An ALCS to Remember

Because the Sox outscored the Indians 30-5 over the last three games of the ALCS, it’s easy to forget just how close that series was. Years from now, folks will look at the final scores of Games five through seven, 7-1, 12-2 and 11-2, and think that the Sox ran away with the series. Not true; not even close.

The only game that was a blow-out was Game 6, once Drew hit that grand slam in the bottom of the first, and then the Sox tacked on another six runs in the third. Poor Carmona looking lost on the mound; it reminded me of his first visit to Fenway in 2006, when he was the closer, and Papi schooled him twice with walk-offs in a three-game series. Given a big lead, Schilling threw strikes, and Cleveland never got up off the mat. It was even enough of a lead for Gagne to pitch the ninth. That became his role in the post-season – close out games where Sox had a monster lead, and give all the other relievers some rest.

But Games 5 and 7 were a totally different story. Five was a 2-1 game into the seventh inning, and only broke open once Youkilis hit that triple that tailed away from Sizemore. In hindsight, Game 5 seemed like it was an easy win, because Becket was on the mound, and because he was so dominant throughout the post-season. But that Game really didn’t get out of reach until the very late innings, and one mistake by Beckett could have led to a different outcome.

Even more so in Game 7, because Beckett wasn’t on the mound, Dice-K was. Dice was great for three innings, shutting the Indians down the first time through the line-up. And although the Sox had eight hits through the first three innings, they only scored three runs, in large part because they were regularly hitting into double plays. First Drew and then Pedroia hit into inning enders with plenty of guys on base. Keep those two names in mind, however. By the end of Game 7, the Sox had set the ALCS for hitting into most double plays for a series. An ignoble accomplishment.

The Indians starting getting to Dice-K in the fourth, but luck was still with the Sox. Garko hit a huge shot to left center that went high off the monster. In any other park, home run. But this was just a double, and although it knocked in a run, Garko never scored. In the fifth, Lofton singled off the monster and then was called out at second on Manny’s throw. Replays showed Lofton might have been safe, and that would have been another run for Cleveland. Then Westbrook settled in and threw a couple perfect innings, but he had spent himself because of his early trouble, and couldn't pitch past the sixth. More luck for the Sox in the top of the seventh, when Lofton was held up at third on a play where he could have scored easily. Of course, Lofton was on base only because Lugo had misplayed a pop-up in shallow left, so really the luck just evened out. Still, on balance, Sox were enjoying the benefits of most of the luck.

The came the bottom of the seventh, when the ALCS decisively turned for the Sox. Enter Betancourt, and the Sox rookies. Up until that point, Betancourt had been unhittable, but Ellsbury reached on an error, and after advancing on Lugo’s bunt, came home courtesy of Pedroia two-run homer. Atonement for the earlier double play. Then of course, in the bottom of the eighth, after Drew had knocked in his sixth run of the final two games, bases were loaded for Dustin. First pitch off Betancourt, a shot to the gap in left-center. The bases were cleared; the Sox led by seven; Youk then hit the Coke bottle; and the celebration began. Lost in the night’s other accomplishments was the fact that Pap tossed his first six-out save. Game Seven was Dice-K, Okajima and Pap. Think we’ll see them again in 2008?

The other great story coming out of the ALCS was the unlikely heroes who sprang up for the Sox. Papi and Manny, after entering the ALCS on fire, were uncharacteristically quiet. Youk, Pedroia and J.D. Drew accounted for most of the fireworks during the comeback. And Ellsbury gave us a hint of what was about to come, by often lighting the fuse. This was a lineup that contributed all the way from one through nine.

Anyway, years from now, when you tell your grandkids about the great ALCS comebacks; when the Sox won seven elimination games in a row; when it will be easy to recall Papi’s walk-off hits in Games 4 and 5 in 2004; don’t forget how great the ALCS was in 2007. Tell them how the pennant wasn’t really decided until the last couple innings of Game 7.