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October 27, 2007
Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Dustin Pedroia greets David Ortiz at home plate after both scored on a Mike Lowell single in the third inning.
DENVER – The Red Sox weren’t able to score in the first inning, but the events of the inning offered promise for the game.
The reconfigured top of the order, even with Kevin Youkilis on the bench because David Ortiz is playing first with the pitcher in the batting order in the National League park, produced as the Sox were hoping.
Jacoby Ellsbury was moved to the leadoff spot with Dustin Pedroia dropped to number two in Youkilis’s absence, partly because of his speed. And Ellsbury showed off that speed, leading off with a swinging-bunt single down the third-base line.
Pedroia followed with an infield single to deep short, with Ellsbury taking away the possibility of a force at second, thanks to his speed.
The uprising fell flat after that. Ortiz waved and missed an 84-mph pitch on the outside for a strikeout. Ortiz looked to be more upright in his stance, no doubt trying to take the pressure off his balky right knee, making it difficult for him to stay on the pitch and drive it to the opposite field.
Manny Ramirez flied to left and Mike Lowell lined to center, so the Sox came up empty in their golden opportunity to take a lead and take the sellout crowd out of the game to some degree.
That Houdini-like escape by Colorado starter Josh Fogg was in keeping with his nickname of “Dragon Slayer,” built on his ability to beat more celebrated opposing starting pitchers.
But the good news in the inning from the Sox’ point of view was that it took 27 pitchers for Fogg to get out of the inning, no surprise because Fogg doesn’t have overpowering stuff, so he nibbles at the corners.
And Boston’s hitters have a deserved reputation for grinding out at-bats, boosting the pitcher’s pitch count early and forcing the opposition into its bullpen before it really wants to make a call to the relief corps because middle relief is every team’s Achilles’ heel.
The first inning turned out to be a foreshadowing of things to come – with much better results – in the third.
Once again Ellsbury was leading off. And while the Sox weren’t as patient as usual (three one-pitch at-at, all base hits), they scraped together seven hits for six runs and a commanding 6-0 lead, with even Daisuke Matsuzaka getting into the act with a two-out, two-run single through the left side.
Ellsbury’s speed produced a leadoff first-pitch single blooped down the left-field line, and when Pedroia beat out his sacrifice-bunt attempt, the Sox had runners at the corners. Fogg tried to surprise Ortiz with an inside fastball on his first pitch, and Ortiz was able to turn on it for a run-scoring double into the right-field corner.
That lit the Sox’ fuse. Fogg didn’t make it out of the inning and the Sox were in the driver’s seat for a Game Three victory and a 3-0 Series lead.
* * *
Third-base coach DeMarlo Hale gambled and lost in the big third inning.
With the Sox up, 3-0, he waved home Manny Ramirez on Jason Varitek’s single to left. The decision seemed questionable when Ramirez was gunned down by left fielder Matt Holliday. His throw was to the first-base side of the plate, but catcher Yorvit Torrealba had enough time to catch the ball, race back to the plate and make a diving tag on a sliding Ramirez.
It was a close call, but a correct one by plate umpire Ted Barrett even though Manny and manager Terry Francona questioned the call.
Had Hale not sent Ramirez the Sox would have had the bases filled with one out. Of course, it didn’t matter much as the inning played out and Boston kept scoring.
* * *
While Matsuzaka’s stuff has been inconsistent this season, particularly in the second half, one constant has been his ability to field his position.
The right-hander helped himself out in the first inning.
With a runner at second and one out, the Rockies’ Matt Holliday hit a sharp bouncer to the shortstop side of the mound.
Matsuzaka, who had fallen off a little to the first-base sound of the mound in his follow-through, was able to reach back and snag the ball. And his instincts were sharp. He immediately wheeled and looked back at the runner, Kaz Matsui.
Matsui, thinking the ball would get past Dice-K, had taken a few steps toward third, so he was trapped off the bag. Matsuzaka then made the correct fundamental play, running right at Matsui, making him commit one way or the other. Matsui was put out in the rundown, 1-4-5, if you’re scoring at home.
* * *
At most ballparks, fans are reminded that they should watch out for baseballs and other objects that may fly into the stands.
Fogg must have heard the warning. Somehow, he wasn’t hit when the barrel of Jason Varitek’s bat shattered and sailed right at the Colorado pitcher. The bat went between Fogg’s legs and settled on the infield grass. The ball, meanwhile, rolled to the grass to shortstop. Troy Tulowitzki raced in, fielded the ball and threw out Varitek by a step.
* * *
There are times when hitters will take a bad at-bat out to the field with them, costing them on defense.
Make of this what you will, but Matsuzaka fanned with a runner at second and two outs in the second, taking a weak, ugly swing for a strikeout. And on his first pitch in the bottom of the inning, he drilled Garrett Atkins on the top of the left shoulder, barely missing Atkins’ helmet.
Posted by Art Martone 
at 9:55 PM | Permalink
