« UPDATED GAME STORY: Red Sox 12, Indians 2
Main
POSTGAME: Drew goes downtown »
October 21, 2007
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON – Whether it takes one, two or even three innings, Jonathan Papelbon says he’s ready to throw. That’s the Red Sox’ reliever’s line of thinking heading into the first Game Seven of his major league career.
''I’ve got to be ready to go two innings or more. That’s what I’m thinking,'' the Red Sox closer said last night. ''I must be ready from the seventh inning on.”
Papelbon hasn’t pitched much in this series and the Red Sox still found a way to scratch back from a three games to one hole and force a 3-3 tie. Now he expects to get the ball and help nail down the pennant for the Red Sox.
''I still say that in the playoffs it’s 110 percent about momentum and right now we have a little momentum,” he said with a smile. “We have to keep it right from the start (Sunday).''
Papelbon dresses two stalls away from Daisuke Matsuzaka, the man Terry Francona will hand the baseball to start Game Seven. He’s encouraged the Japanese righty all week, telling him to get ready for another start because the Red Sox weren’t ready to lose just yet.
''I’ve got a ton of confidence in him,” said Papelbon. “He was kind of grinning in here when we won. I think he’s up for the challenge. I think he likes the challenge.”
Francona says his entire pitching staff will be ready and waiting to help Matsuzaka is he falters or runs out of gas after a good start. The relief staff could even include Josh Beckett for a spell.
''Obviously everybody is on hand pitching-wise. You use everybody,” said Francona. “You certainly go to different guys in the bullpen maybe earlier than you would in the regular season. But other than that, we’ll show up tomorrow and do the same thing we do every day. We’ll kick (Dustin) Pedroia’s (butt) in cribbage and try to win a baseball game.”
Posted by Kevin 
at 1:08 AM | Permalink
