Red Sox win the opener of a four-game series at Progressive Field.
Daisuke Matsuzaka easily dismissed the Indians through eight innings Monday night, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out five.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched Boston past the Indians Monday night, 4-1, at Progressive Field. Matsuzaka allowed four hits in eight innings to match his longest start of the season.
Daniel Bard completed the six-hitter with a one-run ninth. Austin Kearns provided the one run, turning around a 98 mph fastball for a leadoff homer to prevent the shutout.
The Red Sox are 23-11 since May 3. Fausto Carmona (4-5) took the loss. The Indians have lost seven of their last 11 games.
Carmona was coming off a complete game in a 3-0 loss to Detroit's Armando Galarraga. He didn't walk a batter in that game, but he walked six against Boston.
Matsuzaka struck out five and walked two on 112 pitches
One by one: Carmona allowed five hits in six innings. The Red Sox, however, couldn't blow the game open against him.
They took a 1-0 lead in the first on Marco Scutaro's leadoff double and Kevin Youkilis' sac fly. They made it 2-0 in the third when Josh Reddick reached on Carmona's throwing error and came around to score on a stolen base and two ground balls.
Victor Martinez made it 3-0 against his old club with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Bill Hall's RBI single in the eighth off Hector Ambriz made it 4-0.
Pregame notes:
Bye-bye LaPorta: Manager Manny Acta sees Matt LaPorta's future with the Indians at first base. His immediate future, however, will be playing left field and first base for Class AAA Columbus.
The Indians optioned LaPorta to Columbus today to clear a spot for Andy Marte, who came off the disabled list. Marte said he was "sick' and needed surgery, but would not go into details about his illness. Marte, reportedly, needed surgery for an ingrown hair on his abdomen that became infected.
"We just don't think there are enough at bats up here for LaPorta right now," said Acta. "With the way Austin Kearns has swung the bat, and the way we've stretched out Russell Branyan to play about five games a week at first base, it's not fair to the kid.
"We feel he should be down there and playing every day until we can find him enough at bats up here."
Which brings us back to where this season started. If the Indians are rebuilding, shouldn't LaPorta be playing every day in the big league despite the presence of Kearns and Branyan?
That's what the Indians said when season opened. They said LaPorta belonged in the big leagues because he was at the stage of his career where he had to play here. LaPorta went sent to Columbus hitting .218 (26-for-119) with four doubles, one home and seven RBI in 35 games.
"Everybody wants to develop and win at the same time," said Acta. "We did give him an opportunity at the beginning, but right now it's just not fair to him.
"Whether you're developing or not, you still want to put the best team out on the field with the roster you have at hand. We feel he needs to go over there (Columbus) get at bats, get in a groove. Then later on, if anything happens over here, then come up and be able to play every day."
If and when LaPorta establishes himself in the big leagues, Acta sees him as a first baseman.
"With Michael Brantley probably joining this ballclub down the road, we'll probably look at him as a first baseman," said Acta.
Lineups: Red Sox (33-25): SS Marco Scutaro (R), 2B Dustin Pedroia (R), DH David Ortiz (DH), 1B Kevin Youkilis (R), C Victor Martinez (S), RF J.D. Drew (L), 3B Adrian Beltre (R), LF Bill Hall (R), CF Josh Reddick (L) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-2, 5.49).
Indians (21-34): CF Trevor Crowe (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), LF Austin Kearns (L), LF Austin Kearns (R), 1B Russell Branyan (L), 3B Jhonny Peralta (R), 2B Luis Valbuena (R), C Mike Redmond (R), SS Jason Donald (R) RHP Fausto Carmona (4-4, 3.53).
Umpires: H Adrian Johnson, 1B Mike Everitt, 2B Todd Tichenor, 3B Andy Fletcher.
Lineup notes: 2B Mark Grudzielanek is still day to day with a strained right hamstring. Red Sox closers Jonathan Papelbon was placed on bereavement list. Right-hander Boof Bonser came off the disabled list to replace him.
Talk, talk: What was Acta saying to plate umpire Ed Rapuano when he went on the field Sunday in Chicago?
"Jhonny (Peralta) and the home plate umpire were going back and forth," said Acta. "I just went out there to protect Jhonny. I thought he (Rapuano) was trying to bait him."
Quote of the day: "I remember one time going out to the mound to talk with Bob Gibson. He told me to get back behind the batter; that the only thing I knew about pitching was that it was hard to hit," former Cardinal catcher Tim McCarver.
Next: RHP Tim Wakefield (1-4, 6.02) vs. LHP David Huff (2-6, 6.08) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m