Projo Sox Blog

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
The Red Sox celebrate their World Series title.

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

DENVER — The Red Sox capped another banner year last night with . . . another banner.

The Sox completed a sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 4-3 victory to win their second World Series in four years.

After solid pitching performances in the first three games of the Series by Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling and Daisuke Matsuzaka, respectively, the Red Sox last night handed the ball to 23-year-old lefty Jon Lester.

The story surrounding Lester all season has been his recovery from cancer last summer, but beating the disease has been the furthest thing from his mind ever since he picked up a ball during spring training. So last night he was hoping for a little Mile High Magic to help the Red Sox clinch the World Series.

Lester delivered.

He worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed only three hits with three strikeouts and three walks. The left-hander performed above and beyond what was expected of him, and his teammates not only doused him with champagne and beer, but with respect.

After the Red Sox clinched their first A.L. East title since 1995, the club embarked on the postseason and dispatched the Angels in three games in the ALDS. Then Boston erased a three-games-to-one deficit against the Indians to win the ALCS in seven games to earn a World Series berth, its second in four years.

In similar fashion, the National League champion Rockies quickly wove their way through the postseason to earn their first World Series appearance.

With two clubs remaining on baseball biggest stage, Boston proved why it can be called the best team in the game.

The 2007 version of this World Series club compared to the 2004 championship team has a different dynamic, and it’s called youth.

The similarities? Both clubs have solid bullpens, explosive offensive, good starting pitching and good defense. The differences? This club is younger and more patient, according to Red Sox veteran reliever Mike Timlin.

“It’s a very different team, but it’s also a very similar team,” he said.
Is this year’s club better?

“Maybe,’’ he said. “Yes. There are definitely aspects that are better now than there were then.’’

While the entire 2004 club was built upon a veteran presence, 2007 has featured a core of sparkplug players who have rejuvenated the home-town nine, and that has been quite evident during the postseason.

The rebuilding process began with Kevin Youkilis, and then Jonathan Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, Lester, Pedroia and Ellsbury came on the scene.

“The organization did a great job with all of us, preparing us at each level,” said Pedroia. “It helps out when you all get called up together because we’ve been through a lot of things. We played Double-A together, Triple-A and now here. So I think everybody is comfortable with each other, and it makes it that much more special.”
Ellsbury and Pedroia have led the way in the Series, and that didn’t change in Game Four last night.

Ellsbury, who had three doubles in Game Three on Saturday, led off the game with another double down the left-field line. He advanced to third when Pedroia grounded out to third, and scored Boston’s first run on David Ortiz’s smoking liner through the infield.

Boston pushed across another run in the top of the fifth inning when Jason Varitek provided an RBI single, scoring Mike Lowell for a 2-0 lead.

Lowell sparked the team again with a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning that proved crucial because Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen surrendered a solo home run in the home half as Colorado got on the board. After the right-hander then surrendered a one-out single, he was replaced by Timlin.

The bullpen finished the job and the season ended triumphantly, and according to a masterful plan.

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