Cleveland vs. Boston

SCHEDULE

Tuesday--Boston (Martinez 19-7) at Cleveland (Wright 12-10), 10 a.m.

Wed.--Boston (Wakefield 17-8) at Cleveland (Gooden 8-6), 10 a.m.

Friday--Cleveland (Nagy 15-10) at Boston (Saberhagen 15-8), 1 p.m.

Saturday--Cleveland at Boston, if necessary

Sunday--Boston at Cleveland, if necessary

STARTING LINEUPS

Cleveland

Kenny Lofton, cf, .281, 54 steals

Joey Cora, 2b, .274, 109 runs

David Justice, dh, .278, 20 HRs

Manny Ramirez, rf, .295, 45 HRs

Jim Thome, 1b, .296, 30 HRs

Travis Fryman, 3b, .298, 28 HRs

Brian Giles, lf, .273, 16 HRs

Sandy Alomar, c, .233, 43 RBIs

Omar Vizquel, ss, .283, 5 errors

*

Boston

Darren Lewis, cf, .269, 28 steals

John Valentin, 3b, .247, 113 runs

Mo Vaughn, 1b, .336, 39 HRs

Nomar Garciaparra, ss, .323, 35 HRs

Mike Stanley, dh, .255, 29 HRs

Troy O’Leary, lf, .269, 23 HRs

Darren Bragg, rf, .275, 28 doubles

Scott Hatteberg, c, .278, 12 HRs

Mike Benjamin, 2b, .274, 3 errors

* Postseason history: Cleveland--6 appearances; 2 World Series championships (last one in 1948). Boston--13 appearances, 5 World Series championships (last one in 1918).

* Team batting: Cleveland--.273 (6th in AL); Boston--.280 (3rd).

* Team pitching: Cleveland--4.43 ERA (5th in AL), Starters ERA--4.43 ERA (4th), Bullpen ERA--4.42 (7th); Boston--4.18 ERA (2nd in AL), Starters ERA--4.37 (3rd), Bullpen ERA--3.82 (3rd).

* Season series: Boston won season series, 8-3.

* Key statistic: Boston had a staff ERA of 3.36 against Cleveland this season, the best of any AL team against the Indians.

* Key players: For Cleveland, closer Mike Jackson, who has 40 saves, but has never been tested as a closer in the playoffs. For Boston, Pedro Martinez. The Red Sox gave him his huge contract, now he gets to earn it.

* Most probable surprise stars: For Cleveland, Joey Cora, who was acquired late in the season from Seattle and always seemed to come up with a big hit when the Mariners needed one. For Boston, Troy O’Leary, who gets lost in the shadow of Mo Vaughn. O’Leary has 67 extra-base hits this season and runs the bases well.