Were the Rockies just rusty after over a week off? Or were the Red Sox just better than them last night. I think it was a combination of both.
This game was very similar to Game 1 of the ALCS against Cleveland. Beckett pitched a gem, and the Sox bats touched up a good pitcher. The Rockies might have been coming off a lengthy lay off, but the Red Sox deserve most of the credit for their 13-1 thrashing last night.
Beckett was amazing, striking out the first 4 men he faced, and 5 of the first 6 Colorado batters. He allowed a run in the 2nd off a pair of doubles, but that was all the significant offense the Rockies could muster against him. He struck out 9 in 7 innings, leaving with a pitch count of 93. Had the game been close, he could have gone another inning, but there was no need.
Dustin Pedroia led off the offensive assault for the Sox with a leadoff Monster shot. Then Youkilis crushed a double. Ortiz moved him to 3rd with a groundout, then Manny knocked Youk in with a single. After Lowell flew out, Varitek singled, Drew doubled, and Manny scored. It appeared as though Varitek also could have scored, but he was held up a la Kenny Lofton. However, it didn't really matter. The game was already over.
The Rockies and Sox each got runs in the 2nd inning. Francis appeared to settle down in the 3rd, allowing only a bunt single by Lugo. But with 2 outs in the 4th, he loaded the bases. Varitek hit a ground rule double, and the Sox scored 2 more.
The Sox had another 2 out rally in the 5th. Youkilis had another double, as did Ortiz. Manny had an RBI single, Lowell had a double, Varitek walked, Drew had an RBI single, Lugo walked with the bases loaded, then Ellsbury walked with the bases loaded, then Pedroia walked with the bases loaded. The 7 run 5th inning was the death knell of the Rockies.
Everybody on ESPN is saying that the Rockies were just rusty. And maybe they were. Then again, it wasn't like Francis just didn't have it. He made some horrible pitches in the 1st, but he was still throwing strikes. The rallies the Sox put together were almost entirely with 2 outs. The Sox scored 11 runs with 2 outs.
The fact that Colorado got 6 hits and a run off Beckett doesn't necessarily mean they were rusty. The man is pitching like a god this post-season. If anything, getting a run and 6 hits was a major achievement for Colorado's offense.
Anyway, the Red Sox set a record for runs scored in Game 1 of a World Series. They also have scored 10+ runs in three straight playoff games, which is unprecedented. The 8 doubles the Sox had last night is the most in a World Series game since 1925.
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