One of the greatest games I have ever seen. You would never have thought so with the way it looked during the first 6 1/2 innings. Dice-K was getting lit up, B.J. Upton seemed unstoppable, and Fenway Park looked more like the waiting line at a wake, then the stadium of the defending champions. All seemed loss. I had already began planning out the team for next year. Already I had sat back and thought of all the reasons this wasn't the year; Beckett's "problems", no production out of CF, World Series MVP Mike Lowell hurt, D.L. Drew plays only when feels like it, and our starting SS is someone named Jed. I was about to call it a night after Papelbon came on with 2 men on and no outs, and let up a double to B.J. Upton to make it 7-0. It was there that sinking feeling I hadn't felt in awhile. I was giving up...then it happened...
Lowrie comes up and rips a double to right, but then Tek and Kotsay roll over quickly for the next two out. 7 outs left, down 7, and Coco at the plate, sounds like a good time to start popping those sleeping pills (which I did). Crisp singles, still the Fenway crowd just seems like it has nothing left, a good 20%-30% of the fans are gone, I can't blame them, it looked hopeless. Pedroia fights off some pitches,
"fucking guy never gives up, good old "Little Dusty"", well once again Dusty reports for duty, and hits an RBI double scoring Jed Lowrie.
"Well good for Little Dusty at least he get one last hurrah, he had a hell of a season".
Papi comes up, instantly I kind of am pissed,
"this guy hasn't done anything all playoffs. He actually has a lower BA then Ellsbury. Is it his wrist? He is actually pissed about Manny?"
It very well may be his wrist, but he can still pull an inside fastball. Balfour makes that mistake, and Papi crushes one past Pesky poll. "Wow! At least they will make this interesting, they won't go down without some kind of fight."
Rays 7 Sox 4. Youk flies out to right, and the inning ends.
My mind starts racing..."ummmm ok 6 outs 3 runs. They can do that."
Papelbon makes quick work out of the Rays in the top of the 8th. "Man he is pumped up, but I don't think he can go another inning, his pitch count is already like 40."
Dan Wheeler comes out for the Rays in the 9th.
"They can hit this guy, but don't get too excited still a long way to go".
Bay walks, the sudden doomed look comes over Wheelers face. J.D. Drew hits a shot to right, and the Sox have now climbed within one.
"Fucking Drew, guy is so fucking annoying, he doesn't play, blah, blah, blah...has anyone been more clutch lately? Did I just compliment D.L. Drew.... Wow this really is a strange game."
Lowrie, and Sean Casey go down quickly (Casey came in for Tek). Kotsay hits a double, and you can just tell the Rays know what's coming, but Coco is at the dish. I am now on my knees in front of my TV. First time since I was a little kid and watch Glen Wesley hit the crossbar in the Stanley Cup Finals.
"Oh man I want anyone other then Coco up, he never comes through. I take that back I wouldn't want Tek either, but shit Coco just doesn't come through in games like this."
Coco hits a singe to right, Kotsay's got wheels and comes around to score.
"OMG, Coco did it, finally he's a hero". Then he gets thrown out trying for 2nd. "Fucking Coco, can't he let me enjoy him for more then 5 secs".
Inning over 7-7, text messages are pouring in.
Masterson comes in for the Sox for the 9th.
"Man they have asked so much out of this kid. It's unfair, really unfair".
Barlett gets on with a single. My heart sinks,
"God I feel for this kid, he doesn't deserve this".
Iwamura pops out, but then the walking God Upton comes to the plate. Masterson walks him.
"Best thing that could have happened", I say to myself, trying to be positive.
Pena's up, announcers then inform me that Pena has it into something like only 3 double plays on the year. The trap is set...Pena hits into the double play. Masterson makes it out of the inning. Sox have the best players on the team coming up.
Pedroia comes up and hits a ground ball off Longoria's glove, but Barlett is able to get to it, and throw him out.
"Oh no, Pedroia might kill someone".
Ortiz is up.
"Can he do it again, but no way they will throw inside to him."
2 pitches go by count is 1-1 and Ortiz tries to bunt down the third base line.
"What the fuck, you just hit a HR, why are you bunting???" I starting thinking of every reason possible. "Maybe his wrist is really fucked up, maybe he can't hit pitches away".
Ortiz strikes out on the next pitch.
"Oh God they are going to have to bring Masterson out again, poor kid".
Youk comes up, fights off 10 pitches, then hits a ball weakly to Longoria, who makes a hell of a play to get to it, but seemed to get too relaxed after he got the ball in his glove. He throws too short, and Pena can't control it, the ball goes flying, and Youk trots to 2nd.
"Wow they are going to do this, WTF is with Boston's teams".
Bay is intentionally walked.
"HAHAHAHA why would you do that? Drew is hitting like .700 against Howell".
3 straight balls to Drew, 2 pitches later Drew puts one over the right fielders head. Youk comes home, and the place goes nuts. I am now running aimlessly around my room, yelling at the top of my lungs.
"THIS TEAM HAS TAKEN YEARS OFF MY LIFE!!!!!". Sox live on for another day, and the legacy that is the Sox, since the Boone homerun, lives on....
-BMack
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