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ALDS, Game 4: “And A Child Shall Lead Them”… Lowrie Delivers Game-Winner In 9th As Sox Advance, 3-2
By Administrator | October 7, 2008
Shortstop Jed Lowrie reacted as his ninth inning single scooted into the outfield… moments later, he and his teammates watched as Jason Bay slid head-first into home plate with the game-winning, and series-winning, run in the Red Sox 3-2 win… AP photos
Redemption!
With the bases loaded and two out in the tenth inning of last night’s game, Jed Lowrie had a chance to send the Red Sox into the ALCS. He ripped a hard line drive into right field, but Gary Matthews Jr fielded the liner to end the threat. Two innings later, the Angels won the game to make Game Four necessary.
Tonight, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Lowrie again got his chance. With the game tied at 2-2 and one out, Sox left fielder Jason Bay hit a line drive down the right field line that sliced away from Angels outfielder Reggie Willits… in spite of Willits’ diving effort, the ball hit on the warning track and bounded into the grandstands for a ground rule double. Mark Kotsay, playing in place of Mike Lowell (with Kevin Youkilis shifted to third base), then lined a shot down the right field line that Los Angeles first baseman Mark Teixeira caught in spectacular fashion.
Lowrie was all that separated the teams from extra innings… he didn’t waste any time. “Jedi” hacked at reliever Scot Shields first pitch, a low inside curveball, and grounded it past second baseman Howie Kendrick. Bay raced home from second base and beat Willits’ throw home to score the game-winning (and series winning) run.
Of his game-winning hit, Lowrie said: “Last night, Shields struck me out on three straight curveballs, so in the back of my mind I was thinking curveball… and he left one up in the zone enough for me to find a hole (through the infield)”.
Bring on the Rays! The Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays — yes, Tampa Bay — will play for the American League pennant beginning on Friday night on the Gulf coast.
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The Sox and Angels had played to a stalemate through the first four innings. LA starter John Lackey (7 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB) had retired nine of the first ten Red Sox batters. He got into trouble in the fourth inning due, in large part, to an error by 3B Chone Figgins… but he retired the next two batters to escape the threat.
He wasn’t as fortunate in the fifth inning. Mark Kotsay singled to start the inning. One out later, with Kotsay running, Jason Varitek lined a single into right field to put runners at the corners. Jacoby Ellsbury then bounced a slow roller that Kendrick bobbled… the second baseman threw to Teixeira at first base to retire Ellsbury as Kotsay crossed the plate with the first run of the game.
Dustin Pedroia, whose Division Series hitless skein had been extended to fifteen at-bats earlier in the game, then ripped a double off the left field wall to extend the lead to 2-0.
Red Sox starter Jon Lester deserved to win this game, but sadly he was lone gone by the time the outcome was settled. He turned the game over to the bullpen after seven innings with the two run lead in tact, but relievers Hideki Okajima and Justin Masterson were unable to protect the advantage. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Okajima walked switch-hitting Mark Teixeira on four pitches. Sox manager Terry Francona then called Masterson in the game to face Vlad Guerrero… but after getting ahead of Guerrero 0-2, the rookie threw four straight balls to put the tying runs on base. With Torii Hunter at the plate, Masterson then got crossed up on his signs… he threw a fastball passed Jason Varitek (it was ruled a passed ball, but probably should have been a wild pitch) to allow the runners to advance into scoring position.
Hunter then grounded a single into right field to tie the game after eight innings.
Lester gave his team an extraordinary effort for seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and issuing two walks while striking out four hitters… he retired the last eight batters he faced and deserved more than a “No Decision” for his efforts.
After surrendering the lead in the eighth inning, the Sox came VERY close to falling behind in the ninth inning. Kendry Morales got his second pinch-hit of the series off Masterson, lining a double off the Green Monster to start the inning. Willits pinch-ran for Morales and was sacrificed to third base by Kendrick. Francona, seeking a strikeout, then brought Delcarmen into the game to replace Masterson.
Angels shortstop Erick Aybar got ahead in the count… LA manager Mike Scioscia then gave him the sign for the squeeze play. Aybar failed to make contact and Willits was caught halfway down the third base line with no place to go… Varitek ran him back towards third base and tagged him just before he got to the bag. Immediately after tagging the runner, Varitek fell to the ground… as he landed, his mitt hit the ground and the ball popped out. Third base ump Tim Welke correctly ruled that Willits out (the out had been recorded in advance of the ball coming loose), but Scioscia emerged from the Angels dugout and argued the point anyway. Welke stuck by his guns… Willits was the second out of the inning. Delcarmen retired Aybar to send the game to the bottom of the ninth knotted at two.
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The Red Sox are 31-16 in the post-season since the turn of the century… both World Series wins began with an ALDS triumph over the Angels.
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LA center fielder Torii Hunter was 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the series… the rest of the team had three hits combined.
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Tampa Bay advanced to the ALCS with a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox earlier in the day… a year after posting the worst record in the major leagues, the Rays will play the Sox for a chance to play in the 2008 World Series.
Topics: MLB Playoffs, Sox Games, Sox Players |
