Cleveland Indians: Situational Hitting Carries Boston Over the Indians

6 - 7 - 10     vs. Boston     L, 4 - 1     21 - 35

     Knowing that the opposition is simply better has become a familiar feeling for the Indians and their fans this season, and never has it been more prevalent than following the series opener with the Boston Red Sox.  The Tribe did not play all that poorly, but Boston hit better in key situations and got the big outs when they needed to be recorded.
     The Sox only had one RBI hit all night, a Bill Hall single in the 8th, as they instead used grounders to the right side of the infield and sacrifice flies to plate four runs.  In his return to Cleveland, Victor Martinez went 2 - 4 with a double and a sac fly.
     The Indians avoided being shut out thanks to Austin Kearns in the 9th inning.  Kearns jumped all over a Daniel Bard fastball and he hit it deep into the left field bleachers.  Two outs later, however, the game was over.
      Daisuke Matsuzaka was in complete control from the get - go, and he held Cleveland scoreless over eight frames of work while striking out five.  Fausto Carmona had his second straight quality start wasted by poor hitting as he went six innings and allowed just two earned runs.