At Least the Byrdman's Back

Paul Byrd found his command and fired an impressive game against Boston Tuesday night, allowing just one unearned run in six innings while striking out six and walking zero. Unfortunately, Jorge Julio promptly came into the game and threw eight of nine pitches for balls, walked the first two batters and royally screwed the Tribe bullpen. Rafael Perez was able to limit the damage and allow just two runs to score, but the point remains -- Cleveland's bullpen blew it for a second straight night.

At least Byrd pitched well. He really struggled with his command in his first two starts, but completely controlled Boston's offense tonight. The Tribe needs the Byrdman to eat innings this yearvand keep his ERA in the mid-4s.

While I'm typing this, Julio Lugo grounds into a base-loaded, inning-ending double play. So we're headed to the bottom of the 8th tied 3-3. Hooray.

To finish my thought on the game to this point: I know it's early and we only have limited information, but the Cleveland bullpen is resembling the 2006 version (which basically kept the team from making the playoffs) much more than the 2007 version (which was crucial in the Tribe's playoff run.) At the least, Cleveland's fans should keep a careful eye on whether the bullpen improves during the next few weeks.

Onto the live blogging:

8:58 CT -- 1-1 count to Franklin Gutierrez. Next pitch is driven to deep left field, but Manny Ramirez pulls it in for the easy out. Gutierrez continues to struggle after an outstanding spring. Ben Francisco is eagerly awaiting his turn in Buffalo.

9:00 CT -- Another struggling Indian, Casey Blake, comes to the plate and gets ahead 2-0. Boston has Manny Delcarmen on the hill. He was wild in the 7th and yielded the tying run.

9:01 CT --2-2 to Blake. Kevin Cash goes through the signs before Blake fouls off the pitch to stay alive.

9:02 CT -- Blake lays off an outside fastball and we're full. Tribe really could use Blake to get on before turning the lineup over.

9:03 CT -- I really like Casey Blake by the way. He doesn't do anything particularly wonderful, but he can play different positions, has some pop in the bat and is an overall decent hitter.

9:04 CT -- Blake check swings and takes his walk to first. Grady Sizemore up next with one on and one out.

9:05 CT -- Delcarmen is all over the place. The Tribe needs to stay patient and wait for the young righthander to make a mistake.

9:06 CT -- Weird play. Sizemore grounds to first on what appears to be a foul ball. But the first base ump ruled it fair and Kevin Youkilis touches first for the out but can't get Blake at second. The replay shows it was fair. Blake on second with two outs and a pitching change.

9:08 CT -- David Aardsma enters the game. After last night, it'd be real nice for Cleveland to steal a late win.

9:08 CT -- Jason Michaels up. He kills left-handed pitching. Unfortunately, Aardsma is a righty.

9:09 CT -- On the second pitch, Aardsma induces a shallow fly ball to end the threat. We head to the 9th tied up.

9:10 CT -- I really can't think of a team I detest more than Boston. They've even jumped the Yankees at this point. Especially after last year's playoffs.

9:10 CT -- So who's pitching the 9th? Jensen Lewis will stay in to face Jed Lowrie. It's Lowrie's major league debut and he has a two run single to his credit. He's a highly-touted prospect in a very talent rich Red Sox farm system.

9:11 CT -- 2-0 to Lowrie. I'd prefer we not start the 9th with a walk to a rookie playing in his first game.

9:12 CT --Full count pitch coming. If Lewis doesn't challenge Lowrie here, he's an idiot.

9:13 CT -- And Lewis does challenge the rook, and fires a fastball right by Lowrie on the outside corner. One out with Grandfather Time Jason Varitek pinch hitting next.

9:14 CT -- Varitek has a long swing at this point in his career. I'm not sure he can hit anything fast that's above the waist. He just looks old and slow. Of course, he is old and slow so that makes sense.

9:15 CT -- And as I say that, Varitek hits a low fastball out of the park for a go-ahead home run. You gotta be kidding me. How can you throw him a low fastball? Varitek can only hit low pitches. Cripes, I just typed that Varitek can't hit anything above the waist. How can that happen? And it was a 1-2 pitch! I just threw up in my mouth. That is unbelievable. Jensen Lewis just gave in to Jason Varitek on a 1-2 pitch. Disgusting.

9:18 CT -- While I'm ranting, Coco Crisp rips a single. Then Dustin Pedroia dinks a double to right center and there's two on and just one out. The bullpen is an absolute disaster so far this season. They are really struggling.

9:19 CT -- Now Fatty is up. That would be David Ortiz. I've never hated any player on my fantasy team like I hate Ortiz.

9:20 CT -- Ortiz couldn't hit the air if he tried at this point. He pops up for the second out. Intentional walk to Ramirez (one night too late, if you ask me). Now it's the Greek God of Walks, Youkilis. Disadvantage: Jensen Lewis.

9:22 CT -- Youk rips an RBI single, but Michaels throws Pedroia out at the plate. Headed to bottom of the 9th, Tribe down 5-3.

9:23 CT -- The Tribe is staring 5-9 in the face, a second straight night where the bullpen blew the game and yet another game in this early season where the bats simply could not get a key hit with runners in scoring position. This trend is very alarming, even if it is just the second week of April.

9:25 CT -- Hideki Okajima enters instead of Jonathan Papelbon. I guess this means we have a chance. The Tribe has 3-4-5 up, starting with Pronk.

9:26 CT -- 1-1 to Travis Hafner. Pronk needs to lay off Okajima's change up and wait for something fast.

9:27 CT -- Change up paints the inside corner, 1-2. Crap.

9:27 CT -- Hafner just watched three strikes. The last one was right over the plate. What the hell kind of at bat was that?

9:28 CT -- I'm depressed.

9:28 CT -- 0-2 to Victor Martinez. This doesn't look promising.

9:29 CT -- Just heard that Cleveland's left a man on base to end every inning except for the first. That's just terrible.

9:30 CT -- Change up, swing and a miss. Two out. This all because Jason Varitek hit a home run on a 1-2 pitch. Just amazing.

9:31 CT -- Jhonny Peralta up and trying to give Ryan Garko a chance to bat.

9:32 CT -- Jacoby Ellsbury reaches into the stands and snags Peralta's foul ball to end the game. The Tribe has lost nine of its last 12 and I can't even remember the lyrics to "Indians Fever" anymore.

Game Wrap and Box Score