A flying start for Red Sox in 10-3 win

BOSTON -- The Cleveland Indians never got David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez out in the opener of the AL championship series.

Not a single time.

With offense like that, Josh Beckett didn't need another shutout.

Beckett threw 6 innings of 4-hit ball to outpitch C.C. Sabathia on Friday night, and Ortiz and Ramirez reached base all 10 times they came to the plate to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Indians 10-3 in the AL championship series opener.

"I've never seen anything like it. They're unbelievable," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, who drove in 3 runs batting behind the two sluggers. "Especially going up against a pitcher like C.C., to get on every time is unbelievable. … I think it's normal for other pitchers not to want them to beat you, but for them to get on base like they did today is a little bit ridiculous."

Ramirez went 2-for-2 with an RBI single and 3 walks -- 2 of them with the bases loaded -- and Ortiz went 2-for-2 with 2 walks and a hit-by-pitch. Ramirez also had two crowd-pleasing catches in left field: one going back, one coming in.

Ortiz has reached base 16 of 18 times this postseason, going 7-for-9 (.778) with 8 walks and a hit-by-pitch. Ramirez has reached base 11 of his last 12 times since Game 2 of Boston's first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Angels; he's 5-for-10 with 7 RBI in the playoffs overall.

"They're a constant threat," the Indians' Casey Blake said. "They've got a couple of the best swings in the game, and they have a couple of the best eyes in the game. So that's not a very good combination for a pitcher."

But it was a great combination for Beckett.

"I'm definitely excited I don't have to face those guys," Beckett said, "particularly back to back, or even if it's just one or the other."

The Red Sox ace, who pitched shutouts in his previous 2 playoff starts, gave up a first-inning homer to Travis Hafner before retiring 10 batters in a row. By the time the Indians got another run, Boston led 8-2, Sabathia was gone, and the Red Sox were on their way to jumping ahead in the best-of-seven series.

"I usually go out and pitch and have fun and enjoy it," Sabathia said. "I was going out today and trying to not make mistakes."

The 2003 World Series MVP and the only 20-game winner in the majors in the past two seasons, Beckett struck out seven while giving up 2 runs, a hit batter and a wild pitch, and he threw just 80 pitches. He has a 4-2 career postseason record and 1.87 ERA.

And the guy following him to the Fenway mound may be even better in October.

Curt Schilling, who also has a World Series MVP award on his résumé, faces Fausto Carmona today in Game 2 (7 p.m., Channel 32). Schilling, who pitched 7 shutout innings in the first-round clincher against the Angels, likes to motivate himself by trying to keep up with Beckett.

If he can match Beckett's performance in the opener, the Red Sox will be well on their way back to the Series.

"He gave us just what we needed," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "When you're facing a guy like C.C. or, tomorrow, like Carmona, you'd better have somebody you believe in, and we do.

"You're going to have to beat really good pitchers to keep moving on. We know that. I thought tonight we did a good job. Tomorrow we'll have our hands full."

Sabathia and Carmona were among those tied for second in the AL with 19 wins in the regular season, and they are expected to be Beckett's toughest competition for the Cy Young Award. But in the playoffs, Sabathia hasn't been able to keep up.

"He just never got in sync," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He's our No. 1 and I think one of the best in the game. He's proven to me before and he's proven to us before that he can be a little bit off and find it, and that's what you're looking for. … Unfortunately it just didn't happen tonight."

Eight days after struggling while earning a victory in the first-round opener against the New York Yankees, Sabathia allowed 8 runs, 7 hits and 5 walks in 4½ innings. Cleveland's ace gave up 3 consecutive singles in the first inning, then loaded the bases in the 4-run third and again in the 3-run fifth.