ALCS Game # 2 - ' 04 Red Sox vs ' 74 Athletics

Ortiz Lifts Sox to Series Tie

It seems as though the pitching is starting to settle in Game 2 of the ALCS as both Derek Lowe and Vida Blue were locked in a fierce pitching duel, matching each other inning for inning as a scoreless tie moved into the eighth frame. It was here that Blue surrendered his fifth hit in the contest as Bill Mueller doubled to left with one out. This would end the day for Blue as he had only given up 6 hits and struck out three. Oakland’s Leon Hooten would come on out of the pen to face Johnny Damon, and he promptly slashed a single to left. Hooten then struck out Mark Bellhorn, who has been the hottest hitter in these playoffs. Bellhorn continued his torrid hitting picking up three hits in this game to raise his average to an astounding .500.

With two out in the eighth, David Ortiz came to the plate and drove a clutch three run homer into the right field bleachers to provide the only scoring in the game in a 3-0 Red Sox victory. This type of bravado has become commonplace for Ortiz especially when the lights are shining their brightest. Keith Foulke came on in the ninth to garner his fourth save of the playoffs and send the series back to Fenway tied at one game apiece.

Ortiz’s heroics aside, Lowe was the real story in this one. This start was Lowe’s first appearance of these playoffs, and he proved to be incredibly stingy allowing only five hits, all singles, while striking out five. The Oakland lineup never really posed a credible threat throughout the game and will now face Red Sox playoff ace Curt Schilling in the series opener in Boston.

 *ICYMI Game 1 > http://buzzingthetowersawx.blogspot.ca/2014/06/alcs-game-1-04-red-sox-vs-74-athletics.html