Sunday, October 21, 2007

Schilling, Drew Get the Sox to Game 7

It was another Game 6 to remember as Curt Schilling won his 10th career postseason game and J.D. Drew got the biggest hit of his Red Sox career as the Sox evened the ALCS at 3 with a 12-2 pounding of Cleveland at Fenway last night.

The Red Sox loaded the bases against Fausto Carmona with no outs, but couldn't get anyone in after Manny Ramirez struck out and Mike Lowell hit a short fly ball. That brought up Drew, with moans not only from the crowd at Fenway but also at Professor Thom's. "Third out" I thought to myself.

But Drew slammed a 3-1 pitch into the camera well in center field to send both places into a frenzy and give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead. Carmona got blasted for seven runs by the third, as the Sox had their hitting shoes on, led by Drew (5 RBI), Kevin Youkilis (3 hits), Dustin Pedroia (2 hits), Julio Lugo (2 RBI) and Jacoby Ellsbury ( 1 RBI), who replaced Coco Crisp in center field. A very hopeful sign for the Red Sox is the guys who've been struggling were at the center of the rally in the third, where the Red Sox scored six runs and put the game away.

It was another night to remember for Curt Schilling, who struck out five, walked none, and allowed just two earned runs in seven innings. He received a standing ovation from the Fenway Faithful after he completed the seventh, as it could have been the last time on a Fenway mound as a Red Sox pitcher. Schilling is also now 4-0 in games in the postseason facing elimination. The Red Sox are now 5-0 in Game 6s played at Fenway Park in their history.

So tonight, it's all on the line. One game for the American League championship. Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the ball against Jake Westbrook. Daisuke has struggled in this postseason, not getting past the fifth in either start. It's time for him to step up and give the Red Sox at least five good innings, before Terry Francona turns it over to a well-rested bullpen. Everybody except Curt Schilling will be on hand if needed, including Josh Beckett.

"Game Seven." Two special words in the annals of sports.

Hopefully it will be a special and memorable night tonight at Fenway.

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