As endings go, it was an appropriate one for the Indians
on Sunday at Fenway Park.
A 2009 season in which very little has gone to plan was
perfectly illustrated by Tomo Ohka, of all people, getting the final starting
nod. And a season in which the pitching staff corrupted any and all playoff
hopes very early on was illustrated by Ohka and the bullpen combining to let the
Red Sox's bats run rampant.
On the final day of the Eric Wedge era, the Indians
fell, 12-7, to complete not only a four-game sweep at the hands of the Red Sox
but also to finish the year in the midst of a club-record 15-game road losing
streak and an overall stretch in which they dropped 27 of 35 from Aug. 28 on.
This 2009 season began ugly, with a 9-1 loss at Rangers
Ballpark and an 0-5 start, and it ended even uglier. With this loss, the Indians
guaranteed themselves at least a share of last place in the American League
Central, as they entered the day dead even with the Royals. This marks the first
time the Tribe has ended up last in its division since finishing seventh in the
AL East in 1991.
The Tribe got a leadoff blast out of Luis Valbuena to
get the finale started on the right foot, but Ohka quickly gave back that run
and then some, allowing three runs in the bottom of the first and a solo shot to
Alex Gonzalez in the second. The Indians jumped ahead again with a five-run
third inning off Clay Buchholz, punctuated by Andy Marte's two-run double off
the Green Monster. But their 6-4 lead didn't hold up.
In the fourth, Ohka served up a solo shot to J.D. Drew
to cut the lead to one. And the Red Sox took over for good when Dustin Pedroia
took Ohka deep with a two-run blast in the fifth, making it 7-6.
Any hope the Indians might have entertained about
regaining the advantage was snuffed out in the sixth. Drew went deep again, this
time off Rafael Perez, and the Red Sox loaded the bases. Wedge summoned Chris
Perez, who immediately served up a grand slam to Jed Lowrie to put this game to
bed.
Right fielder Matt LaPorta left in the seventh with a
left big toe sprain. Wedge finished with a 561-573 record in seven seasons at
the helm of the Tribe.
