Many times, in a short series, a team that loses a particular game in heart-breaking fashion (as the Red Sox did last night) will come out flat in the next game as well. But the Bostons are made of sterner stuff. With their backs up against the wall, on the road, and being forced to use a starting pitcher with a dead arm, the Red Sox pulled themselves together and pulled out a 4-2 win in a game where they got only six hits and made two errors.
How did they do it?
Clay Buchholz, who was out for most of the second half of the year with an injury, and who could barely reach 90 mph with his fast ball, held the Cardinals to one run in four innings.
Felix Doubront, who was a starter in 27 of 29 appearances this year, retired 8 of the 9 Cardinals he faced.
Jonny Gomes, who only played in this game because Shane Victorino is having back problems, got the three-run homer the Sox offense needed, giving them a 4-1 lead in the 6th.
John Lackey, who will probably start Game Six, overcame a two-base error to pitch a scoreless 8th.
And Koji Uehara, facing a very dangerous situation where Carlos Beltran represented the tying run, got out of it by picking off a pinch runner to end the game.
Of course, we must also give credit to David Ortiz, who was 3-3 in the game and who could be seen giving the rest of the team encouragement throughout.
After four games, it is clear that these teams are very evenly matched. Each of the last three games has been poised on a knife-edge, only to flip one way or the other in the late innings. But that's the way the World Series is supposed to be. These teams are fighting for a championship, and it's good to see that both of them are willing to fight.
So now we have a best 2-of-3 for all the marbles. Tomorrow will be the last game of the year in St. Louis, and then we'll all get to see Fenway at least one more time. I don't think anyone who likes baseball will mind seeing more action from these two fine clubs.
No comments:
Post a Comment