BOSTON -- On Monday, David Ortiz put an exclamation
point at the end of an amazing July. He will attempt to carry
his success into August when the Boston Red Sox host the second
of four games against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.
Ortiz belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth
inning to lift the Red Sox to a 9-8 victory in Monday's series
opener, helping Boston maintain sole possession of first place
in the American League East Division. It was the second blast
of the game for Ortiz, who set franchise records for most
homers (14) and RBIs (35) in July.
Since joining the Red Sox prior to the 2003 season, Ortiz has
won 12 regular-season games with a hit in the ninth inning or
later. He has delivered five such hits this year, including
two in the last three contests.
The first player in Red Sox history with 105 RBIs by the end of
July, Ortiz will face Indians ace C.C. Sabathia (7-7, 3.82) to
begin August. The lefthander has gone 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA in
five lifetime starts against Boston, with the lone win coming
in his rookie year of 2001.
Sabathia has dropped his last three starts overall, posting a
5.30 ERA during that stretch. In his last road outing July 15,
he surrendered a season-high 13 hits in eight innings of a 6-2
loss at Minnesota.
Boston will turn to Jason Johnson (3-10, 6.35), who began the
year with the Indians but was designated for assignment after
going 3-8 with a 5.96 ERA in 14 starts. He then was acquired by
the Red Sox, with whom he posted a 10.13 ERA in losing two
starts before being sent to the minors earlier this month.
In 12 lifetime appearances - 10 starts - against Cleveland,
Johnson has gone 0-4 with a 5.97 ERA.
Kyle Snyder originally was slated to start for Boston on Tuesday
but was pressed into relief duty Monday after David Wells was
ineffective. Snyder worked the final 4 1/3 innings of the win,
allowing just one hit and striking out six.