Boston 10, Chicago 1
WP: Schilling (8-5)
LP: Danks (6-12)
HRs: Papi, 2 (23), Youk (13); CHI-Uribe (14)
"Sure, kid. And have one for your 10th, too, in case I forget"
SUMMARY
Boston put a bow on a banner day in the Windy City as Curt Schilling turned in his best performance since returning from the DL and the offense exploded again, propelled by Papi's two homers, another pair of ribbies from Mike Lowell, and a mammoth homer by Kevin Youkilis that put this one out of reach.
#1 STUNNER Ortiz 4-5, 3R, 3BI, 2HRs
The big man is starting to resemble his clutch, 2004 self as he mashed a pair of home runs for just the third time this season and added a pair of shift-busting singles to prove that he's not just a one-dimensional hitter.
PAN's FAUN(s) J. Danks & G. Floyd 7IP, 9H, 9ER, 5BB, 3HRs
The first two Chicago pitchers were like bad & badder; first Danks allowed 5 earned runs in 3 1/3, then Gavin Floyd "relieved" him and gave up 4 earned in 3 2/3 to make sure the Pale Hose would have no shot at coming back in this one.
RECAP
Talk about a sweet end to a LONG day.
After suffering through rain delays, a postponement, threats of rain delays and postponements, and a four-hour marathon opening game in this series, Boston put to rest early any doubts as to the outcome of this one as they ripped the sorry ChiSox pitching staff en route to a dominating doubleheader sweep.
But unlike the opener, Boston received excellent starting pitching that made all the extra runs totally unnecessary.
Unnecessary, but fun as fucking hell!
Curt Schilling (6IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 3K) turned in his best performance since his 1-hit gem in late June, putting together six quality innings of 3-hit, 1-run ball, his only blemish coming on a 1-0 pitch to Juan Uribe with one out in the second that the beefy (ahem) shortstop tagged for a solo homer.
Other than that and a two-out double by Darren Erstad in the first inning, Schill was nearly untouchable, mixing his pitches nicely and exhibiting great control of the strike zone.
Following those two hits Curt allowed just one baserunner over the next four innings, ringing up 12 straight Chicago batters at one point before allowing a walk to Erstad with two outs in the 6th. He exited after getting the the next batter out having thrown an economical 98 pitches, a remarkable 69 for strikes.
But the story of this game has to be the offense, which after a measly 1-run showing in the finale in Tampa Bay, was bombarded with the questions of "why can't you guys get a big hit in the clutch?"
The Boston batters laid that question to rest-temporarily-today with an offensive output to rival the Texas Rangers.
After racking up 15 hits and 11 runs in the opener, Boston ripped another 13 base knocks to go along with the 10 runs in the nightcap, and the best part about it was the key to Red Sox postseason glory was back to his old self again.
Dustin Pedroia worked a leadoff walk to open the 4th, and then David Ortiz wasted no time in putting this long day behind him; one pitch after Pedroia trotted to first, Papi unloaded on a John Danks offering for a two-run shot to left field that quickly put Schill & the Sox ahead, 2-1.
But the Boston boys weren't done.
Manny Ramirez (1-3, 2R) followed that blast with a hard single to center, then Mike Lowell, the Sox RBI leader, added to his total with a long double to the left center field gap that scored Manny all the way from first and fueled the fire of a big inning.
Danks (3.1IP, 5H, 5R, 2BB, HR), who has lost his last six starts, managed to retire Youk on a pop out (better watch out, bat rack!), but then Bobby Kielty walked on five pitches and Coco Crisp followed with a booming double to left to drive Lowell in and push the lead to 4-1 Sox.
That shot wound up being the last pitch by Danks on the night, as short leash Ozzie Guillen yanked the guy who has allowed at least 5 earned runs in 4 of his last 5 starts, with 7 homers thrown in during that time.
Too bad his replacement fared no better.
Gavin Floyd, who sounds like a 1930's film star, came in and immediately surrendered a solid single to right by Kevin Cash to drive in Kielty, and the new BoSox backstop joined the fun with his first hit & RBI as a member of the club.
Floyd (3.2IP, 4H, 4ER, 3BB, 1K, 2HR) would escape further damage in that inning, but before he knew it the Boston batters were bashing him again in the 5th, and it started with another dose of Big Papi.
After the game Ortiz admitted he was eager to get home to the hotel after an extremely long day at the park, so he "was swinging at the first pitch every time."
Hey, whatever works, big fella.
Papi swung hard at the first pitch of the 5th from Floyd, and the ball travelled a long way, high and deep to left center field for a towering solo homer that put the Sox up 6-1 and paved the way for the onslaught to follow.
A rattled Floyd responded by walking Manny and Lowell (2-4, 2R, RBI), then Kevin Youkilis launched the first pitch he saw deep into the seats in left for a soul-crushing 3-run bomb that made the score 9-1 and emptied the remaining ChiSox fans from US Cell field faster than you can say "Cubbies all the way."
Things quieted down from there, with the Sox batters spent from running around the bases all day & night and Ozzie tired of changing pitchers as often as he swears, but Boston would put the finishing touches on the scoring binge in the 9th.
And whaddaya know, Papi was the one who started the rally again.
It took three pitches this time for Ortiz to bust an opposite-field single to left off someone named Matt Thornton, and then Eric Hinske, who replaced Manny in the field, roped a double to right to set up a 2nd & 3rd, no out situation.
Ozzie must have cussed, because he went to his pen for for former closer Mike MacDougal, but Mike Lowell treated the ex-All Star like he does everyone else, driving a stinging single up the middle to plate Boston's 10th run of the night on the third baseman's 90th ribbie of the season.
Even an appearance by Eric Gagne in the 9th couldn't get the Nation down tonight (after all, he couldn't blow this lead, could he?), and the embattled reliever got out of the game (after allowing a two-out single) by striking out Uribe to put a cap on this offensive affair.
And so a long day turned into a festive night, and the Sox have plenty of reasons to celebrate after bludgeoning the Chisox for nearly seven hours:
1. they will gain at least a game on New York, if not 1 1/2
2. Curt Schilling looks like he's returning to form just in time
3. the offense is clicking on all cylinders, especially with the real Big Papi back
4. they have until tomorrow afternoon before they have to do it all over again
That's it for now. Everyone take a breather, regroup, and we'll see if Wakefield can keep the momentum going tomorrow afternoon on FOX.
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