This series, so far, has been all
about pitching. Not just starting
pitching but also the bullpen. Last
night, the Red Sox bullpen won them the game.
Staked to an early lead, Red Sox
manager, John Farrell, called upon Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow and Koji
Uehara to finish off the last 11 outs of Game 5. They did exactly that by holding onto a tight
4-3 victory over the Tigers pushing them 1 came away from a trip to the World
Series.
Koji Uehara, did the most work as
he recording his first 5 out save of the postseason and his first 5 out save
since September 20th. He was
brilliant as usual, retiring all 5 batters he faced in order striking out 2 of
them. When he comes running to the
mound, you mind as well turn off the TV because it’s lights out time.
The bullpen did give up its first
run of the series but recovered to put away a very good Tigers team. Tazawa went an inning and a third allowing 1
run on 3 hits and Craig Breslow went 2/3 of an inning retiring both batters he
faced.
This bullpen has been amazing all
year but they have definitely stepped up their game in the postseason. I like Farrell using Uehara here for 5
outs. He has an off day so can still
expect Uehara back for Game 6 in Boston.
Jon Lester started the game and
didn’t have his best stuff but he gritted it out for 5 and 1/3 innings, giving
up 2 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. He threw only 98 pitches but I agree with
removing him when Farrell did. Though he
had not thrown a ton of pitches, he had to escape a lot of early jams and he
was a lot of high stress counts and situations.
In the bottom of the 1st,
the Tigers had men on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs when Jhonny
Peralta singled to left. Miguel Cabrera,
who has a bad hip injury and can barely run as it is, tried to score from 2nd
but was nailed at the plate by Jonny Gomes.
It was a base running mistake as Cabrera was out by a country mile.
Lester also escaped a jam in the
bottom of the 4th with runners on 1st and 2nd
he induced a 1-6-3 double play by pinch hitting Brayan Pena. The Sox would turn 3 crucial double plays in
the game.
The bats heated up again as they
had 4 runs on 10 hits and walked twice. They
again left a lot more on the field as they went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring
position and left 8 men on base but they also produced when it mattered.
Mike Napoli, who’s quickly
looking like the series MVP, went 3 for 4 with 2 runs, an RBI, a double and a
MONSTER homer to start the Sox scoring.
The homerun was to dead center and measured at over 460 feet. I haven’t seen many homers hit where this
ball landed. It led off the top of the 2nd
and the Sox would also go on to score 2 more runs that inning. His double in the top of the third led to the
Sox 4th run as he scored on a wild pitch by Anibal Sanchez.
Dustin Pedroia went 2 for 5 with
a stolen base and Jacoby Ellsbury went 1 for 4 with an RBI, a walk and 2 stolen
bases. Xander Bogaerts, who started in
place of Will Middlebrooks, went 1 for 3 with a double, run scored and a walk. Bogaerts showed tremendous poise in his first
postseason start and I think Farrell has to start him again in Game 6. This time I’d put him in for Stephen Drew,
who’s batting .094 in the postseason and went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
David Ross went 2 for 3 on the
day as well, with a double and an RBI. He
also had a sacrifice bunt late in the game.
David Ortiz got the only other Red Sox hit.
While I’m not a huge fan of
starting both Ross and Gomes, the move paid off as Ross had a great game at the
dish and Gomes made a couple nice plays in the outfield. Even though Gomes didn’t get a hit, I’m
starting to agree with Farrell that when he’s in the lineup he provides some
special mojo to the team.
With a 3-2 series lead, this
thrilling best of 7 goes back to Boston for Game 6. It won’t be easy as they’ll face Max Scherzer
first then if needed Justin Verlander in Game 7. The Sox have won both of the games that they
pitched but their probably the best 2 pitchers in the American League.
The Sox will counter with 2
pitchers that are no slouches themselves.
Clay Buchholz will go Game 6 and he has to want the ball again. He didn’t fare too well in Game 2 and you
know he wants to atone for that. John
Lackey will go in Game 7 if needed.
Game 6 is schedule for Saturday
at 4:30 but could move to 8:00 if the Cardinals finish off the Dodgers tonight
in the National League Championship Series.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Mike Napoli. Napoli was huge in Game 5 going 3 for 4
including a monster homerun to start things off and a double to get things
going an inning later. If the Sox take
the series, he has to be the MVP, right?
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Stephen Drew. Drew went 0 for 4 with 2 K’s again and I’m
starting to think maybe he needs to sit in favor of Xander Bogaerts. Play Middlebrooks in Game 6 at 3rd
and sit Drew John Farrell! It has to be
done.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Mike Napoli’s homerun to
centerfield in the top of the 2nd.
It changed the momentum and just was an absolute bomb.
NEXT
Saturday, October 19th,
at home vs. the Detroit Tigers.
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