The Boston Red Sox are American
League Champions and are going to the World Series for the first time since
2007. What a thrilling series and how
fitting is it that the Sox came from behind and got yet another huge homerun to
add to the postseason lore of Fenway Park.
Down by one run in the bottom of
the 7th inning with only 8 outs to go, the Red Sox faced the
possibility of having to face Justin Verlander in a Game 7 on Sunday. Up strode Shane Victorino with the bases
loaded. Stymied in a huge slump, he wasn’t
the man I wanted up to the plate. In
fact I remember saying to my friends, “I hope Victorino gets a least a sacrifice
fly here to get a run in and Pedey and Big Papi are coming up.”
But with one magical swing, Shane
Victorino will never have to a buy a beer in Boston again. A grand slam over the Green Monster to lead
Boston to a 5-2 victory over the Tigers, and the American League pennant.
When he first hit it, I knew he
at least had some wall but when it went over, I went delirious. I was jumping up and down and I don’t know
how I didn’t wake up the kids who were sleeping in the other room.
In a season where the Red Sox had
a lot of come from behind victories and thrilling finishes, this may have been
one of the best. Victorino was in a 2
for 23 slump, before ripping his 2nd career postseason grand salami,
which by the way, ties Jim Thome for the all-time record.
With Max Scherzer on the mound,
the Sox knew that runs would be hard to come by and in the bottom of the 5th
got the 1st run of the game.
It came on a big 2-out single by Jacoby Ellsbury after the youngster Xander
Bogaerts kept the inning alive with a 2-out double.
The lead wouldn’t hold up for
long as the Tigers would go ahead by a run in the top of the 6th. Clay Buchholz walked Torii Hunter to lead off
the inning then gave up a single to Miguel Cabrera. John Farrell then replaced Buchholz with
Franklin Morales, a move that I still do not understand. Morales had not pitched at all in this series
and you have Craig Breslow in the bullpen that’s been lights out. With Prince Fielder coming to the plate, I would
have brought in Breslow but for reasons unknown, Farrell went with Morales, and
what did Morales promptly do? Well he
walked Prince Fielder on 4 straight pitches.
Up then was Victor Martinez and
he singled to left to drive in 2 runs.
Just like that, the Tigers had the lead and still had runners on 1st
and 3rd with no outs. Farrell
then brought in Brandon Workman to try and get out of the jam and boy did he.
Jhonny Peralta ripped a shot to
second base which Pedroia fielded quickly and pump faked home which froze a
breaking Fielder who was on his way to score.
Pedroia then tagged Martinez and fired home to Salty. Fielder, who had stopped tried to retreat to
3rd base but Salty fired to Bogaerts to tag a flailing Fielder for
the crazy 4-2-5 double play. It was a
very good play by Pedroia and bad base running by Prince. If you break for home, you have to go for
it. The pump fake froze Fielder about ¾ of
the way down the base line. He had
nowhere to go when Pedey threw home, he was done.
Workman then got Alex Avila to
strike out looking for the final out and to limit the damage. Workman then worked around 2 base runners in
the 7th to keep the deficit at 1 going into the bottom half of the
magical 7th inning.
Jonny Gomes started the inning
off with a bang and very nearly tied up the game with 1 swing as he ripped a double
off the Monster that was about 2 feet short of a homer. After a Stephen Drew strikeout, Xander
Bogaerts worked a walk out of Max Scherzer.
The walk was very impressive as Scherzer had Xander 1-2 and couldn’t put
him away. Lots of poise in the youngster
Bogaerts and I think he’s earned a couple World Series starts.
Drew Smyly replaced Scherzer and
looked to have a double play ball hit by Jacoby Ellsbury up the middle. But the sure-handed Jose Iglesias boots it
and all of a sudden the Sox have 1 out and bases loaded. Iglesias may not have turned 2 on that play
with Ellsbury running but he gets at least the force out a 2nd and
with 2 outs who knows what happens next.
Shane Victorino came up next and
on an 0-2 pitch, hits a curveball over the Monster for the Slam and the
series! What a game!
The Sox didn’t have all that
great of a offensive game, as they had only 5 total hits in the game but did
work 5 walks as well. They were abysmal
with runners in scoring position as usual, going 2 for 10 and leaving 5 men on
base. Jacoby Ellsbury went 1 for 3 with
a run scored, RBI, walk but was caught stealing as well. Victorino went 1 for 3 with 4 RBI, the big
homer and was also hit by a pitch, the 6th time that has happened
this postseason.
Pedroia went 1 for 3 with a walk
and Gomes went 1 for 4 with a run scored and a double. Xander Bogaerts went 1 for 1 with 2 runs
scored, a double and 2 walks. He’s been
very impressive the last 2 games and he has to continue to start.
Napoli and Salty combined to go 0
for 8 with 6 strikeouts and Stephen Drew went 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts. Big Papi went 0 for 3 but did walk once.
Clay Buchholz didn’t have his
best stuff and labored through 5 innings.
He let up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. I really think he’s still trying to build up
arm strength. Let’s hope with a couple
of extra days off he’ll be ready to go in the World Series.
The bullpen was once again lights
out, save for the terrible Morales.
Workman went an inning and 2/3, letting up just 2 hits and striking out
1. Junichi Tazawa went 1/3 of an inning
getting Miguel Cabrera yet again. Craig
Breslow was perfect in the 8th and Koji Uehara struck out 2 and
worked around a hit to close out the game for his 3rd save of the
series and 5th of the postseason.
Koji Uehara was named the ALCS
MVP and I can’t think of anyone else that deserves it more.
Game 1 of the World Series will
come on Wednesday, October 23rd in Fenway Park against the St. Louis
Cardinals at 8:07 on FOX. No starters
have been announced yet but I expect either John Lackey or Jon Lester to take
the hill. Let’s hope this thrilling
joyride of a season can continue.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Shane Victorino. The Flying Hawaiian had the biggest hit of
his career with the grand slam in the 7th.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Mike Napoli. Napoli went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. He came up twice with runners in scoring
position and struck out both times. Not
a good night for someone who looked like he was on fire before this.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Is there any doubt? The grand slam by Victorino in the 7th.
NEXT
Wednesday, October 23rd,
vs. the Cardinals.
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