G160: Red Sox 6, Spiders 2

Spiders - 000 020 000 - 2  8  3
Red Sox - 103 000 20x - 6  8  1

After giving up a double to start the game, Matsuzaka retired the next 12 Cleveland batters -- and had thrown only 56 pitches through the first four innings. In innings 2-3-4, he threw 34 pitches, 25 of which were strikes.

He fell into a rut in the fifth: three hits, two walks, two runs -- but he fanned Shin-Soo Choo with the bases loaded to escape further damage. Dice finished with a 6-5-2-3-7, 104 line.

Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to start the Boston first, stole third (# 69) and kept running as Kelly Shoppach's throw went into left field. Jason Varitek began the third with a double (!) as eight Boston batters faced Sowers (3-4-4-2-1, 69). Dustin Pedroia had a sac fly and Victor Martinez and Kevin Youkilis also drove in runs. Yook had a two-run double in the seventh.

Billy Wagner pitched for the second consecutive day for the first time as a member of the Red Sox. He struck out the two batters he faced, throwing only seven pitches.

Jeremy Sowers (5.09, 89 ERA+) / Daisuke Matsuzaka (6.08, 78 ERA+)

The ALDS playoff match-ups can be finalized tonight if the Tigers beat the White Sox and the Twins lose to the Royals.

If that happens, then the Yankees will choose which LDS they want: Series A, which begins on Wednesday or Series B, which starts on Thursday. The dates for Games 2-5 are the same in each series; the off-day between Games 1 and 2 is the only difference.