Monday, October 25, 2004
GAME TWO
After three of the four "Teammates" threw out the firist pitch. Game 2 began. Curt Schilling took the mound for the first time since his epic Game 6 performance in the ALCS.
Renteria started the game with a groundout. Larry Walker, who was one of the few Cardinals to hit the ball well in Game 1, flew out. Pujols, who had been helt hitless the night before, doubled deep to center. Rolen then hit a hard shot right at Mueller who caught it to end the inning.
Damon and Cabrera each grounded out. Ramirez was down in the count 0-2 but worked a walk. Ortiz also had 2 strikes but Morris, who was on short rest, walked him as well. The unofficial Captain Jason Varitek then crushed a triple to deep center. 2-0 Boston.
Millar walked and Nixon grounded out to end the inning.
Bill Mueller had an interesting night at third base. He had an error on a foul pop that was not caught when he and Varitek collided. Schilling induced the batter, Edmonds, to ground out. Sanders walked and Womack singled. Matheny then hit a hard line drive to Mueller who was able to tag out Sanders who was running on the play.
Mueller led off the 2nd with a single but Bellhorn grounded into a double play. Damon then struck out.
Schilling retired the side in the 3rd as did Morris. Pujols doubled to lead off the 4th and advanced to third on a Scott Rolen flyout. Schilling struck out Edmonds. Bill Mueller then bobbled a ball which allowed Sanders to reach and Pujols to score. 2-1 Boston.
Womack ended the inning with a groundout.
The Red Sox responded in the 4th. After Tek grounded out, Millar was hit by a pitch. Nixon struck out and Mueller hit a double. With two runners in scoring position, Bellhorn hit another extra base hit, this one a double to center. 4-1 Boston.
Damon ended the inning with a groundout.
The Cardinals went 1-2-3 in the 5th. The Red Sox threatened in the 5th but did not score. They did get Morris out of the game though. In the 6th Walker struck out. Pujols flew out. Schilling pitched around two errors in a row and induced Sanders to ground out.
The struggling Nixon led off the 6th with a basehit. Mueller flew out and Bellhorn popped out. Damon hit a single to left. Cabrera hit a shot off the wall in left scoring Nixon and Damon. 6-2 Boston.
King came in to face Ortiz and struck him out.
Embree came in to the game in the 7th. Reese replaced Bellhorn at 2nd. I think Reese came in somewhat early as Bellhorn was only 5 batters from hitting next. It would have been nice to give Mark another at-bat considering how well he is hitting. Embree impressively struck out the side.
For some reason LaRusa put Marquis into the game even though he is scheduled to start on Wednesday. He threw 25 pitches. Varitek flew out and Millar walked. Mienktkiewicz pinch ran for Millar. Nixon flew out and Mueller walked. Pokey popped out to end the inning and the scoring threat. Who knows what Bellhorn would have done.
The sounds of "Black Betty" signaled Mike Timlin's entrance to the game. Renteria walked and advanced to 2nd on Walker's groundout. Pujols singled and Renteria advanced to third. Rolen hit a fly ball to center that scored Renteria. 6-2 Boston. "Mother" by Danzig signaled that Foulke was coming in and that the game was over. Edmonds struck out to end the inning.
The Sox went down in order in the 8th as did the Cardinals in the 9th. 6-2 Boston. Final.
The Red Sox are up 2-0 in the World Series. They were up 2-0 in the 86 Series which they lost. But they were also up 2-0 in the 1916 Series and won that one. 77% of teams that go up 2-0 win the World Series. It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox play with NL rules in St. Louis. I think some consideration should be given to playing Millar in right as Nixon is not hitting all that well. Francona also needs to be willing to use Mirabelli as a pinch hitter. It isn't over yet though. We still need to play .400 ball and against a St. Louis team at Busch Stadium and their backs against the wall, that won't be easy.
Martinez vs. Suppan in a pitching mismatch on Tuesday. Remember though, it is cold and Suppan has been the Cards best pitcher this postseason.
After three of the four "Teammates" threw out the firist pitch. Game 2 began. Curt Schilling took the mound for the first time since his epic Game 6 performance in the ALCS.
Renteria started the game with a groundout. Larry Walker, who was one of the few Cardinals to hit the ball well in Game 1, flew out. Pujols, who had been helt hitless the night before, doubled deep to center. Rolen then hit a hard shot right at Mueller who caught it to end the inning.
Damon and Cabrera each grounded out. Ramirez was down in the count 0-2 but worked a walk. Ortiz also had 2 strikes but Morris, who was on short rest, walked him as well. The unofficial Captain Jason Varitek then crushed a triple to deep center. 2-0 Boston.
Millar walked and Nixon grounded out to end the inning.
Bill Mueller had an interesting night at third base. He had an error on a foul pop that was not caught when he and Varitek collided. Schilling induced the batter, Edmonds, to ground out. Sanders walked and Womack singled. Matheny then hit a hard line drive to Mueller who was able to tag out Sanders who was running on the play.
Mueller led off the 2nd with a single but Bellhorn grounded into a double play. Damon then struck out.
Schilling retired the side in the 3rd as did Morris. Pujols doubled to lead off the 4th and advanced to third on a Scott Rolen flyout. Schilling struck out Edmonds. Bill Mueller then bobbled a ball which allowed Sanders to reach and Pujols to score. 2-1 Boston.
Womack ended the inning with a groundout.
The Red Sox responded in the 4th. After Tek grounded out, Millar was hit by a pitch. Nixon struck out and Mueller hit a double. With two runners in scoring position, Bellhorn hit another extra base hit, this one a double to center. 4-1 Boston.
Damon ended the inning with a groundout.
The Cardinals went 1-2-3 in the 5th. The Red Sox threatened in the 5th but did not score. They did get Morris out of the game though. In the 6th Walker struck out. Pujols flew out. Schilling pitched around two errors in a row and induced Sanders to ground out.
The struggling Nixon led off the 6th with a basehit. Mueller flew out and Bellhorn popped out. Damon hit a single to left. Cabrera hit a shot off the wall in left scoring Nixon and Damon. 6-2 Boston.
King came in to face Ortiz and struck him out.
Embree came in to the game in the 7th. Reese replaced Bellhorn at 2nd. I think Reese came in somewhat early as Bellhorn was only 5 batters from hitting next. It would have been nice to give Mark another at-bat considering how well he is hitting. Embree impressively struck out the side.
For some reason LaRusa put Marquis into the game even though he is scheduled to start on Wednesday. He threw 25 pitches. Varitek flew out and Millar walked. Mienktkiewicz pinch ran for Millar. Nixon flew out and Mueller walked. Pokey popped out to end the inning and the scoring threat. Who knows what Bellhorn would have done.
The sounds of "Black Betty" signaled Mike Timlin's entrance to the game. Renteria walked and advanced to 2nd on Walker's groundout. Pujols singled and Renteria advanced to third. Rolen hit a fly ball to center that scored Renteria. 6-2 Boston. "Mother" by Danzig signaled that Foulke was coming in and that the game was over. Edmonds struck out to end the inning.
The Sox went down in order in the 8th as did the Cardinals in the 9th. 6-2 Boston. Final.
The Red Sox are up 2-0 in the World Series. They were up 2-0 in the 86 Series which they lost. But they were also up 2-0 in the 1916 Series and won that one. 77% of teams that go up 2-0 win the World Series. It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox play with NL rules in St. Louis. I think some consideration should be given to playing Millar in right as Nixon is not hitting all that well. Francona also needs to be willing to use Mirabelli as a pinch hitter. It isn't over yet though. We still need to play .400 ball and against a St. Louis team at Busch Stadium and their backs against the wall, that won't be easy.
Martinez vs. Suppan in a pitching mismatch on Tuesday. Remember though, it is cold and Suppan has been the Cards best pitcher this postseason.
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