2007 ALCS Game 5 BOS@CLE

When Josh Beckett stepped on the mound of Jacobs Field on Oct. 18, 2007, he must felt a lot of pressures on his shoulders, because the Red Sox was facing the elimination, trailing 1-3 in the American League Champion Series to the Cleveland Indians. After Beckett won the first game, the Red Sox stumbled: the bullpen blew the save in the second game, the batters fell asleep in the third game, and veteran knuckle ball specialist Tim Wakefield collapsed in the fourth game. Thus, there was no way for the Red Sox to let the fifth game go. Beckett’s opponent was also one of the Cy Young Award candidates, big left hander C.C. Sabathia, who had won 19 games during the 2007 season, and had been the loser of the first game of this series.

With the elimination on step away, the Red Sox did their best: Youkilis hit a first inning homerun to make the one-nothing lead, however, the Indians tied the game at the bottom of the first inning by Hafner’s double play hit. Manny Ramirez then hit a line drive that hit the very top of Jacobs Field’s center field wall at third inning, however, that was ruled as a RBI-single instead of two run homer. Red Sox scored two more runs at the seventh and three more at the eighth. Meanwhile, Beckett pitched eight solid innings, allowed only five hits, gave up a run, walked one, and struck out eleven.

The Indians tried to fight back at the ninth, but in vain. For Jonathan Papelbon came in and closed the game. Now, both teams all knew that the series could have to go to Fenway for a sixth game, and for Red Sox fans and players, they wished the miracle in 2004 could happen again.

2007 ALDS Red Sox vs. Angels Game 2

It was October 5th, 2007, Fenway, the Angels sought for a revenge on the Red Sox. They sent their 18 games winner Kelvim Escobar against Red Sox’s Japanese righty, 15 games winner, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Also, the Angels didn’t want those who hit long balls the game before to step in their way.

What will happen if a pitcher wants to get a slugger without speed? The answer is quite simple: walk him. That was what the Angels did that night. After his first inning hit, they walked David Ortiz, the Big Papi, four times.

Although the Red Sox scored first, the Angels took the lead in the second inning. It looked like the game will end at three to two, however, the Sox came back at the bottom of the fifth inning. Men on first and second, one out, Manny Ramirez in the batting box, O-one pitch, he popped it up to the foul territory, Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis was able to catch the ball, if there weren’t the extend photography box. A Red Sox fan caught that ball, and he became the most popular person in Boston immediately, for not only he kept the inning alive, but he also made a chance for Mike Lowell to hit the sacrifice fly, after Ramirez was walked, to tie the game at three.

After five innings, it was the time for both bullpens. The Red Sox called to Javier Lopez, Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Jonathan Papelbon; The Angels sent on Scott Shields, Justin Speier. and then one of the best closers all time, Francisco Rodriguez.

It looked just like it was going to go to extra innings at the ninth inning. Speier gave up a lead off single to Julio Lugo, then, Dustin Pedroia grounded out, moved Lugo to second base. The Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia sent one of the best closers all time, Francisco Rodriguez on the mound. They called him K-Rod, and he did struck out Kevin Youkillis. Two outs at the bottom of the ninth inning, stepping in was David Ortiz, K-Rod walked him, second time of intentional. Who was the next batter? Manny Ramirez.

And then when K-rod delivered that one-0 pitch, a fast ball right at the middle of the plate, he would have to eat the crow a second later. Manny Ramirez hit “an absolute rocket into Boston night,” as the anchor of TBS Ted Robinson shouted. It was a three-run walk-off homerun, and the Red Sox led the series two to nothing.

2007 ALDS Red Sox vs. Angels Game 1

It was October 3rd, 2007, four days after the Boston Red Sox won the American League East Division Champion pennant. Josh Beckett, the only Major League’s 20 games winner in 2007 season, stepped on the mound at Fenway Park, the most beloved baseball diamond in America, to start the first game of American League Division Series between the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox.



He was the MVP of 2003 World Series, he had been the Red Sox’s ace whole the season, and he showed his stuff. Nine innings’ pitching, he threw 108 pitches, with no walk and 8 strikeouts; he allowed only 4 hits and didn’t give up any run. He pitched a complete-game shutout.

He was backed by his teammate, first baseman Kevin Youkillis and designated hitter David Ortiz. The former hit a solo homerun, the latter hit a two-run shot. And those were all the runs support that he needed. For his pitches roared through the air, cut a path through time itself, and when they crossed the plate, the Angels just didn’t know what had happened when they were called out.

Red Sox won the first game of this best-of-five series, and there are two more to go.