October 13, 2007

ALCS 2: Spiders 13, Red Sox 6 (11)

Spiders - 100 311 000 07 - 13 17 0
Red Sox - 003 030 000 00 - 6 10 0

ALCS tied 1-1
After Kevin Youkilis lined out to center in the bottom of the ninth with Jacoby Ellsbury carrying the potential winning run at second, Boston had their best hitters up in the bottom of the tenth. But against Tom Mastny, David Ortiz (bbcb) grounded out to second, and Manny Ramirez (bb) and Mike Lowell (cb) both flew out to right field.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth and tenth (throwing 36 pitches), so Eric Gagne began the top of the 11th. He fanned Casey Blake, but gave up a single to Grady Sizemore and a walk to Asdrubal Cabrera. Terry Francona brought in Javier Lopez to face Trot Nixon. Dirty Hat lined a single to center, scoring Sizemore and breaking a 6-6 tie that had stood since the sixth inning. After a wild pitch made it 8-6, Victor Martinez was intentionally walked and Ryan Garko singled in another run. Jon Lester took over. Jhonny Peralta's double made it 10-6 and after a second out, Franklin Gutierrez's three-run dong to deep left made it 13-6.

Facing Joe Borowski in the home half, J.D. Drew opened with a single and Coco Crisp singled with one out. But Julio Lugo grounded into a 6-4-3 game-ending, series-tying double play. Time of game: 5:14.

Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. Lowell also had a two-run single in the third.

I figured the teams would split the first two games, and they did, though this route is a bit tougher to take. Still, I cannot fault Francona's bullpen management at all.

Cleveland's trio of Jensen Lewis, Rafael Betancourt and Mastny shut down the Red Sox when it counted, allowing only one baserunner in the 6th through 10th innings.

***

Lineups:
Grady Sizemore, CF        Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Travis Hafner, DH David Ortiz, DH
Victor Martinez, C Manny Ramirez, LF
Ryan Garko, 1B Mike Lowell, 3B
Jhonny Peralta, SS J.D. Drew, RF
Kenny Lofton, LF Jason Varitek, C
Franklin Gutierrez, RF Coco Crisp, CF
Casey Blake, 3B Julio Lugo, SS
***

Fausto Carmona / Curt Schilling

Not that I necessarily need to be doing shots of Pepto and getting all sweaty-palmed when watching a game, but I was considerably more nervous during many mid-season games that I was last night. Beckett was in total control throughout and the Boston bats collected 12 hits (five doubles) to go along with eight walks.

Odds are tonight will be a different story.

The Red Sox hitters have not seen much of Carmona. Youkilis has faced him five times and Coco Crisp, David Ortiz and Alex Cora have seen him four times. Most of the PAs were in his win over Boston in late July.

Cleveland's batting numbers against Schilling are here.

431 comments:

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laura k said...

i hate to be a buzzkill, but i hate the "all-time postseason" stats. we should do alcs, or ws, but not both, since as we all know, most mlb players through history only had ws, no playoffs.

i say this every year, so now i got it over with for this year.

Amy said...

Ish, were they chanting MVP for Ortiz, Manny or Lowell?

Rob said...

On the Red Sox pregame for the ALCS and World Series, Alex Cora visits with Uncle Joe for "Cora's Corner", and Cora predicted the Red Sox would get to Carmona sometime in the fifth and they'd score 5 or 6 runs in that time. Pretty close prediction.

But honestly, we don't call him Einstein for nothing.

Pity Da Fool said...

I agree on the postseason stats, I-girl. That's how guys like Bernie Williams end up on all the lists.

Rob said...

Ish, were they chanting MVP for Ortiz, Manny or Lowell?

Lowell! It was awesome.

Daniel said...

i hate the "all-time postseason" stats

No player I support will ever set a record for number of games in a hitting streak, so I don't mind changing things up to give them an advantage somewhere. ;)

Amy said...

Yes, that bothers me also. So easy to distort stats. No asterisk when they say that, but an asterisk for Maris because his season had 8 more games than Ruth.

Daniel said...

Gameday listing Perez's ALCS ERA at 54.00

Rob said...

The Red Sox end the 5th with a real thin lead, but it's a lead! Just have to hold onto it like it like it was your blanket when you were a toddler.

laura k said...

not just bernie - manny too. it's just wrong.

pdf, it's L-girl, btw. blogger makes it look weird in lower case.

Rob said...

It's still an impressive stat for Manny, though. The most home runs in the postseason in 12 years, at least.

Benjamin said...

At least we're winning now, but I still wish Fox wouldn't use Dirty Water as bumper music at the end of the fifth inning unless it's a rainout.

laura k said...

manny's an impressive man. no doubt about it.

but we still have to compare like with like.

Sarah Haendler said...

My dog came over to me to see what was going on. She doesn't get the idea of back to back homer and then a base hit.

That's ok Amy - neither does my bf.

Ofer said...

Big Manny came up big last inning- now it's your turn, little Manny.

Daniel said...

I always thought it was weird that they reset all the stats during the postseason, especially averages. Especially in the WS, when you're not familiar with the NL players. Their postseason averages don't give a sense of what kind of season they're having.

Amy said...

That's pretty funny, Sarah. I am trying to educate the dog. But you know what they say about a dog learning new tricks.

Ofer said...

With MDC already pitching, and Jeemer up in the bullpen when it's only the 6th- might we see a multiple inning Papelbon outing?

Sarah Haendler said...

I'm not sure that my efforts to educate Dave are any more successful than teaching a dog new tricks, but he listens well...

Daniel said...

MDC seems to have Sabathia disease. Throw strikes!!

laura k said...

jeemer time

Amy said...

Francona pulling MDC pretty fast. Just hope we don't end up using you-know-who in a crunch. He was less than impressive last night.

laura k said...

tito's not going to use gagne in a close game.

Rob said...

Lugo looked like the new Dumbo with that play.

Rob said...

This has happened a lot with Delcarmen. He get summoned to get one out in one inning, then goes to the dugout, waits, comes back out, throws his warm ups, and then can't find the strike zone. It's happened 2 or 3 other times.

Daniel said...

jeemer time

Sounds too much like Hammer Time. Now you've got "You Can't Touch This" stuck in my head.

Amy said...

Nice K! One more, Oki.

Ofer said...

The way this series is going, Wakefield-Byrd will be a 1-0 game (with the Sox winning, of course).

allan said...

Hammertime

Amy said...

Come on, Oki, find the strike zone.

Daniel said...

Awesome. That's going in my del.icio.us.

Rob said...

Once again, Lugo's having a hard time making his mind where he's going to throw that ball. If he had decided immediately to go to second, it'd be the third out.

Daniel said...

Gameday had "In play, run(s)" on that one. Oops.

Rob said...

Thank you, Overshift!!!

Amy said...

Phew, good catch and nice smile on Pedroia's face.

SCORE MORE RUNS.

laura k said...

whew

Daniel said...

That could have been much, much worse.

Ofer said...

I'm predicting a white flag sighting. Not a very bold prediction, I know...

allan said...

ack - a clash song in the nissan commercial. boooooo.

Rob said...

Dusty Baker has signed a 3-year deal to become the new Manager for the Cincinnati Reds.

Daniel said...

I once read a great article on the worst abuses of rock music in TV commercials.

allan said...

dear reds pitchers -- fear for your arms.

Daniel said...

One of the best was that Cadillac commercial that used Led Zeppelin's "Rock & Roll," a song about sexual frustration. Not quite what you want people to associate with a luxury car.

laura k said...

i think most people probably don't associate that song w/ sexual frustration.

laura k said...

i got trooped on that one

allan said...

truped. shit

Daniel said...

Only because they don't listen to the lyrics. "It's been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time."

Daniel said...

I think Geffner was truped as well.

Amy said...

Yeah, they got me on that one also. Sure looked well hit.

laura k said...

Only because they don't listen to the lyrics.

that's my point. it's a great song for an ad, from the ad people's pov.

Ofer said...

Fuck Yeah= not a big guy. That's hall of fame analysis, right there.

Daniel said...

That probably explains how they could use Janis Joplin's "Mercedes-Benz" too. It works all right if you stop after the first line.

Amy said...

I hate these late start games. So hard to stay awake for three more innings. The dog is lucky.

Daniel said...

Found the article, here.

Sarah Haendler said...

Having to watch Fox, even for that best of all reasons, baseball, makes me cranky. I find myself talking back to their commercials!

Rob said...

i got trooped on that one

Me too. And so did Jon Miller. I think everyone got Truped by that one.

Speaking of Trup, I heard he did the Princeton-Brown football game on NESN today.

Rob said...

This game has an even worse feeling to it than any Yankees/Red Sox games. I'm VERY exhausted already. And at least during the Red Sox/MFY games, the pitching wouldn't be this screwy. The relievers would usually pitch when they're supposed to. Right now we've got no idea who will be toeing the slab when we hit the 8th inning and it's still tied.

Amy said...

Ish, you must have stayed up too late for the NLCS game. You sound way too down for you.

Amy said...

"Garko graduated HS with a 4.0 and that's why he attended Stanford." Boy, is that a dumb remark.

Amy said...

Got him! Oki looking like the Oki of the first half of the season.

Rob said...

Ish, you must have stayed up too late for the NLCS game. You sound way too down for you.

I watched that blasted NLCS game until the very finish. s1c can attest to that, even though he's not here tonight.

The game ended at 2:45 this morning.

Ofer said...

Jeemer definitely held up his own there. Now, let's get the lead and get Snuffer in for the 2-inning save

Rob said...

If Gagné needs to be used tonight, I'd like to see him used for one or two outs, and work in tandem with Javy Lopez, perhaps.

Rob said...

I need orange juice.

And maybe some SPINACH.

Daniel said...

Okajima: 7 batters, 3 Ks

Amy said...

S1C was watching the NLCS?? His wife must not have been too happy with that.

No Gagne, maybe some OJ and spinach.

Rob said...

S1C was watching the NLCS?? His wife must not have been too happy with that.

He was working the night shift last night.

Amy said...

This Clemens commercial is so old and only makes me think, "Boy, too bad he didn't hear his wife. He sure should have stayed retired."

Daniel said...

Did Alex Cora say anything about extra innings?

Amy said...

Hmm, I must be confused. I thought he was going away for their romantic weekend. Was it someone else?

Rob said...

This feels like one of those nights where the the next man who is not Manny, David, Lugo, or Coco reaches, you'll see LBJ pinch-run.

Betancourt to Manny. Straight, spotted heat is what you'll get with the occasional slider, and Manny will certainly be feasting on this heat.

Rob said...

This Clemens commercial is so old and only makes me think, "Boy, too bad he didn't hear his wife. He sure should have stayed retired."

I had the TV muted, and ESPN Radio on. The commercial on had a jingle that went, "Rain drop keep falling on my head..."

And nope, Cora said nothing about extras.

Amy said...

Let's go, Red Sox. Let's go, Red Sox.

Daniel said...

More talk about postseason stats on WRKO: Mickey Mantle had 18 postseason HRs.

So, not sure what that says about comparing like with like, but he was on a whole lot of pennant-winning teams, no?

Amy said...

Manny works it from 0-2 to 3-2. Again.

Amy said...

Damn. Timlin coming up. Almost midnight and only the 8th inning.

Daniel said...

Wow, that was disappointing.

laura k said...

All of Mantle's HRs were in the WS. He played in 65 WS games.

Rob said...

50° at Logan... 42° here near Portsmouth, NH! Brrr.

Daniel said...

Any statistical splits on Timlin's first inning in a game vs. what he does afterward?

Rob said...

Well, Papelbon will be in the bullpen getting ready, I think. In case there's any trouble.

Ofer said...

It looks like game 2 is the game of choice for the nailbiter in this postseason. Both ALDS', the NLCS' and now the ALCS' second game. Didn't follow the NLDS enough to remember how those went...

Amy said...

Certainly cold here in New England. How cold in Toronto?

Amy said...

Go, Coco!

laura k said...

ococ with the glove!

Daniel said...

All of Mantle's HRs were in the WS.

Right, that's what I'm saying. Of course Mantle has more WS home runs than Manny. But then, he had fewer teams to compete against to win the pennant, so that's not quite comparable. And think of all the great players who weren't on so many pennant-winning teams. Postseason stats and records are going to be problematic no matter how you slice it.

Sarah Haendler said...

I do love ocoC.

Rob said...

Doc with the glove, too!

And he'll lead off the next inning, hopefully to start something and give on fire!!! a chance to drive him in.

laura k said...

ok, here we go. RUNS PLEASE!!!

Amy said...

How many pitches is that so far for Lowell? Great AB.

allan said...

10 pitch K for doc.

Daniel said...

It was 10 pitches altogether, before he was rung up.

Amy said...

Poop. At least a nice long at bat.

Amy said...

Who's pitching the 9th? Papelbon with score tied??

Daniel said...

... and one for Drew.

Rob said...

It'll be Papelbon.

Amy said...

Can we get a walk off from the 8-9-1 part of our lineup? I dread the thought of a tenth inning. Or dare we even think about 11 or 12? Who do we still have out in the pen? Besides Gagne.

allan said...

BOT

Rob said...

It's SNUFFIN' time!

laura k said...

1. snuffer

2. walkoff

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Great game! Have been watching on and off since the 6th. We have got to get Ortiz up in the 9th...and let's go Bot! Jeemer was terrific.

Amy said...

At least now I know Borowski is not lights out. I am with you, Laura. Snuff and walkoff. Sounds good.

allan said...

borowski up -- i see a win in the near distance.

Sarah Haendler said...

Sure we can, Amy. It will justify our good host's predictions about Slugo!

Amy said...

Hey, westcoast, you sure are lucky that it's only 9:12 there.

Daniel said...

Here comes Laburdsa.

Amy said...

Yes, I thought of Slugo's MVP hopes when he started the rally last night.

Daniel said...

Joe: "Hafner looming large in the on-deck circle."

Is that because of his 24 HR, .837 OPS, or is it because he's 240 pounds?

Amy said...

What is the crowd chanting?

Ofer said...

Going back to the first comment of the thread here:
Wedge's bullpen management last night was strange.

I'd say it's been strange all year- running Borowski out there again and again. And we'll get some more of that strangeness soon

laura k said...

oh yeah, tim, josh barfield's sb was just like dave roberts'. uh-huh.

Amy said...

Yes, that was an annoying analogy.

allan said...

anything to see THE STEAL

Daniel said...

All we got on the radio was "Papelbon wasn't paying him any attention."

Amy said...

OK, SCORE A RUN. PLEASE.

laura k said...

ok, that's the snuff! now for the 2nd half of the equation.

Daniel said...

"Mikey" Lowell??

Amy said...

This game is now over 4 hours.

Rob said...

chanting Garko. He was chumming with the fans after the play in the crowd.

Ofer said...

OK- how about some postseason late-inning magic? Anyone interested?

Rob said...

Here we go.

Betancourt is still in there.

allan said...

betancourt still in -- no gascan

Amy said...

No Borowski. Hmmm, too bad. Come on, Coco. Start a rally.

Amy said...

No MVP night for Lugo.

Amy said...

YES! ROY!

laura k said...

fuck yeah!

Daniel said...

No MVP night for Lugo so far.

Amy said...

Sarah, tell Dave they aren't booing.

Amy said...

LBJ in!

laura k said...

hi lbj :)

Amy said...

Ummm, does he play 2b, if....?

Daniel said...

All the Way with LBJ!

laura k said...

Sarah, tell Dave they aren't booing.

:-)

Daniel said...

Nah, he's more comfortable in left field. Manny can play second

Amy said...

OK, now tell the Dave Roberts story.

laura k said...

amy: cora will go in at 2nd

Amy said...

What a thought...Manny at 2B.

Amy said...

Oh, yeah, Cora. Forgot about him.

Amy said...

Come on, Youk. Get a hit.

Daniel said...

A walk to Youk would set us up for some Papi Magic (tm)

Amy said...

Boy, that photographers' well has come in handy this post-season.

Daniel said...

40 pitches for Betancourt

Sarah Haendler said...

Oh FUCK YOU Grady.

Amy said...

shit. Extra innings. That looked like a hit. So close. Great at bat, Youk.

laura k said...

wow. what an ab.

and wow am i going to be tired at work tomorrow.

but it will be worth it for our walkoff in the 10th.

Amy said...

Good news: Ortiz, Manny, Lowell in the bottom of the 10th, and Betancourt has thrown over 40 pitches. Pap, keep them down.

Daniel said...

An ALCS just isn't an ALCS without some five-hour, 14-inning games.

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Yeah, it's only 9:45 here. I'm actually in a hotel in LA. Going to a wedding tomorrow. Supposed to drive home afterwards, but due to a 15-truck fiery pileup yesterday, I-5 is closed. LA, unbelievable.

C'mon BOT, one more!

Ofer said...

E=mc2

(Don't know how to do a square sign...)

laura k said...

gotta love our chances in the 10th

Amy said...

Daniel, don't say 14 innings. (By the way, I have also used that All the Way with LBJ line here. Do you remember when that line was turned on LBJ by putting it on peace buttons showing a mushroom cloud?)

laura k said...

Do you remember when that line was turned on LBJ by putting it on peace buttons showing a mushroom cloud?

I remember it with a coffin. Same idea.

Amy said...

One more out, Pap. One more strike, Pap. Those poor cold little kids and their tired parents at Fenway want this game to end soon (but only with a Sox W).

Amy said...

Gee, Laura, we sure are dating ourselves here. I think I still have one of those buttons somewhere.

Amy said...

Cora?? Watch where you are going!

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Yoooouk! Way to hold onto that ball. What the fuck was that, Cora?

C'mon, let's do it in the 10th...

Amy said...

This has to be it. Let's go, Red Sox. Score a run, and we can all sleep a few hours.

laura k said...

Those poor cold little kids and their tired parents at Fenway want this game to end soon

Those poor little kids are at the game and they don't have work tomorrow!

Gee, Laura, we sure are dating ourselves here. I think I still have one of those buttons somewhere.

I was thinking the same thing re age. I wish I had those buttons still. I used to wear a "war is not healthy for children and other living things" button. Very flower childy. :)

Sarah Haendler said...

Why is it always the nights that I have a early morning and long day to look forward to that we start late and go later?

Hook me up Flo...

Daniel said...

Why no Borowski? Has Wedge been reading his own press? Or is he one of those "closer = save situation only" guys?

Amy said...

I had that t-shirt with that slogan. I also had a McCarthy in 68 shirt. Wish I had kept those.

Come on, Papi. This is your time.

Amy said...

Darn, one down. Almost bobbled that one.

Now it's up to Manny.

Daniel said...

Stupid overshift. That one time Ortiz bunted for a hit up the third base line, I wondered why he doesn't do that more often.

Amy said...

uh oh, down to Lowell.

Who the hell will pitch the 11th?

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Gagne warming. Arrrgh

Daniel said...

Tom Mastny, who knew?

Amy said...

Oh no, Gagne. I am not sure I can stand this.

laura k said...

ok, let's try to be hopeful. we all want to scream a big OH NOOOO... but let's get behind him, eh?

come on, dimmer. we need you.

Daniel said...

Maybe MLB should look for more prospects out of East Bontang, Indonesia.

Sarah Haendler said...

Gagne. I should just go to bed now.

Rob said...

Ohhhh MAN.

Adventure time. Mr. Gagné.

andy grabia said...

I feel ill already.

allan said...

dimmer will hold the line

drew will win it in the 11th

seriously.

Sarah Haendler said...

Alrighty Gagne, make me believe in you.

Amy said...

Being hopeful, but those drinks wore off a long time ago. But I am psychologically prepared for whatever comes.

Amy said...

Maybe he likes going after Papelbon instead of before. So far so good.

Whoops, spoke too soon.

Still, no 1-2-3 inning for this guy as far as I can recall.

Ofer said...

Come on, As-dribbler Cabrera- give us a DP

laura k said...

shit shit shit shit

Amy said...

Trot on deck. I don't like the thought of that.

This guy really sucks. Sorry, Laura, I just can't be positive about his performance.

Joe Grav said...

Time for Javier.

Gagne, you are awful. GTFO

Rob said...

Javy Lopez coming in for the biggest appearance of his career right now. I hope he's sharp.

Sarah Haendler said...

Trot, you know I love and miss you, and I hate to ask this of you, but a DP would really make my day...

Amy said...

Knew Nixon would be trouble. Just knew it.

Joe Grav said...

gagne should never see the mound at fenway again

Daniel said...

Red Sox Gagne is not the same pitcher as Dodgers Gagne. I don't get it. Is AL hitting that much better?

laura k said...

now i'm reminding myself that we don't have to sweep to win the alcs

not that i've given up on this game, but i'm readjusting my expectations, just in case

fucking nixon

thatdietcokegirl said...

shoulda put paps back in. shit i wouldn't have minded seeing timlin. really. gagne is just bad (and not like manny)

FU trot.

Amy said...

I hope Gagne is not on the roster for the WS. I would rather see Corey. Anyone.

allan said...

well fuck this.

... get loose, borowski. get loose.

Sarah Haendler said...

You're right as always, Laura, but I somehow felt we were going to sweep, and that's seeming less and less likely.

Daniel said...

WHAT?!!!

Amy said...

Well, almost no one expected a sweep, and most expected six games for this series. So I am not sweating it. But I really do think that Gagne has proven himself unworthy of the team's trust.

Rob said...

Well, there are still men on second and third with 1 out.

Gotta will Lopez through this inning and then see what we can do with Borowski.

Amy said...

A three run deficit is not making me feel too optimistic about our chances here. But it's only one game.

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Ah well. Let's hope that mound is really comfortable for Dice-K in Cleveland coz' we need one back...

I'm still going to watch the end of the game, but shutting the computer down.

Rob said...

Jon Lester coming on to pitch now.

Well, should have known that once you'd get past Papelbon tonight it was going to be an adventure. There aren't any lights out, or dimmers, left.

Rob said...

Amazing how the game can get away so quickly. You blink your eyes, and boom.

Daniel said...

Why is nobody now saying "Lopez should never pitch again, he's unworthy"? He didn't even get anyone out.

Amy said...

Yes, Ish, we can only hope it also gets away from the Indians. But not likely now that we are four runs down.

Amy said...

Lopez wasn't brought in with the hype of Gagne, he hasn't blown leads for the team every time he as pitched a close game, and he has actually pitched well at times. No comparison for me. Not that I am happy about Lopez either.

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