(after leaving boston in a 1-1 tie, and losing the next 2 in cleveland, the sox did what they do best. i apologize in advance for the lack of some stats...i missed a few innings cuz i had to run an errand).....
A warm mid-October night, and there's barely any traffic on the road. With THE SOX in Cleveland hoping to stay alive, it seems all of New England are sitting somewhere, huddled in front of any television they can find as they anxiously await the outcome of Game 5 with THE SOX in a "Do or Die" situation, losing in the series 3-1. A win would bring the series back to BOSTON for Game 6, a loss would mean THE SOX would just come home.
But no one is thinking that way!!!! The one thing on everyone's mind is how THE SOX were in this very same situation just 3 years ago when they faced elimination against the YANKEES, being down in that series 3-0, and how they won 4 straight games to eliminate NY and go on to beat St Louis in the WORLD SERIES. Of course they can do it again!!!!
Fresh-faced sensation, Josh Beckett, would command the game thru 8 innings striking out 11 batters and allowing just one run! And THE SOX offense would start things off early.
Youk gave THE SOX an early lead with a solo home run in the 1st inning. Cleveland would tie it in the bottom half. After a "Papi" walk in the 3rd inning, Manny would come to the plate and launch a ball towards the fence, driving Ortiz home from 1st. However, the ball would bounce off the corner of the wall and stay in play, leaving manny at 1st and recording, quite possibly, the longest RBI single ever hit at 390 feet. SOX up 2-1.
I missed the next 4 innings, but when i returned, THE SOX had increased their lead to 4-1, and the 8th inning was just starting, tho it was the most exciting inning!
Drew would lead off with a walk, followed by a Varitek out. Coco Crisp would reach base on a short ground ball because of a bad throw by the pitcher. Lugo would advance the runners and reach base on a bunt that caught the infield by surprise. Now, with the bases loaded, Pedroia would come to the plate. In the middle of the count, the catcher couldnt handle one of the pitches, and Drew would score on a passed ball. Pedroia would walk, loading the bases again as Youk, who already has a couple home runs in this series, comes to the plate. He would walk too, bringing in another run. Papi would get up and scrifice a fly ball to drive in another run. When the inning was over, THE SOX advanced their lead to 7-1.
And Cleveland could do nothing to overcome the difference. And as that last out was recorded in the 9th inning, there was one simultaneous outburst of cheering all around New England as our boys stayed the execution and bring the series back home for game 6. And if history really does repeat itself, game 7 as well. GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
