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POSTGAME: Postgame notes »
October 25, 2007
By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- The Red Sox wanted to win Game One of the World Series very badly. And so, on Wednesday night, they treated Colorado's pitching staff very badly.
Boston absolutely pounded the Rockies into submission with an offensive barrage the National League champions couldn't handle. The Sox banged out 17 hits en route to a 13-1 victory to gain the early advantage in the seven-game series with Game Two Thursday night at Fenway Park.
Historically the club to win the first game has gone on to win the championship 62 times in the first 102 World Series, including 9 of the last 10. So, right now the odds are in Boston’s favor.
Entering Wednesday’s game, the Rockies hadn’t played a game in a nine-day span, while the Red Sox had two days off before the series began. So the question was whether the time off would hurt Colorado or the rest would be a good thing as the club was riding a serious streak, winning 21 of its last 22 games.
''I don’t think whether they won 21 of 22 or it was facing Josh (Beckett), we wanted to win Game One to set the tone,'' said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. ''It’s important. You don’t want to be down 0-1, especially when you’re holding the first two games at your park. I don’t think Josh or the way they were playing changes how important this first game was.''
The Rockies certainly showed their rust Wednesday and Boston continued its momentum as Beckett worked seven innings and struck out nine.
''I’m sure that’s the easy thing to say,'' said Lowell. ''They’re facing Josh, one of the best pitchers in the game, so you have to ask them. I wouldn’t want any extra days, when we had four (prior to the ALDS) everyone was asking if that was too much, but we didn’t miss a beat. Having eight days is something that so unique during the season that, I don’t know. You have to ask them.''
After Beckett struck out the side in order in the top of the first, Red Sox leadoff man Dustin Pedroia continue his hot streak with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.
''It’s tough having nine days off and then coming in and facing the best pitcher in baseball,'' said Pedroia. ''That’s definitely not easy. They took care of their business in the National League early, but I don’t think they were that rusty. We had some good at-bats and we have to continue to play like that.''
That’s the plan, obviously, for the Red Sox with Game Two Thursday night when Curt Schilling takes the mound for Boston and Ubaldo Jimenez toes the rubber for Colorado. Again, the Red Sox are looking for another power surge to keep their momentum cruising along.
''This game is over,'' said Pedroia. ''If it was a 1-0 win or 13-1, it doesn’t matter. It’s a best-of-seven series and the score tomorrow when we come out is 0-0, so I don’t think the score of one game will dictate how a team will come out the next day and play.''
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