So this Sox-Angels series has pretty much had it all. Flat-out dominant pitching performance by the ace of a staff? Check. Nail-biting battle of of the bullpens? (Neither pen allowed a single hit until Lugo’s ninth inning single. Amazing) Check. Exciting walk-off blast I could just about hear from my apartment a couple of miles away from Fenway Park? Yep. Fair to say that the Sox head to the land of thunder sticks and irritating primates with the ever-nebulous momentum on their side? Definitely.
Game 1 was certainly the best for one’s heart, and with Curt Schilling on the mound we can hold out some hope for another solid performance. The rotund former owner of a certain bloody sock finished the season in style, going just 3-4 in 9 starts since his return from injury despite posting a very nice 3.34 ERA. The K’s are down a bit, but with the same fantastic control we’ve come to know, that’s really not a huge issue.
He faces Jered Weaver, whose second half numbers resemble those of your typical No. 3: Low 4’s ERA, mediocre peripherals. The Sox hammered The Good Weaver when he came to Boston, but managed only two runs against him the last time they came to LA. Hopefully out-of-nowhere lights out postseason performances don’t run in the family…
Lineups after the break. Go Sox!
Red Sox
1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Julio Lugo, SS
Angels
1. Chone Figgins, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Vladimir Guerrero, RF
4. Garret Anderson, LF
5. Kendry Morales, 1B
6. Macier Izturis, 3B
7. Howie Kendrick, 2B
8. Juan Rivera, DH
9. Mike Napoli, C
Curt with a chance to shut up 40,000 Hollywood Libruls?
I’m totally nervous.
I’m nervous, but in my head I’m giving this game to the Halos, just on general principle, figuring they’ve got to get a little pride back in front of their home crowd… with the assumption that if G38 doesn’t get it done, then Beckett will, plus a little not-so-secret hope that Schilling mows ’em down.
On another note, I’m almost completely fed up with the cliché-cluttered coverage of this postseason. 99 out of 100 of the articles on the Sox and Yanks have been completely predicable.
The players don’t help by trotting out total pablum (with the exception of Manny, who broke with convention by describing himself as a “bad man” and “one of the greatest hitters” in the game).
If I have to read one more article about how “the Yankees have been in this position before” or how any team is “taking it one pitch/inning/game at a time,” I may have to take a vow of only reading José Melendez.
Hudson: That’s why we’re in business here at YFSF! Go Halos!
First pitch a strike to Dustin.
bang-bang play to get Pedroia to start things off.
Youk goes down swinging.
Ortiz gets rung up on an outside pitch.
Not exaclty the way I wanted to see us start against Weaver.
Feh, Papi swung at ball 3 and ball 4, then K’d looking.
The Weaver Family so owes the Yankees.
In fairness to Papi, ball 3 and ball 4 were filthy change ups.
Rooting for Chone Figgins makes me feel dirty. Im gonna need a crying game style shower after this one.
Easy second out, handy.
So spitballs are illegal but pitchers can lick their fingertips.
Three outs! Onto the second.
Lotsa hard contact for the halos in the first, but only one hit and nothing from it. Hope this isn’t one of THOSE kinds of games. Nothing more frustrating. And the Angel offense is prone to them.
Vlad now has 3H in his last 28 post-season ABs with 1 RBI. I dont see many articles about his post-season struggles.
Classy comment there
Oh man. This is gonna get ugly.
Wait. Thanks JD!
2 more now!
Don’t respond to that garbage Sam. It’s just gonna get erased.
Drew is killing me. Everytime I think it is going to be nice to root for him he makes a boob move.
Sorry YF, i somehow forgot who it was!
Big K for weaver.
Weavah! SF is currently having a conniption.
WEAVAH!!!! The k on a vicious slider!!!
Lucky break there when the previous ball in the dirt caught the umps leg and stayed at the plate. Gets through and that’s a run.
Coco K’s.
2nd and 3rd with no outs.
Drew tapper back to the mound, Tek K (shocking), Coco K.
This is really not making me feel good at this point.
Where is everyone!?! Hello?!? SFs??? Yeah, it’s a pretty day and you’re up 2-0, but….HELLO!
I am here YF, may be the only one though.
Another at’em ball. gah.
If they are anything like me, trying to keep from wishing for the…disappearance…of a particular section of the Red Sox lineup.
Finally stopped lurking. I love this site. I hope that it’s a happy night.
Schilling gives up the single to left.
YF, having more fun in a Sox game thread than in his own. How sad.
As for conniptions, I leave those to fans who root for teams who blow 1-0 leads in the eighth inning and trail in their series 2-0. None today, none so far.
Back to the game! Go Sox!!!
Ouch, that cut deep SF.
That 1-0 pitch looked really good there. Called a ball.
Pats up 27-10, Jets now losing to the Giants 27-24. If those hold up, we’ll be halfway to a perfect day.
The 2-0 pitch that is out of the zone is called a strike.
Schilling induces the DP to end the inning.
Browns have been covering Moss tight today.
That was a fortunate DP. Now hopefully the bats will be better the second time around. 9,1,2 up and with luck Papi and Manny.
Man. Looks like it might just be one of those days.
Garret Anderson out of the game.
GA out? That’s tough. He’d been so hot over the last month. Huge break.
Lugo with a fly out to center.
Garrett Anderson out now. that should help the angels.
Sure hope that second inning squander doesn’t haunt the Sox later. That performance by the lower part of our order just reminded me of the dog days of August/September.
Dustin’s first postseason is not so hot.
Pedroia flailing at a pitch way outside. He’s .091 in the offseason.
Pedroia strikes out. Sox hitters are chasing pitches outside of the zone today.
Postseason, that is, not off-.
Gah, that looked like a dinger off Youks’ bat, but the wind pushed it just foul near the pole.
Youk flies out to right.
BAD! 1-2-3 from Weaver is not good.
And Youks flies out. The Sox are making Weaver’s life easy so far. 47 pitches through three.
Sox’ bats pretty dead. They were pretty dead last game, too, and most of the first game. Would love them to string a few hits together, soon.
Is that an actual monkey with that guy?
I think it was NSTB
Napoli gets rung up looking.
huh, how about that. Schilling got the call for strike 3, I’ll take it.
Another DP here?
Great pitch for the k there on napoli by Schill.
TBS pitchtrack is worthless. The location on that K didnt seem to be close to where it was at least in terms of high/low.
DP almost turned on Figgins grounder by the kid is to fast.
Schill is doing a good job of holding runners.
Close play, but Figgins looked safe.
Looked like a good call to me.
Vlad up, gawd this is not the person I want hitting for them right now.
2-0 to Vlad with an outside pitch.
Behind 2-0 in the count to Vlad, oh man.
3-0, working around him?
Willits with the bags loaded. Get ’em, Curt.
Willits up with the bases loaded. A Rookie, and this has the makings of a disaster.
Bad call, Figgins clearly slid past the bag with the tag on.
Initial call was a good one, but Chone overslid.
Willits slices one foul. Down 1-2.
#77 Willits: … Foul … … … … … … … … … Ball, low … … … … Foul … … … … … Pop-up! Tek on the dirt!
Willits pops out to Tek, Tek with a nice bobbling catch there. Schilling wiggles off the hook.
37 pitches through 3 for Curt.
I’m going to throw up again. This is making me very nervous. BATS! HIT! SCORE RUNS!
Phew. Schilling at a relatively low 40 pitches after three. This has been frustrating, but eventually the Sox should be able to get to Weaver.
Come on Papi
ORTIZ!!!!!!!!!
Sox up 1-0!!
Weaver shaking his head. Now maybe he’s rattled.
Pats break the 30 point barrier again on a fumble return for a touchdown by Randall Gay.
Hopefully Manny smells blood.
MANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-0 Sox
Absolutely crushed.
Manny!
Blood smelled, indeed.
SWEET…!! YES…!! Back to BACK!!
Sorry, that was me.
This time, Manny stood at home and held out his arms in front of him, like he was asking his grandmother to dance. Or something.
I think Papi enjoyed that Manny home run even more than Ramirez himself.
Please Lowell keep it going.
That’s the way to string a couple of hits together!!!
(where’d YF go?)
Weaver seems to be having a harder time finding the plate now.
Lowell pops out.
Lowell: Pop-up on a 3-2 count, 1 gone.
Wow! Papi and Manny?
Damn, I sure would hate to be an A-rod supporter about now. CHOKE!
Drew needs a HR here.
Drew: … Called strike … Called strike … … … … … … Ball, low and inside … … … … … … … … … … … Foul, left side … … … … Foul, right side … … … … … … … … … Flies out to left.
Drew flies out to left.
Tek: .125 BA
Crisp: .143 BA
I know Francona wants to dance with who brung ‘im, but when O when do we get to see Jacoby at the plate?
Tek flies out to center.
Tek flies out to center.
Sox bust out their pimp hands that inning.
Weaver at 75 pitches through four.
Weaver now at a more reasonable 75 pitches.
Not thrilled at the rapid three outs after the two homers but terribly pleased to take the 2-0 lead.
// (where’d YF go?) //
Heh.
Say if Schilling can hold the Angels down another inning, and the Sox can tack on 1-2 more runs while driving Weaver to 100 pitches in the 5th, I’d feel really good about the Sox’s chances here.
I noticed this during Game 2: the Sox seem really, really loose, mood-wise. Even when they were down 3-2 on Friday, there looked to be no nerves in the dugout. I know it’s hard to read that on television, but there was certainly a lot of casual conversation and even more smiles, all around, even prior to the comeback.
I wonder how accurate that observation is, in actuality.
Morales out 6-3 after a long at-bat, one gone.
Seems like a pretty accurate observation SF. The team has had pressure during the second half of the season and did not cave. I think if they held thier sanity during NY’s unbelievable 2nd half that a 1 run deficit would not really bother them.
Izturis grounds out.
Three grounds out for Schill that inning. Morales being the only hitter who really worked him.
Two more groundouts, and Schilling is through the fourth with just 52 pitches.
Schill was sharp with the grounders, great inning for him.
I’m here. TV’s on. But inlaws are on the way and the house needs cleaning and dinner prep is underway and the kid just woke up from nap, and she’s more cranky than Big Stein himself….. So….pacing myself for later….Go Halos! (Not. Looking. Good.)
Nice and quick, and very..relaxing..after that 3rd inning. Can Schill keep it up?
“the Sox seem really, really loose, mood-wise.”
Except for Schilling, who seems to be a bundle of nerves when he’s on the bench.
And, ugh, I’m really not into my grading just now.
Crisp grounds out to start things off this inning.
Lugo with a line back up the middle.
Time to steal?
Hit and run at the least?
Lugo worries me everytime he takes a lead. To many times he does that stutter step.
my wife just commented that she thinks the graphic by the bag is, and I quote, ‘stupid.’
Deep thoughts. I agree. :)
Shields and Oliver up in the Angels pen.
And safe!
Lugo beating the Angels at their own game? Nice.
Dreamer, smart woman.
Lugo steals second.
c’mon, ROY…hit hit hit
oops. That’s a bit awkward.
Pedroia tries to take off and the 3-1 count is called a strike.
Pedroia with Lugo on 2nd, no outs: … Weaver goes down 3-0 with three pickoff tries … Called strike, dubious … … … … Another called strike … … … … Ball four, way out of the zone.
Youks up, MannyOrtez to follow. I wouldn’t want to be Weaver.
Pedroia finally draws the walk.
Weaver at 85 pitches. Youk up and Big Daddy with his strong Pimp Hand in the on deck circle.
C’mon Youk. Drive it… and no way they test Vlad.
Youk quickly down 0-2
Damn.
Youk with a bad job there. Taps one up the middle that casues the DP.
Especially poor job with the Dynamic Duo coming up.
Youks: … Strike called, outside corner … … … … … … … … Strike called, a curve, maybe … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Hard foul to the left side … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Check-swing grounder right to the bag at 2nd ends the inning.
Feh. I forgot about Crisp’s groundout, inning over, with no chance for Papi or Manny to put Weaver away.
Ugh, Youk. That was ugly.
Crisp now at .125. What do we have to do, show up at the stadium in Jacobean costume?
(Actually, I shouldn’t pick just on Coco. The Sox have *four* starters batting well under .200 for this series so far, and yet are up two games to none with a lead in game #3.)
“What do we have to do, show up at the stadium in Jacobean costume?”
well done
Curt Ks Rivera on 3 pitches.
(Thanks, Nick. I almost didn’t post that, thinking the pun maybe too cheesy…)
Napoli singles with one out.
Goodness, I hate Chone.
Thank heavens, a pop-up. Crap, he is the peskiest hitter in the AL- that guy drives me nuts.
Figgins:
strike, strike
foul foul foul foul foul foul
ball
pop-up
(If not for a couple of at-bats, Curt’s pitch count would be very, very low.)
Figgins is a damn gnat.
Schilling now at 70 pitches.
How many innings for Curt? 7? does he get to 100 pitches?
you speak of figurative gnats. But there are those of us who know both the literal and metaphoric, and one’s bite is much more real.
Fly-out to right!
0 runs, 69 pitches, 5 hits, 1 BB, 2 K through five.
Not an overwhelming performance so far, but very solid — and the bottom line (0 runs) couldn’t be improved upon.
you speak of figurative gnats. But there are those of us who know both the literal and metaphoric, and one’s bite is much more real.
When you look at Figgins swarm around the bases does he not look like a gnat? Perhaps he is the king gnat.
Weaver wanted no part of Papi there.
Anybody else’s TBS signal go out? I’m watching in Manhattan today, TimeWarner Cable.
Papi walks, Manny up.
Mota must be the worst sideline reporter I have ever heard.
Why not just pull him at the start?
Shields in, according to GameDay. Still no picture.
Papi with that last walk was the 13th walk the Sox have drawn this series.
My TBS signal is out too. Cablevision in Westchester County. Argh!
(Back on. Friggin TW.)
back on. whew.
Manny with a fly out to center.
Manny gets behind 0-2, which matters not to him… … Ball.. … Fouls one off… … … And another… … Ball 2, 2-2 now … … … … … … … … … … … But flies out to center, one out.
Nuts, Manny flies out.
Lowell grounds into the DP to end the inning.
We need to look at scoring a few more runs.
ANOTHER doubleplay. Geez.
oh, not so good. No runs put on the board for the Sox.
Lowell DP. Yuck.
Vlad grounds out.
Another ground-out for Schill. Who does he think he is, Derek Lowe?
Skip ahead to the eighth for the Sox’ offense, Coco and Tek up next inning.
Now he Ks Willits. 2 gone.
Willits rung up looking. Pitch did look a little outside there.
Schilling gets another ground out to end the inning.
Top billing…went to Schilling…way to go Curt! 9 outs. How long do we ride this horse?
wow! Schilling is still on his game, looking good.
Runs please.
Drew strikes out.
The Sox really need to tack on a couple of runs.
But J.D. strikes out looking to lead off the 7th.
Tek down looking.
God Tek is so useless.
Our line up today has been impotent minus the two dingers.
Perhaps Shields should have started the game for the Halos.
Crisp struck out/thrown out.
(Schilling at 79 through six… Very nice. Looking at Oki/Paps for the 8th and 9th, or even just Paps for the 9th if Curt can make it through eight…)
Now Tek and Crisp called out on strikes, too. Nothing much happening in this lineup besides #4, #5 and #6.
Ellsbury? Ellsbury? Anyone?
(Oops, CCri went down swinging, not looking, at least.)
The Sox have had 7 base runners and the Angels 6. Not exactly an offensive showing by either team today.
Skip ahead to the eighth for the Sox’ offense, Coco and Tek up next inning
Sometimes I’d rather be wrong. Drat.
Series averages so far:
DPed: .091
KYou: .182
JDre: .200
JVar: .100
CCri: .111
Remarkable that the Sox are two-and-a-half innings away from sweeping the Angels, and nervous-making for the ALCS, even if Schilling can hold this one together.
“…God Tek is so useles…”
doesn’t seem to matter much though, does it sf?….and me, i don’t believe in luck…the sox, this edition and the 04 version are making a believer out of me…
Oki and MDC up in the pen.
Oki/MDC warming, though I assume that is more of a “just in case” move than anything.
doesn’t seem to matter much though, does it sf?….
Not so far. But the game isn’t over yet, nor are the playoffs. The Sox’ offense has been spotty, all or nothing. So far that’s worked.
Tek at least had a nice defensive play (of a tough pop-up) in a key spot. But anyone who throws him a high fastball can get him out at the plate right now.
Well, I agree that ‘Teks bat is a bit useless at the moment. However, I want him behind the plate.
And damn. Nice try Coco.
Ach, Crisp almost had a great catch, but it turns into a double.
Damn, Crisp almost got that. Crisp drops the ball and Izturis makes his way into 2nd.
Curt under the gun again.
I am not suggesting Tek be replaced, or anything like that. He’s ours, and he’s a fine player relative to the position. But his bat has been terrible for a long while now.
by the way, is it too late to add that the angels stink?….their apparent “hold” over the yanks can’t be for real…they are bums…the end
And my stomach begins to quiver.
RISP with no out. Big test of Schilling here.
sf…come on…tek stinks…period…except for the intangibles… ;)
by the way, is it too late to add that the angels stink?….their apparent “hold” over the yanks can’t be for real…they are bums…the end
Enough with the jinxes. Won’t stand for it. Jinx be gone.
Kendrick almost dropped a hit in there, just foul. Worried that the Angels seem to be making contact on Curt now.
Three straight fouls for Kendrick. Crucial K needed…
Curt just hit 92 on the gun.
REALLY wish our we had taken advantage of the second inning.
Foul #5. Schilling at 90 pitches.
Schilling now at 90 pitches.
Okay. I’ll take the out.
1 down, Kendrick with a ground out to 2nd.
Kendrick out 4-3, runner to 3rd. Schilling may have to settle for a run here.
If there’s a grounder on the infield, do the Sox try to get the runner at home?
C’mon Curt. Get ‘im.
A quick pop-up! Just what the doctor ordered.
I say get the out. Never mind the runner.
POP UP! Yes!
Rivera with a pop up. BIG play.
2 down.
Take the out. Give up the run. Outs are extremely valuable right now.
Unless it’s a routine play, do NOT go home, take the easy out.
one more Curt…one more…number 9 hitter…
Last inning for Curt….end it strong!
Napoli having a hard time with the splitter.
94th pitch from Curt coming up.
NAPOLI: … … Ball … … … … Strike, nice change-up/splitter … … … Ball, just outside … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Strike, 2-2 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Well outside, thankfully blocked by Tek … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Big pitch here … … … … Pitch #99 … Fouled back … … … … … … … … … … … Figgins on deck … … … … … … … … … K!
HUGE!
almost got him to chase…
challenge him Curt…bottom of the order..
Pop up…damn, foul
K K K K K K
YES!
Schilling strands him. Beautiful job there by Schill to get out of the jam.
Schilling’s still got it. Contract up!
Massive game from a massive big game pitcher. Awesome. Two innings for the pen, let’s get a couple runs here!!!
Oki or MDC? Paps more than 3 outs? What’s your call?
8th inning I use possibly both Oki and MDC.
runs, runs, runs, runs and runs.
Probably a minority in this, but I personally LIKE Frank Caliendo. Going to see him at Gator Growl.
Course, I AM a bit tired of the commercials..
Go with Oki, but if he gives up a run or allows two batters on base, give him a quick hook for MDC. Save the 9th for Paps.
Schilling breakout today
76 strikes
24 Balls
Julio..let’s go Julio…
these guys talk too much.
No, Roger Clemens will not.
24 balls? wow. Hell of a start.
Oki BEFORE MDC? I might go the other way…but hopefully it is a moot question.
Optimistic prediction: Sox get another run, Oki has a 4-batter inning, Paps shuts them down 1-2-3, Sox win 3-0. No jinx!
Holy Crap! No way I send him there, but way to freaking go! ROY!
CHICKENHAWK!!!!!!
Drives in Lugo 3-0 us.
DUSTIN! Double!
And Lugo scores from 1st on a play at the plate! Would’ve been close if the throw had been on the mark…
Prediction on!
Youk knocks in Pedroia.
4-0
4-0 on a Youks sac fly!
Heck yeah!
Let’s get some more here. back to back again!
Papi singles to left field. Big man beating the shift again.
Really, Sox have done a pretty good job on the bases. Some good baserunning this inning; I like Dustin taking 3rd on the throw.
No DP, please Manny..
2-2 to Manny. Lot of dust kicking up around home plate, blowing toward the 1st base dugout.
Now 3-2…
He walks him with Papi going. 1st and 2nd for Mike Lowell.
Walk. Lowell, then the Black Hole.
Manny walks.
Now is about the time that Lowell needs to make an appearance (homer wise).
Ellsbury in now for Manny.
Apparently, the Angels bullpen doing their best Tampa Bay imitation.
And Jacoby in. No need to dress as French Revolutionaries. :)
Ellsbury pinchrunning for ManRam. Still no at-bats for Jacoby, and barring extras he probably won’t bat in this series.
Lowell fair down the 3rd base line. Papi scores, Ellsbury held at third, Lowell pulls in to 2nd.
Lowell!
Ortiz scores, 5-0 Sox, Ellsbury to 3rd, Mike at 2nd, just one out.
Halo fans hitting the exits.
Oliver headed to the mound.
YES! Lowell! Double! Papi in, Runners at 2nd and 3rd, the Black Hole part of the lineup can at least reach the level of a dwarf star by doing something here!
How long has Oliver been around?
I almost want the Yankees to win tonight, just to tire the Indians out a little…
I said almost.
Heh. Looks like some lucky Sox fan is going to..err..get lucky tonight…
Come on Drew!
Ellsbury slides in safe on a shallow ground ball, diving in headfirst! Beautiful job.
Ellsbury safe at home on a bad throw. Napoli heard “whoosh” go by him.
Again, Drew swings at the first pitch. Got lucky there, but works for me!
Morales looks like if a hole opened in the ground near first base, he’d hop into it.
C’mon ‘Tek. At LEAST get it in the air…
0 and 2…
WOW!
Double for ‘Tek!
Still just one out.
Tek gets behind quickly, 0-2… … Fouls one off… … … … … But he hits a gapper, driving in Lowell! 2nd and 3rd, one out still.
Tek hits a gapper, pulls into 2nd. Drew held at third another run scores. 7-0.
Crisp hits!
Heck, Jacoby might get to bat after all…
Jinkies. 7 runs. Suddenly, my stomach feels wonderful.
Crisp clears the bases by lining on over the heads of a pulled in infield.
9-0
Keeping the pimp hand strong.
Lugo pops out.
Sox up 7-0.
Does this mean it’s safe for an Eric Gagne appearance?
9 run lead with 6 outs to go…
Lugo pops-out.
(I want the Sox to keep piling on, just so JEll can hit. Greedy, greedy, greedy.)
Soxfan, I was just thinking the same thing..
(I’m imagining the Yankees looking up at the scoreboard as they hit the field in the Toilet…)
I would possibly use Gagne today.
9 runs… Almost Gagne-proof.
Dustin ends it with a grounder, 6 unassisted.
Angels get to bat two more times, not getting too cocky, no really, not…
Oh heck, who’m I’m kidding? Feeling pretty good here even as a four-decade Sox rooter with doom and gloom in my blod.
“9 runs..Almost Gagne-proof.”
Almost.
Oki in to pitch.
Hideki? With a 9 run lead? Seems a bit odd…
Oki in. Huh. Given his tired arm issues, I’d have thought at least MDC.
Maybe it will just be a batter or two for Oki. I could see a bunch of guys getting a shot here. Laugher-by-committee?
He hasn’t thrown a strike yet.
Okay, now 3-1 to Figgy.
Gagne and Paps tossing lightly.
3-2.
Double. Bleh.
Figgins hits a double…hmm.
3 and 0
now a strike
c’mon, 3 up 3 down
Gagne up
Check swing strike, now 3 and 2
Ugh. Double. C’mon Oki
OC starts with a strike.
Ellsbury with cat like reflexes jumps and snags it.
Cabby: … Strike called … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Ball … … … … Foul, 1-2 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Foul, swinging at a very low pitch … … … … … … … … … … … … … Lines out to left.
Jacoby almost came in too far, but hopped up to grab it.
Outs outs outs. Get the outs.
And once again, they mention the Angels only scoring in one inning. I hate it when they say stuff like that.
Oki really not throwing strikes…
1 and 2 after a foul…
Foul pop from our 2004 hero…
And Jacoby gloves it with a jump. Smacked, but just a hard out.
Vlad: … … Foul straight back … … … … … Pop foul … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Pop-out to Youks!
2 gone in the 8th.
Where was THAT pitch? Geez.
WatchootalkinboutWillits (sorry): … … … … Ball … … … … … … … … … … Strike called down the pike … … … … … … … … … … Ball, very low … … … … Shadow diagonally across the plate … … … … … … Ball, looked like a strike down the middle to me … 3-1 … … … … High, ball four. 1st and 2nd.
DP, please.
Oki walks one.
Had to change my display name, there are two Robs on here now.
Boy, those shadows look tough..
Morales: … Called strike … ball … … Shot of Wakefield in the dugout, though not on roster … Long fly ball to right-center, nabbed by Crisp.
And a LOOOOOONG out…3 outs to go!
Coming up in the top of the 9th…
Youks
Papi
JACOBY ELLSBURY!
Well, the Sox have completely outclassed the Halos in this game.
No GA, GMJ, and Kotchman i’m sure didn’t help, but they’re hardly barn-burners with those guys. Feh.
I’m feeling a little more relaxed now but if Gagne comes in, all bets are off.
Francona might use Papelbon even with a 9 run lead.
Guess he has no faith in Gagne.
Off to TNT!
Youk leadoff single.
I doubt Gagne comes in. If he was going to come in, last inning would have been the time.
My guess is that Paps closes out- after all, if they win today, they get 4 days off.
Youk! Keep it up. Double digits!
Hinske hitting for Papi
Hinske batting for Papi, making this officially a blow-out.
Hinske down on three called strikes. (You’d think he’d have been itching to swing, after all that time on the bench.)
Congratulations guys. (No this is not a jinx)
JACOBY: … Ball … Ground-out… Youks tagged out between 1st and 2nd.
The Sox were apparently *really* ready to go home… and watch the Yanks, maybe?
Only suspense left is who gets to finish the job in the 9th.
YO!!! TED TURNER!!!! There’s a Julia Stiles movie where my Yankees should be!!! GET ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gagne in.
Somewhere, in a Boston stomach, a larva starts turning into butterfly.
No one pitcher could possibly blow a nine run lead…could they?
God, YF, that’s horrible. I mean, the Julia Stiles part.
Gagne in. Oh. My. God.
Izturis with a double.
Gagne already making me pissy.
And the Gagne is in. and he gives up a double. How many? 3 runs?
Ever the optimist..
Izturis smacks a ground-rule double.
Gagne: Making a bid to be left off the ALCS roster.
Wild pitch, Izturis to 3rd.
Gagne: Wild pitch.
Is Paps warming?
Only the second inning that the Sox have allowed a run.
Kendrick gets the first Angel run home with a sac fly. Nice goin’, Gagne.
wild pitch and Sac fly gives the Halos a second inning in which they scored. But two outs to go. And once again we see why Gagne Time is Garbage Time.
One could just look at the linescore, knowing nothing else about the game, and tell who pitched the 9th.
Wakefield had better be taking this buffoon’s roster spot for the ALCS.
And a K for Gagne. One out to go!
K. Doesn’t change anything.
SWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPP! Thanks for a great blog! Go Sox!
Fly out to Drew.
Sox with the broom.
Epstein booking out of the seats.
WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! ALCS time!
Congrats to the Sox!!!!!
YAY!
Well done Red Sox! Onto the ALCS!! I’m so excited and happy, well done guys!
Now go Indians, go!
Great job by Schilling and Beckett this series. Helped set the tone for dominating performances.
Gagne could F## up a wet dream, eh? Just not THIS one… GO SOX!
What a great series! Indeed, fantastic work from Becks and Schill. Glad to see I haven’t lost my touch – I called sweep!
Next up – Indians! :)
I watched this game on gameday…just cause it’s safer for my health. Anyway there was one pitch by Okijima that was dead smack in the middle of the strike zone. I mean dead center middle of the zone… called a BALL!!!! Of all the balls and strike calls I’ve seen posted on Gameday THAT was by far the worst. WTF???
I guess we want to get right to the next series right, no need to rest anybody really… Maybe one extra game so Shill can pitch the second game and two in the ALCS??? Nah, sweep the friggin Yankees
Congrats on the sweep, Sox fans. We just took the first of three in a row and we’ll see you in the ALCS!!! :)
I kinda doubt it, nettles (no offense). But it’s definitely not impossible.
Either way, we’re facing a better team next series, and one not taken apart by injury and disease. Still, you gotta love how the Sox decimated the one AL team I thought had no shot at the title.
That’s not to say it was easy of course. The one game that I was completely relaxed in was Game 1. Game 2 was a stomach-grinder from the 2nd inning on, and Game 3 hung by a thread several times before the 8th.