Game Won, Three To Go by Jared Carrabis
Sox Take Game One Of The 2007 World Series

Game one is in the books and every little thing went Boston’s way in their historic win. Was it the rust? Was it the Red Sox momentum? Or what is Josh Beckett being Josh Beckett? Who cares, the Red Sox lead the Colorado Rockies one game to nothing in the 2007 World Series. Boston sports fans are in heaven right now, as it appears that Tom Brady and Josh Beckett are trying to outdo each other, but we’re not complaining now are we?


The Boston bats put an all out whooping on Colorado early and often. How bad of a whooping? The Red Sox scored the most runs they have ever scored in a World Series game. Their Game one 13-1 victory was the largest margin of victory in a Game one of any World Series (and there have been 103, but who’s counting) and their nine extra-base hits tied a World Series record.


To those that said the eight days of no baseball that the Rockies endured would only benefit Colorado, I’m curious as to what inning you shut the game off. The first four Rockies to get up against one of the most, if not the most, dominant postseason pitcher to ever wear a Boston uniform barely made contact and were retired by way of the K. Josh Beckett was lights out yet again. The one run he allowed in the top of the second inning would be the only run he would allow on the evening.


You almost start to feel bad for the Rockies when you realize they haven’t seen live pitching in over a week and then they have to come back and face Josh Beckett of all people. Then you think to yourself, “Nahh”. The Boston offense picked up right where they left off having out scored their opponents 30-5 in their last three postseason games. After Game one of the World Series you make that 43-6 over the last four postseason games.


The Red Sox proved Wednesday night that momentum prevails over “destiny” by defeating the Rockies by a convincing margin. If you had told someone that didn’t follow baseball that the Rockies had won 21 of their last 22 games going into Game one of the World Series, how could they believe you? Boston exposed the Rockies for the National League team that they are by defeating them for the first time since September 28th. While their run was extremely impressive, welcome to the American League, welcome to the league that featured the best four teams in the Majors. The Rockies had to know that they were going to be facing a team that was a lot more talented than they were and that if they were going to win, they had some work to do.


The Rockies had all the time in the world to put their best starter that they had against Boston in Game one, and Jeff Francis was only good for four awful innings in which he let up six earned runs on ten hits along with three walks. Franklin Morales entered the game in relief of Jeff Francis and pitched two thirds of an inning letting up seven earned runs on six hits. Were all of the seven runs his fault? Not entirely, Ryan Speier entered the game following Morales with the bases loaded and couldn’t find the strike zone even if he Map Quested it. Ryan Speier walked in three runs without getting a single out. The only positive thing to come out of his appearance was that he didn’t allow one hit due to his inability to throw a strike.


The Red Sox bats got the party started in the first at bat of the game when Dustin Pedroia launched the second pitch out of Jeff Francis’ hand up and over the Green Monster. The hit parade would continue for Boston as they pounded the Rockies for 13 runs on 17 hits. David Ortiz led the way by going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and Julio Lugo quietly went 3 for 4 with an RBI. In fact, everyone in the Boston lineup had a hit except for Jacoby Ellsbury and everyone in the Boston lineup ironically had an RBI except for the regular season RBI leader for the Red Sox, Mike Lowell. Manny Ramirez continue to stay red hot by going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI.


Game one was without a doubt a full team effort as everyone contributed to burying the Rockies and setting the tone for the remainder of the series. The defense was there, the offense was certainly there and the pitching was dominant. Josh Beckett continued to baffle hitters with his blazing fastball and a curveball that would make even Pete Rose’s knees buckle.


The key to Boston’s success in the World Series will be to put this game behind them and go into Game 2 with the mentality that their backs are still against the walls. Sometimes being the underdog motivates a team to defeat a favorite that believes they are the favorite. Boston has the golden opportunity to prove that the turn of the century was the changing of Red Sox baseball as we know it.


Curt Schilling will take the ball for what could be his last time on the mound at Fenway Park while wearing a Red Sox uniform, expect a good one. Schilling will bring with him into his second World Series Game 2 in Boston a 10-2 record with a 2.25 ERA in his postseason career. Schilling was victorious in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series after going six strong innings without giving up an earned run. In Curt Schilling’s most recent postseason start, he gave the Red Sox their best chance to win by pitching seven strong innings while giving up two earned runs on six hits and striking out five.


World Series Game 1: Rockies 1, Red Sox 13

Published on October 24, 2007

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