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October 6, 2007
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- It was a night when, it seemed, anything could happen.
Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka made his major-league postseason debut. The New York Yankees suffered another loss in Cleveland, putting the Indians one victory away from advancing to the ALCS. A 17-year-old boy helped the Red Sox score a run.
But in the end, it all took a backseat to Manny Ramirez.
With two outs and two on in the bottom of the ninth, Ramirez launched a Francisco Rodriguez fastball over the left-field wall for a game-winning three-run home run, giving the Red Sox a 6-3 victory over the Angels and a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series.
It was the ninth walkoff win in Red Sox postseason history and their first since Game Five of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. It capped a four-hour-and-five minute marathon before a record post-World War II crowd of 37,706 at Fenway Park.
“Man, it feels great. This is the best ever,” Ramirez said in an interview piped over the public-address system. “The fans, I love ‘em, man. That’s why I came here.”
The Red Sox enjoyed near perfection in every aspect of the game during Game One
of this series on Wednesday. It was everything the Red Sox could have envisioned to take the early lead in the series.
Not last night.
The Angels did a complete role reversal and played their type of game – small ball. Now the series shifts cross country with Game Three to be played tomorrow in Anaheim.
The Red Sox knew exactly what Game One starter Josh Beckett could or would give them, which was a complete-game four-hitter. Matsuzaka, however, was a different story.
The Japanese right-hander embarked on his first major-league season this year, and he suffered through his peaks and valleys. He’s been on the big stage before, but nothing like October baseball state-side.
“He’s a polished pitcher,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “I know he’s a rookie by our standards, but he’s not a rookie pitcher.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia called Matsuzaka a unique pitcher, but a talented one with a variety of pitches. Still the visiting club had yet to face him prior to last night, which did not seem to worry Scioscia too much.
“You can watch all the video you want, but until you get in the batter’s box you get a quick study,” he said. “I think all that novelty, hopefully his motion and his pitches, you get on him and they’ll wear off.”
Anaheim did wear Dice-K out and he was lifted in the top of the fifth inning with the Red Sox trailing by a run. Before Francona came out to get him, Matsuzaka allowed a one-out single to Macier Izturis, who then stole second and reached third on a wild pitch.
That was it for Matsuzaka’s postseason debut. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits.
However, he wasn’t alone in the spotlight for Boston.
For most of this season, his first in Boston, Drew has been booed and ridiculed for his sub-par performances at the plate. Beginning last month, however, he began to find that much-needed consistency at the plate. He was drawing more walks, which is a sure sign of patience at the plate, and he began to hit the ball with authority.
In fact, in the final 18 games of the regular season he hit .393 to lift his average from .252 to .270. During that solid stretch, Drew collected 6 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 15 RBI, 14 walks and 14 runs scored. It was clear he found his swing and his confidence to the delight of general manager Theo Epstein.
“He’s played pretty well in September,” said Epstein prior to this ALDS. “It would be important for this club to have him keep it up going forward. He seems to be locked in. He’s had a consistent approach for a long stretch for the first time all year.”
Drew responded again last night.
After Matsuzaka pitched his way out of a jam in the first inning, Boston responded in the bottom half of the inning when Drew provided a two-out two-run single to give the Red Sox the early advantage.
It didn’t last long.
The Angels, who couldn’t muster any offense during the impressive outing by Beckett in Game One, got to Matsuzaka in the second inning yesterday. The Angels pushed across three runs, including a pair of two-out RBI-doubles from Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera.
With the Angels leading by a run, 3-2, that’s when young Danny Vinik comes into play.
He’s 17-year-old who caught the foul ball hit by Ramirez in the bottom of the fifth inning. Young Danny was sitting in the front row just behind the Sox’ on-deck circle when Ramirez lifted an easy foul ball into the first row of seats. Vinik reached up and snared it to keep Angels catcher Jeff Mathis from making the play.
It proved crucial because Ramirez ended up drawing a walk to load the bases as teammate Mike Lowell hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox broke through. Julio Lugo led off with a single and was advanced to second by Dustin Pedroia. After Kevin Youkilis struck out, David Ortiz was intentionally walked.
And Ramirez then sent everyone home.
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