BOSTON – Just about every pitcher in the ballpark will be on call tonight, but to start it’s Daisuke Matsuzaka against Cleveland’s Jake Westbrook with a World Series berth at stake.
The Red Sox, with their 12-2 victory over the Indians in Game 6 last night, managed to preserve their bullpen, but Cleveland needed six innings of relief behind right-hander Fausto Carmona.
If you use the Westbrook-Matsuzaka matchup from Game 3 as a gauge, it’s edge Indians, but does anybody want to bet against the Red Sox at this point?
“We will go in basically with the attitude that all hands are on deck,” Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said.
Matsuzaka struggled in his start Monday at Jacobs Field, lasting 42/3 innings and allowing four earned runs in Boston’s 4-2 loss. The right-hander then spent 45 minutes staring into his locker and declined to take questions from reporters.
The Red Sox have some options if Matsuzaka incurs early trouble tonight. At the top of that list would be Josh Beckett, who would figure to be available for a few innings working on two days rest. Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield also could handle long-relief duty.
Westbrook gave the Red Sox fits in Game 3, holding them to two runs over 62/3 innings. The Indians also would have Paul Byrd and C.C. Sabathia available.
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Without acknowledging that Coco Crisp is struggling, Red Sox manager Terry Francona gave Jacoby Ellsbury the start in center field last night. The rookie went 1-for-5 and had an RBI single as part of Boston’s six-run third inning.
Francona said it was difficult giving Crisp the news he wouldn’t be starting. Crisp entered last night’s action batting .161 this postseason.
“I didn’t expect Coco to jump up and hug me,” Francona said. “If I was him, I wouldn’t either.”