October 16 in Cleveland Indians history: Tribe takes 3-1 Lead in 2007 ALCS

October 16

2007 ALCS Game 4, Jacobs Field: Indians 7, Red Sox 3

With neither manager wanting to bring back their game one starters, Paul Byrd took on Tim Wakefield at the Jake with the Tribe holding a 2-1 series lead. Byrd started off the game with some variety, a grounder by Dustin Pedroia, a fly ball from Kevin Youkilis and a David Ortiz strikeout. Grady Sizemore walked to start the bottom of the first and stole second after Asbrubal Cabrera fanned. Travis Hafner also whiffed and Victor Martinez lined out. In the second, Manny Ramirez was the first Red Sox runner, singling and moving to second on a Mike Lowell grounder. But Byrd stranded him there as he fanned JD Drew and Coco Crisp.

The Tribe went meekly in the bottom of the second. After Doug Mirabelli flew out and Julio Lugo grounded back to Byrd, Pedroia and Youkilis both singled. But Ortiz forced Youkilis to end the third. The only baserunner for the Tribe in the third was a leadoff walk by Franklin Gutierrez. The teams traded baserunners in the fourth, a two out single by Drew and a two out double by Jhonny Peralta.

After another 1-2-3 top of the fifth, the Tribe offense finally solved the knuckleballer. Casey Blake homered to start things off. Gutierrez singled and Kelly Shoppach was plunked. Sizemore forced Shoppach, making it first and third. Asdrubal had an infield single, scoring Gutierrez. After Hafner whiffed again, Victor singled in Grady and the lead was 3-0. Manny Delcarmen came on and Jhonny lined one over the fence for a three run homer. They eked out one last run on a Kenny Lofton single, stolen base and RBI single by Blake. When it was all said and done, the Tribe led 7-0.

Byrd gave up back to back shots by Youkilis and Ortiz to start the sixth, so Eric Wedge gave him the hook. Manny made it back to back to back off Jensen Lewis, but he retired the next three in order. Sizemore walked to start their half, and was picked off by Jon Lester. But he ended up at second on Ortiz's error. But Victor ended the inning with a flyball.

Varitek led off the seventh with a single off Lewis, but was wiped out on Lugo's 6-4-3 double play grounder. Lester had a perfect seventh and Rafael Betancourt did as well in the top of the eighth. Kelly Shoppach was stranded after a one out single in the eighth. And Betancourt made it a perfect six for six in the top of the ninth. The Tribe now led 3-1, with aces CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona lined up for the next two starts.