be in Toronto than Cleveland. Not only because of the strong possibility of becoming a back-up, more because the city just plain sucks. That brings us to another perfect segue to the hastily made Cleveland tourism video...

 

Indians hire Francona

 

As expected, the Cleveland Indians have hired Terry Francona as their next manager. The Indians will make the official announcement on Monday.

The Cleveland Indians will name Terry Francona their manager on Monday.

That's the news from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and multiple sources have confirmed it to the Globe. Francona, 53, will return to baseball after a year with ESPN.

The former Red Sox manager is expected to have Brad Mills, the former Houston manager, on his staff. Mills was Francona's bench coach in Boston.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Indians wasted no time in making their decision on Francona. A guy who has won 2 World Series in 8 years as manager of the Red Sox with an overall winning percentage of .574, and 1.000 in the World Series. Yeah, big shocker. Every team in need of a manager was drooling over Tito, well, every team other than the Red Sox.

Now we could look forward to Francona coming in with Cleveland along with Justin Masterson, who looks like Nolan Ryan against the Sox, and only against the Sox.

Tito is really going to enjoy the beauty of Cleveland. I'm sure that was one of the most appealing things about taking the Indians job.

Recap: Yada yada yada, Sox lose

The Red Sox take Saturday off.  Get embarrassed by the Indians.  Lose 5-2.

Here's what you need to know about this game: Brent Lillibridge, one of the guys the Sox traded Youkilis for, who they then flipped to Cleveland for virtually nothing, had three hits (including a home run).  The entire Boston Red Sox organization had 4 hits. 

Morales, like Buchholz before him, limited Cleveland to 2 hits.  Unlike Clay, he wasn't exactly dominating.  While he struck out 6 batters, he also walked 4 and was tagged for 3 runs.  And he only lasted 5 1/3 innings.  Melancon, Breslow and Mortensen finished the game, with Malancon and Breslow each getting tagged with a run.

Of Boston's 4 hits, Ellsbury had 2 (both doubles).  Gonzalez had 1 (two-run double), and Pedroia had the other.  The good news is that the Sox didn't leave too many men on base tonight, because no men were getting on base.  The Sox lineup wasn't even having good at-bats.  Just a poor effort on the back of a season of poor efforts.

I'm not even angry at this point.  I'm just sad.  What a waste.

BOX SCORE

Recap: Buchholz steps up again, Sox win 3-2

For a couple of weeks we've been discussing how Clay Buchholz has been morphing into the ace of the Red Sox staff.  Well, consider the transformation complete.  In a must-win game (let's be honest, they're all must-win at this point), with the bullpen in desperate need of some rest, Clay told everybody, "Sit down.  I got this."

Clay pitched a complete game 2-hitter with 6 K's and 0 walks; and it only took him 104 pitches to get the job done.  Cleveland made the most of the runners they did get on base (with a little help from Avile's error), scoring 2 runs (only one earned).  It's not often you see a team cross the plate twice in the midst of a 2-hitter with 0 walks, but it happened tonight.  And if you're curious as to how well Clay has been pitching over the past couple months, on June first his ERA was at a 6.58.  In 9 starts since, he's gotten in down to a respectable 4.24.  That's impressive.

The Sox offense struggled to get runners home, as usual, but did enough to get the 'W'.  Pedroia was the only batter to get multiple hits (he also had an RBI), but Ross' 2-run blast in the 6th (which scored Pedroia) was the knockout blow.  Gonzalez went 0-4, leaving 4 men on base.  I take back all those nice things I said about him earlier.

The Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians.  Let's all rejoice while we try to figure out some way to get Buchholz to pitch every 2nd or 3rd game. 

BOX SCORE

Recap: Indians hand Sox another demoralizing loss.

Yep. The losses continue to suck even more as time passes.

Felix Doubront was up & down all night. He gave up a leadoff home run to Jason Donald, who is now hitting .192 on the year, and managed to get out of a mess in the first. He then retired nine out of the next ten batters he faced. Then he can't manage to get anyone else out as the Indians manage to get three more runs off of him before Bobby V pulled the plug on Dubront's night with one out in the fourth. Maybe the workflow is finally starting to catch up to Doubront as this is his second straight struggling start. (Say that five times fast) 

The offense was able to get some runners on base against Ubaldo Jimenez. Jacoby Ellsbury had himself a great night on the bases, as he stole three bases (which is the same amount that he has all season) and everyone except Carl Crawford got a hit but they just couldn't manage to manufacture many runs.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two run homer and Dustin Pedroia got an RBI single but other than that Ubaldo was like a Belichick coached defense- bending but not breaking. He struck out ten in six innings and only walked one, which is a bit of a shock as he leads the league in walks. 

The lowlight of the night though had to be in the seventh inning when the Sox had Pedro Ciriaco on second with Crawford at the plate and one out. Crawford hits a hard grounder to the shortstop and for some reason Ciriaco was running to third and got tagged out in a run down and then Crawford decided it was a smart idea to run to second and he also got tagged out for the inning ending double play. Yep, this is our team right now.

Box Score