UnMatchedSox

Going in to the seventh with a 2 run lead isn’t the sure thing it once was, what with the bullpen as inconsistent as it has been. The offense decided that this one was not going to get away from them and plated seven in the 7th and another four in the 8th. All of this being precipitated by an overturned triple-play call. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Tek hit a line drive to center and the centerfielder caught the ball of the bounce. The runners took off, but the umpires incorrectly signaled it as a catch. After conferring and reviewing replays, the call was overturned and the blood letting began in earnest.

Ellsbury lead the assault with four hits on six at-bats and Youkilis knocked in 4. Beckett was credited with the win, but gave up the only Twins runs with 5 earned runs in 5 innings.

Thank you Theo Epstein for not trading away Ellsbury or Pedroia because these are two of the most exciting players on the team right now. The dynamic duo of Jacoby and Dustin was a combined 7 for 10 this evening with 4 runs and 3 RBI. Pedroia hit three doubles and stole a base, but was overshadowed (slightly) by Ellsbury. Jacoby had his first multi-homer game with two solo shots and a flawlessly executed drag bunt single. As for the Manny 500 HR watch, he’ll sit at 496 for a little bit longer thanks to an amazing catch by Vlad in the 5th.

Josh Beckett was a late scratch with a sore neck and it would be an omen of the pitching performances yet to come. The game featured 13 runs scored, 27 hits, 5 home runs and an amazing 312 pitches. I think it goes without saying that this was no pitcher’s duel.

The Boston Red Sox are the World Champions for the second time in four years and unlike 2004, this one comes with significantly less baggage. 2004 was all about curses, comebacks and mystical, “if you build it” mumbo-jumbo. This series was all about baseball, prospects coming of age, and the two best baseball teams in their respective leagues battling it out on the biggest stage in baseball.

This time last year, Jon Lester was undergoing chemotherapy, and now here he is becoming only the third pitcher in MLB history to win the deciding game of a World Series in his first career postseason start. It wasn’t like this was a blowout either with the Sox lead never getting above 2 for more than half an inning. Lester pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings of 3 hit ball, struck out 3 and walked 3 in the biggest game of his career.

As for the offense, Mike Lowell once again rose to the occasion scoring a run in the 5th and homering in the 7th. His performance in game 4 helped to solidify his candidacy for World Series MVP in series full of legitimate candidates. He hit .400 in the Series with four RBIs, three walks and a team-high six runs. Ellsbury, who started the year in Double-A Portland started things off on the right foot with a double on the second pitch of the game. Some good baserunning would later lead him home on a ground ball by Ortiz and the Sox jumped out early once again. The Sox even got some help off the bench in the form of a PH homer by Bobby Kielty in the 8th. It would prove to be the game winner and series clincher all in one neat and tidy package.

Red Sox rookies are leading the way to Boston’s second World Series in four years. Jacoby Ellsbury had four hits and two RBIs while Dustin Pedroia went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs of his own. Even Daisuke helped himself out by going 1 for 3 and driving in Varitek and Lowell to collect 2 RBIs in the 3rd. On the other side of the ball, Matsuzaka pitched well enough to earn the win. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and fanned 5 in 5.1 innings. The other rookie pitcher, Okajima, gave up a 3 run shot to Holliday in the 7th, but only one of the runs was earned and he fanned two in an inning of work.

Despite the lopsided final score, the game was tight right up to the 8th when Ellsbury and Pedroia combined to put it out of reach with back to back doubles that drove in 3.

Game 3 MVP: Jacoby Ellsbury

Here it is, game 7 of the American League Championship Series and I’m stuck watching the game on ESPN’s Gamecast. Generally, I’m a big fan of Gamecast and next to watching the game on television or listening to it on the radio, its really the next best thing. (No, I’m not going to pay to stream it over the Internet from MLB.) Anyway, while I’m at the computer working on a few things, I figured why not run a live blog while I’m at it. Can you think of a better use of my time right now? No, I didn’t think so.

1st - Top

Daisuke retired them so quickly, I didn’t even realize the inning was over. I turned my head and “BOOM” its the bottom of the 1st. How long can he keep that up? Yeah, its rhetorical.

1st - Bottom

Here we go with the leadoff single, nicely done Pedroia. And another single, this time from Youk and Pedroia moves to second. Papi goes down swinging. RBI single by Manny and the score is now 1 - 0 Sox. Lowell singles to left and the bases are juiced for J.D. “Mr. Grand Slam” Drew. Make that “Inning Ending Double Play” Drew. We’ve seen a whole hell of lot more of that Drew than the former.

2nd - Top

Daisuke gets them 1, 2, 3 in the top of the second all on infield outs.

2nd - Bottom

Nice double to left by Varitek. Looks like they’re going to get to Westbrook early tonight. That’s quite alright with me. Ellsbury, my new favorite player, singles and moves Tek to third. Lugo grounds in to a DP, but Tek scores and the game is now 2-0 Sox. Pedroia flies to left and the inning is over.

3rd - Top

Lofton flies out to right. Guiterrez pops out to second. And Blake has a single to center and promptly advances to second on a WP by Daisuke. Oh god, don’t blow up now. Sizemore goes down swinging and the inning is over.

3rd - Bottom

Youk starts off the third right with a double and the Sox have gotten the leadoff man aboard in three straight innings. Ortiz grounds out, but Youk advances to third. They walk Manny. I can’t really blame them, but Lowell is no slouch either. Sac fly to right and the Sox are up 3 - 0. J.D. flies out and the inning is over.

4th - Top

I got behind on this inning and got brought back just in time to see “R Garko doubled to deep center, T Hafner scored.” Hafner may have been cold for the series, but he sure has made his presence felt tonight.

4th - Bottom

Varitek is 2 for 2, I certainly hope he keeps this up. Ellsbury on third and Lugo on 1st certainly makes for some serious speed on the basepaths. What an unusual thing to say about Sox base runners. Lot of good all that speed did.

5th - Top

Man, I wish I could have seen Lofton getting gunned down at second. It must have been a good play to catch him. Back to back singles and Sizemore coming to the plate. Hard to imagine the tribe not getting at least one here. Doh! Thankfully it was a sac fly and Cabrera struck out. That was looking scary.

5th - Bottom

Youk, Ortiz, and Ramirez all go down in order and without too much of a fight. This is not the same Westbrook that started this game.

6th - Top

I don’t have expanded stats available so I don’t know what Dice-K’s pitch count was, but I’m surprised, but happy to see Francona pull Daisuke early. That last inning didn’t look real good from here and in the absence of seeing it with my own eyes, I’ve got to think the visual matched. Okajima seemed to make quick work of Hafner, Martinez, and Garko. We’ll see if he’s back in the 7th.

6th - Bottom

OK, Westbrook is back and I’m not real happy about it. He made quick work of Lowell, Drew, and Tek and they’ve got to add some insurance quick before the Indians can get to Perez and Betancourt.

7th - Top

Here comes Okie Dokie for another inning. It really is annoying watching the little animation that depicts a ball put in play without knowing what is going on. Was it routine, did Drew make a great play? The consolation is that Peralta is out. Case in point, how bad was Lugo’s error just now? Dammit, I’m a wreck. Damn that Gutierrez. Thank you Blake for the inning ending double play.

7th - Bottom

Here comes Betancourt. As dominant as Westbrook was looking, I’m not sure I would have yanked him. Ellsbury is one fast dude, I wonder if it was a factor on the error by Blake. Lugo sacrificed to move Ellsbury to third. I’ll like this move if Pedroia can lift one to the outfield or hit safely. OH THAT’LL WORK! Not known for his power, the little guy just helped my blood pressure with that one. Sox up by three on the two run shot over the monster. Youk grounded to short and here comes Papi. And there goes Papi.

8th - Top

It would appear that this series is gonna go small-ball. Sizemore just bunted for a single. Of course when you’re as fast as Sizemore, you can do that kind of thing. Aw crap, Cabrera just singled to center and Sizemore is in scoring position at second. And here comes Papelbon. Hafner goes down swinging and that brings up Martinez. Martinez grounds in to a fielder’s choice and now there are runners at the corners with Cabrera getting forced at second. Garko flies out to center and the inning is over. Damn Gamecast animation showed that one going WAAAAY back and I was waiting for the the scoreboard to read 5 to 5.

8th - Bottom

Betancourt is back for the 8th and manages to take care of Manny pretty quickly. Lowell doubles to deep center and that brings up Drew. That damn animation got my hopes up this time. God, I wish I had a TV handy right now. Then again, maybe its better I don’t. Gamecast is cycling all kinds of stats about J.D. right about now and none of them are very good. HA! A single to center and Lowell comes around to score. 6 to 2 Sox! I can’t see what is really going on, but this Tek at bat is long. Ground rule double to left and Drew goes to third. It was worth the wait. They’re walking Ellsbury to get to Lugo?! Welcome to the majors Ellsbury, you really have made it. Bases are loaded for Lugo with one out. Will Francona pinch hit for him? Nope. I’d much rather Lugo go down swinging than hit in to a double play. That brings up Pedroia who is hitting 2 for 4 with a dinger. Holy CRAP! A bases clearing double for Pedroia and the score just broke open 9 to 2 Sox. Pitching change and here comes Lewis. Well Indian fans, the wheels are officially off the bus. Youk just homered to left and the score is now 11 - 2. Make me wonder if Papelbon will be back in the 9th. Seems like a job for the Eric “The Janitor” Gagne now. Ortiz goes down swinging. It hasn’t been a good game for him, and thankfully we didn’t need him.

9th - Top

Defensive replacement time. Crisp to center and Ellsbury to left to replace Manny. Sounds good to me. Papelbon is back out and I can only assume to give him some work before the WS starts. Peralta singles to left. Lofton lined out to left. Gutierrez lined out to center. C’mon Blake just line out to right and we can spread it around the outfield and end this nice and quick. Nope, he had to be different and fly out to center. That’s the ball game folks and the Sox are going back to the World Series. I am going to bed, but when the Series starts I will not be going without a TV for any of the games. Sox and Rockies here we come.

Josh Beckett became the Major’s first 20 game winner since 2005 and the first for the Sox since 2004. Over six innings, Beckett gave up one run on four hits and struck out 8. Meanwhile, the Sox offense piled on the hapless D-Rays pitching including home runs from Lowell, Varitek, and Ortiz to make the final score 8 to 1. Ortiz finished the night with 3 hits and 4 RBI and Ellsbury had another great night in the lead-off spot going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.

“Twenty wins, it means a lot. A lot of hard work from different people, and they picked me up on days when I was not 100 percent. It takes a lot of people to win that many games. I don’t know if I can take credit for all of it.”
-Josh Beckett