As we move deeper into the offseason, I will be recalling month by month the 2007 season of the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES- BOSTON RED SOX VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS.
The Sox started off the playoffs with a bang. Josh Beckett was phenominal in his first playoff start with Boston. Beckett threw a complete game shutout, allowing just 4 hits and striking out 8. YOOOUK got the offense started, with a HR in the bottom of the 1st. Ortiz added a 2 run HR later on, and Lowell added in another RBI, which was plenty of enough for Beckett. Sox were dominant and headed into Game 2 with a fully rested bullpen and a 1-0 lead.
Game 2 was arguably the most exciting game of the postseason. A back and forth affair came down to one swing from one of Red Sox finest. The two teams traded runs and after 5 the game was tied @ 3. The game stayed that way till Manny Ramirez stepped to the plate against star Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez with 2 runners on. Manny Ramirez scorched a fastball off Rodriguez, that flew way over the monster. After a thrilling victory, the Sox carried their momentum and excitement to Los Angeles where they comfortably had a 2-0 lead.
It would take a lot more than the rally monkey to get the Angels back in the series, but they were home and still very confident heading into the elimination game. Schilling was dominant in his first playoff start of 07, lowering his career postseason ERA to 1.93. Back to back home runs by Ortiz and Manny got the Sox offense going in the 4th. Schilling held the lead down, and ultimately the Sox put the game and series out of reach with 7 more runs in the 9th. Gagne closed the door, and the Sox won 9-1, advancing to their first ALCS since 2004.
The Sox opponents for the ALCS would be the Indians, who beat the Yankees in 4 games. It was set up to be a heavyweight battle, between the 2 best teams in baseball. It was going to be a fight, and the Sox were definitely ready for the task.
Stay tuned for a game by game recap of the intense ALCS against the Indians.
