ALCS Game 7: Red Sox vs Indians

How fitting that Daisuke Matsuzaka would get the chance to send the Red Sox to the World Series by winning Game 7 of the ALCS. On the same token, failure would further raise questions about the acquisition. However, either way I believe that Daisuke Matsuzaka was a good acquisition for the Red Sox this year and I feel that he'll only get better as he adjusts to pitching in the American League.

Matsuzaka started off strong by putting up zeroes through his first 3 innings. At the same time, the Red Sox were scoring runs in each of those innings. After those frames had been completed, the Red Sox were up 3-0, but it oddly felt like they were tied or even losing the game due to the fact that they could have easily had a few more runs than that with some clutch hitting. Unfortunately, the double play was in full effect once again on Sunday night for the Red Sox hitters. It also appeared that Francona dropped the ball on a couple of baserunning decisions in the early going, both of which resulted in the Red Sox grounding into a double play.

Matsuzaka labored through the 4th and 5th inning and probably should have been taken out before finished the 5th, but Francona left him in and it paid off. Matsuzaka finished with 5 IP, 2 ER, and 3 Ks.

The score remained 3-2 until the 7th inning. The Indians threatened in the top of the 7th, but were unable to come up with any runs. The Indians had runners on 1st and 3rd after Julio Lugo mishandled a popup by Kenny Lofton and Franklin Gutierrez lined a single off of the 3rd base bag. Inexplicably, Lofton didn't score on the play and it kept the Red Sox up by a run. The play turned out to be huge as the next batter (Casey Blake) grounded into an inning ending double play.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Red Sox extended their lead when Dustin Pedroia cranked a 2-run shot over the Green Monster off of the previously unhittable Rafael Betancourt. The homer gave the Red Sox a 5-2 advantage.

In the 8th, it appeared that it would make sense to bring Mike Timlin into the game until a baserunner reached, at which point Papelbon should have entered. Instead, Francona brought out Hideki Okajima despite the fact that he had already pitched 2 innings. Okajima allowed a leadoff walk followed by a single to Asdrubal Cabrera. Now it was time for Papelbon to come in and attempt to shut the door with the tying run at the plate. Papelbon struck out Travis Hafner and then forced Victor Martinez into a fielder's choice ground out. Runners were on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs for Ryan Garko. Garko took a nice swing on a Papelbon offering and as Garko left the box it appeared that he felt that the ball had a chance to clear the fence and tie the game. Luckily, Jacoby Ellsbury ranged over in centerfield and caught the ball in front of the warning track to end the treat.

In the bottom of the 8th, the Red Sox really poured it on. They scored 7 more runs capped off by a bases clearing double off the wall by Dustin Pedroia followed by 2 -run homer by Kevin Youkilis.

Papelbon came out to pitch the 9th inning and allowed a leadoff hit before retiring the rest of the side in order and sending the Red Sox to the World Series.

The final score was 11-2 and it gave the Red Sox a 4-3 series win. The Red Sox outscored Cleveland by an astounding 30-5 in the final 3 games of the series. Josh Beckett won series MVP, but there were many key contributors including JD Drew, Kevin Youkilis, Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, and David Ortiz (in the first few games of the series).

The team will now face the Rockies in the World Series. Game 1 will take place at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. The Red Sox have homefield advantage because the American League won the All-Star Game again this year.