October 19, 2008

ALCS 7: Rays 3, Red Sox 1

Red Sox - 100 000 000 - 1  3  0
Rays - 000 110 10x - 3 6 1
Tampa Bay Rays - 2008 AL Champions.



Lester was good (7-6-3-0-8, 107), but Garza -- named the MVP of the series -- was better (7-2-1-3-9, 118).

Dustin Pedroia lined a home run to left in the first -- 6th pitch of the game -- and David Ortiz followed with a walk. Garza retired the next two Sox and outside of hitting FY in the third and walking him in the sixth, no other Sock reached base until there was one out in the seventh.

By that time, the Rays led 3-1. Lester did set down the first nine Rays batters, but a two-out double from Evan Longoria in the fourth tied the game and three straight hits to open the fifth -- Willy Aybar double, Dioner Navarro single, Rocco Baldelli single -- gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. Aybar donged to start the seventh to give the Rays a two-run lead.

Boston tried to rally. After Kevin Youkilis popped to shortstop to start the seventh, JD Drew walked on four pitches and Jason Bay singled. After a mound visit from Joe Maddon, Garza -- working slowly -- got Mark Kotsay to fly to right and then struck out Jason Varitek on a changeup in the dirt.

In the eighth, Alex Cora batted -- Tito was not very Assassiny tonight -- and grounded to shortstop. Jason Bartlett did not charge the ball and it clanked off his glove for an error. Maddon went to the bullpen -- repeatedly. He used four relievers in the inning. Dan Wheeler allowed a single to right from Coco Crisp but got FY on a routine fly to left. JP Howell came in and got Ortiz to ground to second (on seven pitches) and Coco was forced. Chad Bradford fell behind Yook 3-0, battled back to a full count, and walked him. Then David Price came in and struck out Drew on a 1-2 check swing.

Price -- who began the year in the lowly Florida State League -- came back out for the ninth. Jason Bay (cbbfbf) walked, but Price struck out Kotsay (ffbbc) and Varitek (bsfbs). Jed Lowrie pinch-hit for Cora and grounded a 0-1 pitch right to Akinori Iwamura, who grabbed the ball on a high hop and raced to second for the Red-Sox-season-ending force.

The Rays and Phillies will play Game 1 of the World Series at the Trop on Wednesday night.

***

Jon Lester / Matt Garza
Red Sox            Rays
Crisp, CF Iwamura, 2B
Pedroia, 2B Upton, CF
Ortiz, DH Pena, 1B
Youkilis, 3B Longoria, 3B
Drew, RF Crawford, LF
Bay, LF Aybar, DH
Kotsay, 1B Navarro, C
Varitek, C Baldelli, RF
Cora, SS Bartlett, SS
The Globe reports that the Red Sox are "sticking with the idea that Alex Cora hits hard-throwing right-handers better than Jed Lowrie". Cora went 1-for-3 against Garza in Game 3.

I checked their 2008 splits and have decided to not freak out.
Against Power Pitchers

Cora .302/.377/.415
Lowrie .200/.333/.259

Against RHP

Cora .266/.378/.363
Lowrie .222/.308/.344
***

Here is a handy chart of how many pitches each reliever has thrown in the series:
Bullpen Pitches Thrown 

Red Sox 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOT

Okajima 4 28 28 32 92
Masterson 5 18 39 15 18 95
Papelbon 12 18 38 8 76
Lopez 1 26 27
Delcarmen 20 28 17 65
Timlin 23 31 54
Byrd 47 47

Rays 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOT
Howell 12 23 20 25 23 103
Balfour 21 19 25 18 83
Price 3 12 15
Bradford 24 14 38
Miller 8 6 1 15
Wheeler 48 33 81
Jackson 14 25 39
***

Fact: Tampa Bay is three two one games away from elimination.

The Red Sox have won nine consecutive ALCS elimination games. Tonight, they go for #10.

Kevin Youkilis:
It's amazing. It's really amazing the games we play, and how much fun it's been. When we're all old and our children are all grown up, we'll sit around and meet up and talk about games like the game the other day. It's a wild ride, and we're very spoiled.
Jonathan Papelbon admits he's "pretty beat up". His fastball was only 92-93 mph last night.
For me, in these things, if I don't have my A-plus fastball, I'd better have my A-plus mental approach and my A-plus headset. My head was right tonight.
Hideki Okajima threw two scoreless innings last night -- the third time he has done so in this series.

From Josh Beckett's post-game interview:
Josh, you struggled in the postseason thus far, but tonight you looked like the Josh Beckett of 2003 and 2007.

I don't know really if that's even a question. ...

The Clifford Floyd at-bat in the fourth --

Clifford?

Some of his friends call him that. ...
Also: Post-game Q&As from Maddon and Francona.

Joe Maddon:
We've got one more shot. We can truly teach ourselves a lesson. We can do something that will make an imprint on us for a long time.
You sure can, Joe, and you will, but it's not going to be the good kind of imprint.

Evan Longoria makes no sense:
In my opinion, there'll be less pressure on anyone. We'll throw it out there and have fun. I think there was more pressure when we were up 3-to-1. There was pressure on us to end it. Elimination games are always pressure-packed. You feel you have to win them, and in that situation you start to press. Now it's back to 0-0, and we'll come out and play the way we've been playing all year.
Dood, this is an elimination game! So start pressin'!

Clifford:
They're the World Series champs. You've got to take it from them. They know how to win. They stay poised in tough situations. That said, it's going to happen [tonight].
Sean McAdam, Herald:
The Rays had spent the off day Friday swearing up and down that, nope, there wasn't going to be any sort of carryover effect from Game 5, and yep, they had already forgotten all about it and seemed almost offended by the line of questioning.

Crushing loss? What crushing loss?

But defeats like Thursday's don't wash off in the shower. They stay with you. ...

The cracks are starting to show now. Arguably the best defensive team in the league during the season, the Rays have withered in the field in the last two games. ... The bullpen, so critical to the team's magic this season, suddenly looks vulnerable. ...

Game 7 comes tonight, the game the Rays didn't want. They have whiffed on two chances to put the Red Sox away for good and tonight they get their last chance.
***

It worked in 2004. It worked in 2007. It'll work in 2008.
One.

One game. One win. That's all.

Tonight.

1,008 comments:

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allan said...

KUTTER -- now DP

and then we rock.

Amy said...

OK, one down. Now a DP, please.

efd said...

there's a K so joe grav can finish his curse from a few minutes ago.

laura k said...

Delay used to bother me too, until the TBS anncers. Now I'm so happy to have the option.

Gambrinus said...

Alright, DP now, please.

Rob said...

Walk Fuckton?

Amy said...

Only one. But better than none. And only one pitch.

Now...ONE MORE and then GET SOME RUNS.

Rob said...

They're pitching to Fuckton. Interesting.

A Conformer said...

Walk Fuckton?

To get to Pena? I don't think so.

Amy said...

Foul, you asshole.

thatdietcokegirl said...

I don't watch when I have the radio on. I play videogames, refresh this, and listen. And squeeze my red sox soft stuff ball occasionally.

Dr. Jeff said...

YES.

Rob said...

Phew! Jammed!

De-clinch your asses, everyone.

efd said...

nice. Let's remember it's still only 2-1.

Amy said...

Done.

GET RUNS NOW. Time's a wasting.

allan said...

nice shut down there.

top of the order

Joe Grav said...

FUCK GARZA

nick said...

1 run sucks, but totally surmountable.

laura k said...

Whew. OK, no problem, we'll get this back right away.

Everyone breathe.

s1c said...

Ok, get the runs back now!!!

All in all only 1 run on 3 hits, I will take it.

Gambrinus said...

phew. that was close.

1 run is not so bad. we just need a few of our own. (and shut up the crowd already, please.)

A Conformer said...

OK. Now let's get to the fucking Spitter.

s1c said...

Time for Garza to spit the bit here right now.

nick said...

I've rented a chevy malibu several times. found it a pleasure to drive w/ good mileage. just saying.

thatdietcokegirl said...

Actually wait. Radio off for a moment. LA Woman on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3jf9_rua5Q

A Conformer said...

And with Pena and Crawford coming up, I think Lester goes out for the 6th with a 2 baserunner leash...

Jere said...

nice job Jon. Now they're feeling shitty for only being up one.

So, the last three batters, once again, it was, What can the Rays do--here are past highlights of Rays successes! WHy not, "If Lester can get a DP here he gets out of it" or highlights of past Lester pitching successes? It's unbelievable.

Rob said...

I'm playing a punk-rock cover of Sweet Caroline.

A Conformer said...

Ococ really really wants to tnub...

dj1480 said...

reminds me of a cartoon character


http://chatterbox.typepad.com/portlandarchitecture/images/2007/10/22/heckle_jeckle.jpg

Heckle and Jeckle.

Amy said...

Get to Garza.

allan said...

concentrate
no wasted AB pls

Amy said...

Yes, Heckel and Jeckel! I knew what Ish meant, but couldn't think of who it was.

allan said...

fuck these fucking d-bags.

Rob said...

I wasn't even thinking of heckle and jeckel, but that works!

A Conformer said...

I know someone who's trying to turn "spitter" into a curse, to replace fucker. Think Upton's name.

Joe Grav said...

frcuakfakfaweaea

Amy said...

No breaks for us there. That was close.

allan said...

time for some laser doors!

Amy said...

Keep making him work, Pedroia.

Jere said...

he's over 90 pitches

Dr. Jeff said...

epic at bat

SoSock said...

Nice at-bat.

know someone who's trying to turn "spitter" into a curse, to replace fucker. Think Upton's name.

Hlarious!

Amy said...

Full count. GET ON BASE.

Amy said...

Another foul. Keep going.

Jere said...

Lucchino's neighbor gets the foul ball.

Rob said...

Pedroia's had a fantastic AB already, no matter what he does. But obviously we want him on base.

Dr. Jeff said...

incredible at bat.

Rob said...

11-pitch walk!

A Conformer said...

Make him pay, Papi. We need you.

Amy said...

ON BASE.

Papi, do NOT let us down. PLEASE.

allan said...

FY BB

now can tiz pound a first pitcch fb?

efd said...

alright! that's a start.

Joe Grav said...

that was huge

SoSock said...

Wow - epic is right.

s1c said...

We need Big father, to be Big Father.

Dear papi,

A hit please

Thanx,
RSN

Gambrinus said...

Awesome at bat.

C'mon, Papi...

Amy said...

Papi, damn it, be patient!

allan said...

rf deep - fuckton shallow

Jere said...

I take it that's a L'Montro T-shirt under Papi's jersey?

thatdietcokegirl said...

Fucking sweet AB.

ps. I don't like spitter. Sayin.
Wouldn't 'swallower' be better? From a girl's perspective, that works.
Ugh, how cuntingly crass ;)

allan said...

HIT IT FLO

Joe Grav said...

come on dave.

Amy said...

My heart is starting its pounding.

Jere said...

boys can suck penises too

SoSock said...

Damn, Papi - HEAD DOWN ON THE BALL!

Pulling out badly.

thatdietcokegirl said...

I'm chair dancing and making Rain Man rocking motions.

A Conformer said...

ps. I don't like spitter. Sayin.
Wouldn't 'swallower' be better? From a girl's perspective, that works.
Ugh, how cuntingly crass ;)


We weren't talking from a girl's perspective... (:

allan said...

wear him down - a mistake is coming

s1c said...

Another full count, a double will score FY

Joe Grav said...

LETS GO DAVE

Amy said...

Full count. Papi, be FY. Stay patient.

thatdietcokegirl said...

boys can suck penises too

But...
yeah.

But..

Hm, Ok.

s1c said...

Crap, fragging crap.

Joe Grav said...

horse fucker.

nick said...

fuckcock.

Amy said...

OH FUCK.

Damn it.

Gambrinus said...

fuck fuck fuck.

A Conformer said...

SHIT SHIT SHIT. Fucking horrible, right there.

laura k said...

shit shit shit shit shit

Rob said...

Fuck no.

efd said...

that was sub-optimal.

s1c said...

Ok, that really really sucked.

thatdietcokegirl said...

It sucked. And it swallowed.

Rob said...

That puts Garza close to 100, upside of things.

Jere said...

should be Youk (MVP) up with tying run on first two out

SoSock said...

Papi - come back, plaease.

Eh, what am I saying. He won't get cranked up good till the 7th.

allan said...

should be at 100 even.

allan said...

for the first time since G5, i am getting a bit antsy.

Jere said...

dien bien PHU

efd said...

good start for Lester, at least.

Amy said...

Allan, stay calm. If you get antsy, I may vomit!

A Conformer said...

We'll need an 07 game 7 8th inning. An 07 game 7 7th would be ok too, I guess...

Gambrinus said...

It's too early to get antsy.

But it would be nice if our offense would wake up again.

Amy said...

SHUT UP about Longoria. SHUT UP.

efd said...

2 quick outs!

Jere said...

2 quick outs! By Pena and douche, too

laura k said...

nice quick outs

Rob said...

I've been antsy in my pantsy all evening.

allan said...

get a quick 3rd out and thenattack that pigfucker.

Jere said...

OTT

Amy said...

No trouble. What-- THREE pitches??

efd said...

damn, that was a fast inning!

Let's get 'em, Sox!!

allan said...

5 pitch inning

WICKED

...

YOOK
ON FIRE
DOUNG BOY!

laura k said...

Amy, breathe. Breathe. And try muting the TV.

Beautiful! 5 pitch inning. Excellent.

NOW SOME RUNS PLEASE

Gambrinus said...

There we go.

Now can we please get something going, bats?

Amy said...

Our 4-5-6 better score some runs.

Joe Grav said...

SUCK ON THAT

OMGOMGOMG A FLYOUT

HERE WE FUCKING GO BOYS

SoSock said...

1 run - c'mon. We were down 7 just a couple of nights ago.
Later than this too.

"Well hit, I'm nearing orgasm, I might just stroke out - damn he caught it"
Asshole announcers - should be shot.

s1c said...

It is time for these guys to start getting some base runners. Now would be the optimal time.

thatdietcokegirl said...

Wait, everyone is hitless cept dusty? That ain't right.

Amy said...

Thanks, Laura. Sounds like Harvey as my childbirth coach!! Without the muting of the TV advice.

nick said...

I ran to the kitchen got a bagel and some salmon spread and only managed to barely catch the last two outs of that inning. nice!

s1c said...

TDCG - I think FY is the only baserunner all night.

Rob said...

"Well hit, I'm nearing orgasm, I might just stroke out - damn he caught it"
Asshole announcers - should be shot.


Ironic considering that's what they want to do.

Amy said...

Big Papi commercial. Big Papi should watch it and get inspired.

A Conformer said...

Garza's range of emotions:
Exasperated spitting.
Pumped up spitting.
Confused spitting.
Angry spitting.
Rattled spitting.
Scared spitting.
Relieved spitting.
Tired spitting.

Let's get him feeling several of those.

SoSock said...

Be a Greek god - of ANYTHING!

dammit

thatdietcokegirl said...

s1c - that is correct.

Youk needs to change that.

Amy said...

That was useless.

Amy said...

A baserunner is nice. Can we do something with a BAT now?

Rob said...

Feels like there is this big gaping hole 7-8-9 tonight for Boston. Bay better hit one of his big dongs.

s1c said...

A four pitch walk, wait didn't we see this earlier this series. Time for Bay to return the Favor to Drew and crush one out.

allan said...

time for bay to put his picture on the front page of every monday paper in canada

Jere said...

try FULL swinging, Bay

Amy said...

Man, he sure does spit a lot.

laura k said...

yeah!!!

nick said...

hup hup hup!

thatdietcokegirl said...

yes yes yes. c'mon c'mon!!

efd said...

nice!! finally another hit!

s1c said...

ok, we've got something perculating here, now lets close the deal.

Amy said...

Two on. BRING TWO HOME.

A Conformer said...

Mellotron out= relieved spitting?

allan said...

ortiz walked in the first

othe early baserunner

A Conformer said...

No, just exasperated spitting for now. Make him pay.

nick said...

I was gonna be right pissed if he popped out on that first pitch.

let's go!

efd said...

let's see a double from Kotsay like the other night

allan said...

maddon keeps garza in -- miller mentions gump!!!!

SoSock said...

If that had beena Ray it would have been - "hard swing - just missed" instead of "popped up - strike one"

laura k said...

i'm hoping that was maddon's gump moment. the second i heard jon miller say "he's asking garza how he feels"...

s1c said...

Can Tek be the hero two nights in a row?

thatdietcokegirl said...

C'mon cap'n.

Amy said...

OK, 90 feet away. But two out and Tek up.

He just broke his own bat with his hands?

nick said...

dude. snapped bat over his leg.

Gambrinus said...

alright tek. tie this up.

A Conformer said...

It's all on the cap'n.

efd said...

let's see if Tek can stay out of the way of any wild pitches.

allan said...

we need a tek miracle

he's 1-for his last 450

thatdietcokegirl said...

i'm hoping that was maddon's gump moment

They mentioned that on the radio here too.

Amy said...

Jason, do it. Please do it.

laura k said...

2 nights in a row? seems impossible, but so did coming back from 7-0 in the 7th

Jere said...

do this Tek

laura k said...

diet coke, you have red sox radio or espn?

s1c said...

somewhere Gump is smiling.

laura k said...

shit shit shit shit shit shit shit

allan said...

fucker just CANNOT hit

Amy said...

Oh man. I am starting not to feel too good. Uch.

thatdietcokegirl said...

Dammit dammit.

Whatever Garza won't be back out there for the 8th.

Gambrinus said...

Grrrrrrrrrr.

Now I'm antsy.

laura k said...

it's getting late... but we're only down by one run

we can do this

Dr. Jeff said...

I miss Lowell.

allan said...

if it was not 2-1 the assassin might have PH for him. fuck fuck fukc


mdc time?

Joe Grav said...

varitek, what the FUCK

thatdietcokegirl said...

lgirl, red sox radio.

Wait maybe we're both listening to the same station lol. I don't know the other guys name, only joe c.

A Conformer said...

That was a horrible swing on a bad pitch...

allan said...

"horrible swing on a bad pitch"

... tek's 08 season in 6 words

laura k said...

gump is always smiling. he wsan't called the grinning jackass for nothing.

s1c said...

TDCG - the other guys name is Dale Arnold.

SoSock said...

Shit - we're jut don by ONE.
That's nothing. Although I do hate that Cora leads off next inning. I'd rather have oCoC/Petey up without that 1st out. Maybe he'll earn his start.
I'd PH myself.

Jere said...

TBS missed the throw to first, and the throw to second on the Pedroia CS. Cuz they don't know the rules of baseball.

laura k said...

diet coke, no, we don't have red sox radio, we have the natl espn b'cast.

Dr. Jeff said...

I can't see how's Tek's value in the field overcomes his liability at the plate. This is game 7.

allan said...

masterson up yet again)

laura k said...

and the other guy is dale arnold

laura k said...

dr jeff, you're right, but who would hit for him that would be any improvement?

allan said...

CORA CANNOT HIT IN THE 8TH

CANFUCKINGNOT

9casey said...

Dr. Jeff said...
I can't see how's Tek's value in the field overcomes his liability at the plate. This is game 7.



Who do you hit in that situation? LBJ, Casey?

thatdietcokegirl said...

Ah, so it is. I recognize his voice now.

I'm so nervous...lame! lol

thatdietcokegirl said...

i wanna see Lowrie.

laura k said...

oh boy

we didn't need that

s1c said...

that sucked.

Jere said...

give a guy like 5 strikes, he's gonna burn ya

A Conformer said...

OK, now I'm worried.

thatdietcokegirl said...

FUCKIN FUCK.

Rob said...

Mother fuck cock in a bottle.

Amy said...

That hurts.

SoSock said...

Fuck
OK - be calm, still coming back.

9casey said...

thatdietcokegirl said...
i wanna see Lowrie.



he's hitting .118

Dr. Jeff said...

Timlin probably could have taken a better cut than Tek's third strike.

allan said...

grooved it

fucking A

thatdietcokegirl said...

Last pitch should have been strike 3. mf gd.

laura k said...

Timlin probably could have taken a better cut than Tek's third strike.

But that's not really an answer.

thatdietcokegirl said...

he's hitting .118

I'd still rather see him than Cora.

allan said...

down 2 with 6 outs to go

with 9-1-2 in the 8th

9casey said...

To much panic here for me.........

Rob said...

I wouldn't mind seeing LBJ called upon to drop a bunt and run for his life.

But that's just me.

laura k said...

me too! we're only down 2 runs.

Amy said...

Lester has pitched a hell of a game. Too bad Garza has also.

thatdietcokegirl said...

Garza will be back out for the 8th.

SoSock said...

WE ARE THE FUCKING RED SOX>
This will not stand.

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