Red Sox Roll in Opener, Rockies Flat After 8 Day Layoff
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Red Sox leadoff man 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia, who hit 8 homeruns the entire season, became only the 2nd leadoff hitter ever to lead off a World Series with a homerun. Starter Josh Beckett was beyond awesome on the mound and the Colorado Rockies, off of an 8 day layoff awaiting the AL pennant winner, went totally flat and were unable to cope with Beckett. These factors plus a 17 hit Red Sox offensive explosion added up to a 13-1 Boston rout in game one of the world series. Boston’s win also ended Colorado’s 10 game winning streak and 21 wins in 22 games run.
AP sportswriter Ronald Blum reports on how the game started for Yahoo sports;
Beckett got off to the most overpowering start since Sandy Koufax…
Beckett began by fanning Willy Taveras, Kaz Matsui, Matt Holliday and [Todd] Helton, becoming the first pitcher to strike out the first four batters in a Series game since Koufax got five Yankees to start the 1963 Series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And what a five those were: Tony Kubek, Bobby Richardson, Tom Tresh, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.
Then, in the bottom of the 1st inning, Pedroia pounded lefthander Jeff Francis’ second pitch over what they call the “Green Monster” in leftfield and Boston scored two more 1st inning runs as the Rockies pulled their infield in with a runner on third. Leftfielder Manny Ramirez, who went 3 for 4 for the game with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs, singled over Troy Tulowitzki — who might have caught the ball had he been in his normal position, but he was playing in on the shift. Rightfielder J.D. Drew doubled to made it 3-0.
AP sportswriter Blum notes;
The only other player to homer starting a Series was Baltimore’s Don Buford against Tom Seaver and the 1969 Miracle Mets.
In the 2nd, while the game remained competitive, shortstop Tulowitzki drove in the Rockies’ only run with a double to centerfield to narrow the score to 3-1.
From there, the Sox plundered Francis for another run in the 2nd inning, 2 more runs in the 4th as the lefthander got through his final inning. The Sox scored 7 more runs with two out in the 5th inning, all charged to rookie lefthander starter and reliever Franklin Morales, although reliever Ryan Speier contributed to the mess walking the 3 hitters he faced. Mercifully, Matt Herges came on to get 1st baseman Kevin Youkilis to fly out to rightfield end the onslaught.
Rockies’ relievers Herges, Jeremy Affeldt and LaTroy Hawkins held the Red Sox scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings, but by then, the game was way out of control.
Beckett was masterful through 7 innings allowing only the one run on sic hits while walking one, striking out nine and keeping the Rockies off-balance throughout. Relievers Mike Timlin and Eric Gagne were perfect over the final 2 innings to seal the rout.
For the boxscores and recap on Wednesday’s game, click here.
The Rockies, who lost for only the 2nd time in their last 23 games, need to shake the rust off in order that they not, as the lead on the Yahoo sports’ Steve Henson column turns the phrase, “flatline fast,” and that the series not get out of control. Thursday’s game two at Fenway Park features rookie Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4) facing veteran and future Hall of Famer Curt Schilling (9-8) with his 10-2 career post-season record.
For the boxscores and recap on Thursday’s game, click here.
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