SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Oct. 18
Boston at Cleveland (8:21 p.m. EDT). C.C. Sabathia tries to pitch the Indians into their first World Series since 1997, facing Game 1 winner Josh Beckett.
NOTHING NEW FOR BECKETT
Down 3-1 in the ALCS, Josh Beckett and Boston will try to save their season when they face Cleveland on Thursday night. The predicament is nothing new for Beckett, who started Florida's comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the 2003 NLCS with a two-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in Game 5.
CHANCE AT REDEMPTION
C.C. Sabathia wasn't at his best in Cleveland's 10-3 loss to Boston in Game 1 of the ALCS, giving up eight runs, seven hits and five walks in just 4 1-3 innings. Luckily for the Indians ace, his teammates have won three straight and will send him to the mound on Thursday with a chance to clinch a trip to the World Series.
NOT WORRIED
With a record eight days off, Colorado has plenty of time to get ready for their first World Series. Last year, Detroit had six days' rest, then played poorly in losing the Series in five games to St. Louis. Manager Clint Hurdle noted on Wednesday that seven of the 10 teams that had to wait five days or more before the Series actually won it all.
