Before I start my blog, here is an call for heart specialists in Boston. Given the way the RedSox have been playing in the ALCS, a few hundred patients if not more are sure to complain of chest pain this week. Game 4 ALCS was the Yankees all the way, until the ninth inning. The RedSox, courtesy a single by Bill Mueller and then a repeat act by David Ortiz in the twelfth with a walk-off homer. The game tied the record for the longest post season game at 5 hrs and 02 minutes with 12 innings played. The RedSox had given their fans yet another reason to believe.
If that was a long game, then what could one say about the game today. Game 5 of ALCS had Pedro pitching against his nemesis, the Yanks. The Yankees were out to prove that they were indeed the big daddy. The RedSox were first on the board in the first inning with a RBI single and a RBI walk for Varitek. But the Yankees not to be left behind came back hard and soon were leading 4-2 with a three run RBI hit by Jeter in the 6th. Things were quiet again at Fenway and the fans were back to praying like the previous day. The Baseball Gods decided to bestow the fans with a homer by Ortiz and a sac-fly by Varitek in the ninth. The RedSox Nation had reasons to hope again. The game then assumed epic proportions with pitcher after pitcher coming in to the mound and soon the bullpens were empty. The previous day record was handily shattered and the game was into the 14th inning. And then it happened. A walk for Damon and then a walk for Ramirez brought Ortiz to bat. After a prolonged battle of fouls with Esteban Loaiza, Ortiz managed to yet again find a way to keep the RedSox alive with an RBI single. Game RedSox. For all the Yankees fan, it would be a reminder that only fools would think of rolling over the RedSox. For the New Englanders, it was yet another agonizing day that thankfully resulted in a win.
Tomorrow is a brand new day and while the Yankees are the favorites to win at Yankee stadium, the RedSox have demonstrated that they are far from being dead. Game 6 would be an important momentum game and an interesting one to see if the dominant Yankees or the resurgent Sox come tops. It may yet be that the Yankees might win the ALCS but to RedSox fans who were in the dumps after Saturday's 19-8 bashing, myself included, the last two days have been yet another reason to believe. And for all those who think baseball is really a boring game, guys, start with the RedSox and Yankees. Chances are you wont be ever bored or disappointed.
The Curse might live on, but we will continue to believe.
Update: The Houston Astros just nailed Game 5 of the NLCS with a walk-off three run homer by Jeff Kent. A game that was scoreless until the ninth was blown open and simultaneously closed by the massive homer. The Astros have demonstrated tremendous resilence by coming from a 0-2 deficit against the clinical St.Louis Cardinals and are now leading the series 3-2. Game 6 returns to St.Louis where the Cardinals will try to save the series. They need to first same themselves from Carlos Beltran who is having a record breaking, astonishing post season with 8 homers in 10 games. It really doesnt get better than this.
And by the way, Terry Francona just confirmed that Curt Shilling will be starting Game 6 with special shoes and padding and all. Here is hoping that the old warhorse still has some games left in him this post-season.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to October.
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