Late Inning Magic – Sox Force Game Six
by neil - October 17, 2008 9:27am
I’ll be the first to admit it. I went to bed. Lulled into a state of drowsiness by the plodding and lethargic play of the Red Sox through the first 24 innings at Fenway Park I decided to call it an early night and shut off the television. Over the course of the previous two and a half games the Sox gave no inkling of the breakout late inning heroics that would be put forth while I and many other New Englanders slumbered on this cool October night.
But we know this recent history of this team, with record breaking series comebacks in 2004 or 2007 they should never be counted out. It is not that I did not think the Sox could come back, we know they certainly have the personnel to do so I was just of the opinion that they would not come back. I did not want to see the Sox limp to the finish line and watch the upstart Rays celebrate on the Fenway field. So instead I chose to go to bed.
Never have I been happier to wake up and see that I missed one of the greatest comebacks in post season history. Would I have liked to have stayed awake and watched the game? Well of course! But the bigger picture is that the Sox won and now travel to Tampa for game 6. Tampa Bay had looked like the better team right through the late innings last night, but their bullpen faltered and the wheels came off their wagon. They had their cleats on the throats of a listless Sox team but could not seal the deal. This is an obvious momentum shift and those of us here in Red Sox Nation know that the Sox have been in this very position before and have come out on top.
Tampa Bay had a 7 run lead and needed to record 7 outs in order to punch their ticket to the World Series but they were unable to do so. Seeds of doubt are now sewn into the heads of the young Tampa staff will they let this opportunity slip through their fingers? Can the Sox get up from the turf once again and force a game 7?
Did you stay up for the late inning heroics, or did you call it an early night like I did? Let me know in the comments!