As we move deeper into the offseason, I will be recalling month by month the 2007 season of the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
JUNE
Entering June, the Sox were on top of the baseball world and had a 10 game lead in the AL East, while the Yanks were 7 games under .500. However, after a brilliant 2 months of baseball, the Sox began to struggle a little and their enemies from New York slowly began to turn their season around.
The month started off poorly for the Sox as they hosted the Yanks for a 3 game series. After splitting the first 2, the Yanks had a turning point of sorts in the rubber game, stunning the sold out Fenway crowd. After coming back from a 4-0 deficit, the Sox eventually found themselves in a 6-6 tie, heading for extra innings. However, with 2 out in the 9th Arod came up to the plate and hit a line drive blast over the RF wall off Jonathan Papelbon. The Yanks held on for the win and won their first series against Boston. They were still 12.5 GB after the series ended.
After that terrible loss the Sox went to Oakland and lost the first 3 games of a 4 game set, all by 2 runs or less. After losing 5/6 to start off the month and 6/7 overall, the Sox turned to Curt Schilling to stop the bleeding.
In a pitcher's duel with A's SP Joe Blanton, Schilling pitched one of his best games of his career. Ortiz's 1st inning HR held up for the Sox in a huge game. Schilling took a no-hitter into the 9th inning, when Shannon Stewart broke it up with a 2 out single to RF. It was heartbreaking for Schilling and tough to watch it end that close in the 9th, but at least the Sox held on for the big win.
"We get two outs, and I was sure, and I had a plan, and I shook Tek off. And I get a big 'What if?' for the rest of my life."-Curt Schilling
The Sox then went on the road to Arizona, and took 2/3, as Josh Beckett got off to a 9-0 start. The Sox returned home and faced the future NL Champion Colorado Rockies. The rockies won the final 2 games of a 3 game set, including giving Beckett is his first loss of the season. As interleague continued, Barry Bonds and the Giants visited Fenway Park and were treated to a rude awakening. The Sox swept them rather easily .
Next up for the Sox was a tough 9 game road trip. The Sox shutout the Atlanta Braves back to back nights to win 2/3 from them, and snuck out of San Diego with 2 tough wins. Dice-K (9-5) and Beckett (11-1) got the victories in the series. The Sox then were swept for the second time all season, against the Seattle Mariners, including 2 more tough 1 run losses. The Sox closed out June with a split of the first 2 of a 4 game series with the Texas Rangers @ home.
AL EAST STANDINGS (AFTER JUNE 30)
BOSTON 49-30
TORONTO 39-41 10.5 GB
NY YANKEES 38-40 10.5 GB
BALTIMORE 35-45 14.5 GB
TAMPA BAY 33-46 16 GB
Despite a disappointing 13-14 month, the Sox still had a commanding lead in the AL East and still held baseball's best record. Unfortunately, June showed signs of weakness for Boston and the Yanks decent month put them in reach of getting back to .500 and making a run.at the playoffs. Still, basically at the half way point (through 79 games) the Sox were in a commanding position to make the playoffs and make a strong run for the title.
Stay tuned for the Red Sox July recap soon.
