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October 28, 2007
By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
DENVER -- The final score shows that the Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies by five runs in Game Three of the World Series.
But if shortstop Julio Lugo hadn't turned in a couple of outstanding defensive plays, the outcome might have been very different.
Lugo, whose defense has been a question mark since he signed with Boston as a free agent last winter and right on through the season, stifled a budding big inning with a heads-up play in the fifth.
And in probably an even bigger play, Lugo robbed pinch hitter Jeff Baker of a run-producing hit in ending what already had been a two-run uprising in the sixth.
On his first key play, the Rockies had runners at first and second with one out. Boston was on top, 6-0, at the time, when speedy Kaz Matsui hit a grounder in the shortstop hole.
Lugo fielded the ball going to his right, and without hesitation threw to Mike Lowell, who also showed good instincts on the play by going back to the third-base bag. Lowell caught the ball a split-second before the Rockies' baserunner arrived for the putout, defusing Colorado's rally.
''That was the easiest play to make,'' said Lugo of his throw to third. ''I didn't know if I could make a play at first, and I didn't think I could go to second. Mikey and I had good communication from playing together.''
Lugo's next chance to star on defense came in the sixth. The Rockies already had pushed across two runs, narrowing their deficit to 6-2. They had runners at first and second with two outs when Baker scalded a liner to shortstop, a sizzling shot that seemed destined to land safely in the outfield for at least an RBI single if not a two-run double.
But Lugo, listed at 6-foot-1, showed some serious ''ups'' in going after the ball. He managed to snare it in the web of his glove, preserving the Sox' four-run lead.
''I knew he hit it well,'' said Lugo. ''When I jumped I didn't know if I could get it. If it was a little higher, I probably wouldn't have caught it.''
Lowell, for one, wasn't sure if Lugo would be able to make the catch. And when he did, the third baseman was ecstatic.
''I think that play might go overlooked. It might have changed the game,'' said Lowell, noting that only one inning later the Rockies closed to within one run, at 6-5.
''When he jumped, I didn't think he had a chance. The ball was rising. But when he caught it, we were pumped up after that,'' he said.
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