At least for now.
J.D. Drew hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning giving Boston an early 4-0 lead and Curt Schilling was masterful in post season play yet again improving his record to 10-2 in the 12-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.
Schilling carried the Boston Red Sox on his back forcing a game striking out five, on six hits, two runs, while pitching for 7 innings throwing 90 pitches (60 for strikes).
Kevin Youkilis continued his fine post season play going 3-4 with two runs and one RBI and Drew ended the night with five RBI’s going 3-5 with two runs adding up to a standing ovation from the Red Sox faithful that could not have come at a better time.
Fausto Carmona suffered the loss only lasting 2 innings, on six hits, seven runs, four walks, and two strikeouts. Boston’s first three hitters (Dustin Pedroia, Youkilis, and David Ortiz) all took the first pitch and later reached leaving Drew to force a hitter’s count of 3-1 before smacking the grand slam to deep center field.
The one bright spot for the Indians pitching staff was Aaron Laffey who pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball not allowing to break the game open into more of a laugher than it already was when he came into the game with the score being 10-1.
Game 7 Recipe for Success:
– Pedroia proved worthy in the lead off spot tonight going 2-4 with a walk; if Boston wants to win against Jake Westbrook who dominated them last time around its important Pedroia fuels this offense from the lead off spot.
– Unless Daisuke Matsuzaka has a World Baseball Classic or a 1998 summer Koshien-esque performance tonight, expect Josh Beckett to pitch. Dice-K, that means give us four innings of shutout ball and that is it. Unless you surprise me like Schilling did tonight — by all means, please do so.
– Jacoby Ellsbury only went 1-5 (one taken away by Grady Sizemore) but was a sparkplug at the bottom of the order and needs to do this again if he gets the nod to start in center field tonight.
– Last thought for tonight’s game. No errors in the field and as always — KEEP THE FAITH!