The team that finished last in the AL East a season ago and the team that was predicted to finish last this season in the AL East is now one win away from winning the World Series. The men with the crazy beards have flown under the radar all season and that’s the way they like. Let them keep doubting the Sox, they’ll just continue to prove you wrong.
David Ortiz has been dialed in since Game 1, and he didn’t miss a beat last night. With Pedroia on second, Ortiz came up to the plate and took the ball into right for a double bringing Dustin home for the first run of the game. He finished the game 3-4 and is hitting .733 in the series. The man has been possessed behind the plate, it has become an odd thing to see him not get on base. He even managed to get an “infield” hit when they put the shift on him. He is the clear leader on this team and if he brings his hitting performance to Game 5, the Red Sox will be put in a good position to win.
Jon Lester is another Red Sox player who brought their A-game to the World Series. In a crucial game that swayed the series one way or another, Lester showed why Farrell decided to give him the ball. Pitching 7.2 innings, it looked like he was going to be pitching a complete game until a minor jam came about in the 8th inning. He allowed only 4 hits, and one mistake of a home-run to Holliday. He controlled the whole game, and would not be denied a loss in Game 5. If it were possible, I would stick him in Game 6.
All tied up in the seventh, the Sox were able to get a hit from Xander and a walk from Drew to bring Ross up to the plate. It seems that every game someone different steps up for this Sox team and delivers. It was Gomes in Game 4 and in Game 5 it was Ross. With two men on he was able to pull the ball down the left field line for a ground rule double, bringing Xander around to score. After Lester failed to reach base, Ellsbury was able to bloop a single into center field bringing Drew home making it a 3-1 game as Ross got thrown out at the plate.
Seeing a different guy each night stepping up is truly a great thing to watch, yet it is also extremely stressful. Being able to count on any single person in the lineup is what makes a team great and is something that has gotten the Red Sox this far.
Game 6 is coming back to Boston, and the Red Sox will have a chance to clinch the World Series in Boston for the first time since 1918. Game 6 is a big one, and I know all of Boston will be rocking if they are able to win tomorrow night. John Lackey as as a rookie in 2002 was able to clinch the World Series for the Angels. Tomorrow night as a veteran, he will have the opportunity to do it again. If I was a betting man, I would say he is pretty ready to take the hill.
Game 6 is Wednesday night at 8:07pm EST. John Lackey vs Michael Wacha
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