Angels down Sox, 5-4, in 12 innings

by Randy Booth on Oct 6, 2008 1:34 AM EDT in Game Stories Comment 24 comments

Youk is safe at first. Oh, wait. Out? (via d.yimg.com)

I'll say it: that sucked.

I'm not going to say the Red Sox sucked, though. Josh Beckett, coming off an injury, did all he could. He wasn't the postseason Beckett we know and love, but he gutted it out. What sucks is that the Sox had the opportunity to end this series in a clean sweep and didn't happen. Now a game four is forced and, if the Angels win it, we have to deal with the rally monkey again.

The friggin' rally monkey.

None of you want that. I know you.

Not a lot went wrong tonight. The Red sox didn't look terrible. The bottom line is, this guy hit way too many home runs. Two too many, actually. If it wasn't for him, the Sox could have won this game.

I must give credit to the Angels, though. They didn't quit. They could have packed their bags with Beckett on the mound but they played like the team they looked like all season long. They fought. It's admirable. They're a professional baseball team and the played like it. Congrats.

Now all eyes turn to Jon Lester. Can he do it again? It will be hard, to say the least, for him to be as good as he was in game one. It's certainly possible, but the deck is stacked against him. The Angels have seen him once and have watched the video every day since then. He can do it, but he has to be even better.

The thing that hurts about this game is that the Red Sox were so close to winning this game. They didn't get blown out. It was attainable in innings one through 12. One clutch hit was all it was going to take. It just didn't happen.

Big props to the bullpen tonight. Javier Lopez, the fifth option out of the 'pen, blew the tie game in extras. But, as we all know, J-Lo isn't that great. He's good at what he does -- facing one or two batters -- but outside of that he struggles. I would have liked to see Paul Byrd in that situation, but I understand Terry Francona's choice in Lopez.

The series is extended one more game, unfortunately. But I don't think the Sox have lost any steam heading into game four. It's still theirs to take and with Lester going I'm sure everyone has confidence.

Go Sox!

0 recs | Comment 24 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Unorganized thoughts.

By all rights they should’ve lost it in 9. The Sox scored three on a ball that should’ve been caught. Considering that, we did pretty well.

A few other hard-hit balls drop in instead of getting caught, and the game is a completely different story. We came very close to winning it several times.

Beckett was bad, no denying it. He didn’t have great command or velocity on his FB, particularly the 4-seamer. He seemed to abandon the curve after the 1st inning, which shocked me. Anyway, our bullpen was the nuts until Lopez, and gave us a great shot to win.

This is shaping up to be a very exciting series. Game three was agonizing at times, but it was also exciting baseball. With some luck and good performances, we’ll be celebrating after game four.

by 0157H7 on Oct 6, 2008 1:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Bullpen was the nuts.

MDC was just f’n tits-out, and Paps was crazydelicious.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Oct 6, 2008 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MDC very nicely matched up with Arredondo.

I think the game was the Sox’ to win in the 10th, but we couldn’t push a man over.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Oct 6, 2008 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 6, 2008 7:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beckett

I thought Beckett did pretty well out there given his stuff last night. He simply didn’t have it, but still gutted out several innings without allowing a crooked number. Beckett showed resiliency and kept the Red Sox in the game.

You’re right, of course. The Angels should have defeated in the Sox in 9. LVP Howie Kendrick is really a momentum killer for the Halos in this series. Bless his heart.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Oct 6, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

surprisingly calm thoughts.

that game was painful to watch, and i was literally waiting for K-Rod to give up yet another walk-off homer.

honestly, i thought the botched fly ball in the 2nd(?) was the end of the game and our season.

and don’t listen to a word TBS says… Mike Napoli is completely legit. Look at his stats for the year. His 20 homers came in literally 1/2 a season. The man is a hitter and a serious power threat. Don’t feel about about giving up homers to him.

tomorrow is a do-or-die for both teams… you guys win – obviously it’s over. we win – we come back to Anaheim with a stoked crowd and all the momentum in the world. look out.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 6, 2008 1:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike Napoli

I’ve always liked him. I wish we could face Mathis more times. :)

That Fly Ball thing was pretty silly. It was a very nervous game, I’m still nervous about it. Tomorrow’s game is really about 2 guys: Jon Lester and John Lackey. I mean, I know it’s always about the SP, but tomorrow is even more so somehow. Both these guys already played in the series, and were the only good SP thus far (all the other 4 sucked, Saunders didn’t deserve that 3 run ‘single’, but his command was off all night long). If one of them don’t play well, it’s history for his team.

The thing about coming back from a 2-0 hole in a series is that when that happens, the team in the hole isn’t as good (or isn’t playing as good) as the other team. It isn’t the case here. All 3 games could have gone either way. So I’m expecting another good one tomorrow. And, of course, I just want the Sox to win it already. I can’t believe it’s another 20h or so until the start of the game. :)

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Oct 6, 2008 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saunders really wasn't that bad

if that fly ball gets caught, he’s a whole different pitcher, and this game takes on a way different tone… it’s the butterfly effect kind of thing.

in any case, you’re right about the starters tonight – both bullpens are pretty worked, so things should get interesting if either of them gets shelled early.

7 hours left!

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 6, 2008 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only one of them gets rocked

It’s over for his team. The pens are indeed pretty worked. The Sox didn’t play a good game yesterday, didn’t get any breaks and stuff. It should not have been that close, the Angels could have won in 9. I just hope for a better game from my team today.

Tex is really a stud out there in first, huh? Is he a big drop from Kotch out there with the glove, or is he better somehow?

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Oct 6, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

seems like

kotch is better at keeping things from going down the line, theres been a few times where i’ve said kotchman would of got that, other then that i’d say hes a slightly better handler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlTvSUCCqPo

by ANewFoundThrice on Oct 6, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tex is about the same or better than Kotchman

don’t get me wrong, BOTH of phenomenally good defenders. I just think Tex is a little more polished because he’s been around longer.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Oct 6, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Angels are like the Rays

they are better suited to get 1 run in extra innings. Every time we got someone on, it seemed we were looking for the HR and not just a run.

My only complaint was why use Javy Lopez and not Paul Byrd or Wake? The situation seemed perfect for Byrd.

I think the Rays and Sox are in the same situation, they both better win or Wed. game will not be pretty.

Good thing about tomorrow is that we can put our best lineup on the field with Drew instead of Coco, even though Coco did well tonight.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 6, 2008 4:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree/disagree

i think anaheim is better suited to get 1 run also.. thats probalby why their actual record vs. p-record were so far apart.

they are just different teams. i dont think the red sox are necessarily ‘playing’ for the home run… i think they are playing for a hit and hopefully an extra base hit. to me, that’s what their offensive approach is predicated on… having good at bats, being selective, and not swinging at a pitch unless you can hammer it.

by EWS1532 on Oct 6, 2008 6:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Key to game 4:

Don’t allow the Angels a lead-off base-runner. Is amazing how different their line-up is when you get ’em to 1 out with nobody on.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Oct 6, 2008 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Some positives about tonights game

We have our best pitcher going and he is very good at home.

Drew will be in the line up.

Lackey has to pitch lights out in order for the Angels to win. Lots of pressure.

I highly doubt we will see Napoli after 12 innings and less than 24 hours rest. Which means the bottom part of our order will be better than theirs.

I do not think the Angel hitters figured Lester out.

Pedroia is due! As is Papi!

by SoxAcumen on Oct 6, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone saw the video entries in Extra Bases?

Amalie Benjamin looks so fucking high. :)

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Oct 6, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lester Has To Come Up Big Tonight

Lester has been great this year, but anyone who says he isn’t nervous about tonight’s game is not telling the truth!
I, for one, do not want to see Boston having to travel back to California with the whole season in Dice-K’s hands, and all the momentum with the Angels.

What has me frowning this morning, though, isn’t just nerves over tonight’s game, but Josh Beckett. Maybe I am too biased in favor of him, but I don’t think we’ve seen a healthy Beckett all season and that includes right now. That was painful to watch last night…..and we have to have the-Beckett-we-know if we’re going to defend our title. Speaking of healthy players: what do you do with Lowell?

Whatever……lets hope the Sox come up big tonight and we can worry about the other guys later.

by ccthemovieman on Oct 6, 2008 12:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not nervous about tonight's game.

I have a lot of confidence in Lester. But if he sucks, and we lose the game, then there’s one more chance. Winning the first two in Anaheim was a lot better than I thought we’d do, honestly.

by 0157H7 on Oct 6, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, I'm nervous

about every game…….so, nothing new there. Winning the first two sure gives us breathing room, no denying that…..but after witnessing the Sox beat NY four straight in ’04, I never take anything for granted.

by ccthemovieman on Oct 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"after witnessing the Sox beat NY four straight in ’04"

It is called a momentum switch, and it is a powerful and real thing! I just hope it did not take place last night, but with the plethora of injuries this Sox team now has to now endure, it could happen. The sox need to pull out all stops, remove all momentum suckers form the lineup, and pray to win tonight!

by NG on Oct 6, 2008 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs