ALCS Game # 5 - ' 04 Red Sox vs ' 74 Athletics

Cabrera’s Walkoff Sends Series Back to Oakland

It seems that Orlando Cabrera carefully doles out his hits in dramatic fashion. His leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the ninth snapped a 3-3 tie and allowed the Red Sox to extend the ALCS for another day with a 4-3 walkoff win. Cabrera is only hitting .114 in the playoffs but his defense keeps his name penned on the lineup card. This was his second homer of the playoffs as his first one in the ALDS against the ’61 Yankees http://buzzingthetowersawx.blogspot.ca/2014/05/alds-game-5-04-red-sox-vs-61-yankees.html was of the two run variety in the fifth and deciding game which helped lead Boston to that series victory.

Boston had the game in hand with a 3-1 advantage going into the ninth. Pedro Martinez was twirling a gem, and Francona decided to let him begin the inning facing Oakland’s star right fielder Reggie Jackson. He had retired Jackson in all of his three previous plate appearances, but this time Jackson solved Martinez and singled to lead off the ninth. With Keith Foulke ready, it was one and done for Martinez. At that point, he had held Oakland to one run on seven hits while striking out five.

Foulke was touched up with consecutive singles by Joe Rudi and Gene Tenace, and when the dust settled, it was 3-2.  Jackson had scored on Tenace’s single, closing the book on Martinez. Oakland opted to pinch hit for Angel Mangual with Claudell Washington, and he laid down a two strike bunt that pushed Tenace and Rudi to second and third, respectively. Oakland manager Dick Williams went to his bench again and had Jesus Alou pinch hit for catcher Ray Fosse. Alou hit a sharp grounder up the middle that was snagged by Bellhorn, but the only play he had was at first allowing Rudi to score and tie the game.

Oakland had opened the scoring in the first inning. After Bert Campaneris laced a one out single, he stole second and was scored on a Sal Bando single. It was Campaneris’ third stolen base of the playoffs and Oakland would run wild in this one stealing 4 bases on 4 attempts. Boston would then counter with single runs in the third, sixth, and seventh all courtesy of Manny Ramirez with two RBI singles and a RBi groundout.

A very pivotal play occurred in the sixth with Boston leading 2-1. After Sal Bando tripled to center, Reggie Jackson hit a hard grounder back to Martinez. Bando’s poor base running got him caught in a run down and he was tagged out. Had he scored, Cabrera’s efforts in the ninth would have tied the game and the outcome would still have been in doubt.

Boston will rely on Derek Lowe to force a seventh and deciding game as he will be up against Vida Blue in Game 6 back in Oakland.