SHL: American Atlantic Playoff Fever

Red Sox are Rolling Through their Post Season Competition

The Boston Red Sox squared off against their division rival, the Phi-KC-Oak Athletics.  The match didn’t last long as the red hot Boston team steamrolled the A’s in the first two games, outscoring them 25-8.  The last game of the series was a bit closer but the Red Sox managed to sweep the series with a 9-7 win.

In the first game of the series Cy Young pitched a complete game, allowing 2 earned runs, 7 K’s and 1 BB.  His opponent, Chief Bender didn’t fare as well.  He was pulled before even getting an out after allowing 6 earned runs on just 22 pitches.  Nomar Garciaparra, Ted Williams, and David Ortiz all homered for the Sox while Garciaparra was named player of the game. Boston went on to beat the A’s 14-2 in the first game.

The second game wasn’t much better than the second.  Boston would pound the A’s to an 11-6 win behind Lefty Grove who went 7 innings while giving up 5 earnies. The A’s gave the Red Sox a run for their money in game 3 but would end up falling short in the end when Jason Isringhausen served up 3 runs in the 10th inning on a Wade Boggs home run.    Oakland would come back to score one run in the bottom of the 10th but in the end, it wasn’t enough.

The next challenge for Boston will be Curt Schillings Pirates.  When asked how he felt about facing Bill James and the Red Sox he had this to say, “My Bucs are up against Mr. James’ Sox! Should be a hoot!”  So far it’s been a hoot for Mr. James and his Red Stockings as they hold a 2 game lead over Curt Schilling and his Pirates. Curt’s Bucs started off on the right foot, scoring first and holding a lead for a majority of the game but the Red Sox mounted comebacks in both games.  Boston scored 4 runs in the 7th after being down 3-0 in the first game, eventually winning 4-3.  The second game went into extra innings with Boston scoring in the top of the 12th inning. Derek Lowe would go on to save the game for Jonathan Papelbon, putting the Sox up 2-0 in the Division Championship.  The Bucs will have to mount an epic comeback to take the series from Boston.  If anyone can do it, its Curt Schilling, but he’ll have his work cut out for him.