The 1983 Chicago White Sox took advantage of a messy fourth inning orchestrated by the 2007 Red Sox defense and took the opening game of the ALDS by the score of 8-5. The epicenter of the defensive meltdown was the usually sure-handed third baseman Mike Lowell. On two separate opportunities with a chance to turn a twin killing, Lowell consecutively threw wide of the second base bag twice assisting the Pale Hose in bringing home three decisive runs.
Both clubs traded 2 run innings moving into the third when the White Sox grabbed the lead for good. Former Red Sox great Carlton Fisk ripped a double to kick off the home third and moved into scoring position on a Ron Kittle base hit. Both Fisk and Kittle were key offensive cogs for the Central Division champion White Sox during the regular season. Fisk batted.285 with 30 homers and drove in 104 runs, while Kittle led the team with 38 bombs and added 96 ribbies. Fisk cruised home on a Greg Luzinski single to make the score 3-2.
after 3 innings and 55 pitches, and he granted 3 free passes. Unfortunately, proceedings deteriorated quickly in the fourth as he labored through 26 more pitches giving up 3 hits and 2 earned runs. Nine-hole hitter Vance Law was the hero in this contest and led the charge with a double into the left-center field gap. Rudy Law singled to push Vance to third. Scott Fletcher pushed a check-swing infield single towards Dustin Pedroia who had no play anywhere. With runners on the corners, Fisk hit a routine grounder to Lowell in what seemed to have the promise of a double play. However, Pedroia had to stretch valiantly to keep Lowell's throw from sailing into right field, and the bases were loaded. On the very next play, Lowell had a second chance to atone for his miscue, but he again offered a cruel repeat of the previous play throwing wide of second and resulting in the second run of the frame. Greg Luzinski added his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-2.
After a shaky first inning that saw Boston jump out to a 2-0 lead, Chicago frontman Lamarr Hoyt dispatched the next 11 Red Sox in order. With one out in the fifth, Boston got their first base hit since the first inning when Jason Varitek lined a single to center. Jacoby Ellsbury ripped a two-out double, and Dustin Pedroia narrowed the margin with a two-run single.
Nevertheless, the rally cry was snuffed out with Chicago driving a nail in the coffin in the seventh. Red Sox relievers Javier Lopez and Manny Delcarman were both victims of RBI doubles by Tony Bernazard and Vance Law.
Looking at the rest of the playoff picture in the American League, the 1968 Detroit Tigers (99-63) dropped their ALDS opener to the 2001 Oakland A's (92-70) by the score of 6-1. A's Starter Mark Mulder was brilliant giving up only 1 run in 8 innings of work and striking out 11 Tigers. The A's stamped their ticket to the ALDS by pounding the 1985 Kansas City Royals in the wildcard game 11-3. Oakland had 17 hits in that contest with 8 going for extra bases. A's left fielder Terrance Long is batting .364 with 2 homers and 5 RBI while Johnny Damon leads the majors in playoff batting average (.700) and has scored 4 runs.
Over in the National League, The 1980 Houston Astros (93-69) have pushed the 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates (92-70) to the brink of elimination with a 2-0 lead in their NLDS. The Pirates have yet to score a run as Houston has dealt the Bucs a pair of aces with Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott authring complete game shutouts. Ryan fanned 10 in his 5-0 victory while Scott allowed only 3 hits in a 6-0 win in Game 2. The other series has the 2000 Atlanta Braves (89-73) one win away from sweeping the 2007 Colorado Rockies (99-63). Kevin Millwood went seven innings in the first game surrendering only one run in a 8-1 shelacking. Incredibly, the Rockies blew a 6-0 lead in Game 2 as the Braves put up a snowman in the seventh and hung on to win 8-7. Atlanta advanced to the NLDS by defeating the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks in the wildcard game 6-3. Greg Maddux scattered 11 hits in 8 innings allowing only one run. Chipper Jones has been the story offensively for the Braves as he has homered four times and driven in nine runs while batting a scalding .692.
Hopefully, I can get my Red Sox squads back on the right track and even both their series. I am also down 1-0 in my ALDS in my Classic Teams 2.0 playoff to the Yankees. In both games, the defense has let me down, and these teams are just are too good to be giving extra outs.
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