Projo Sox Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- When the Angels came into Fenway Park and swept the Red Sox in three games in July, the Sox were struggling badly.

The team not only wasn't playing well but the Sox were dealing with assorted injuries and the Manny Ramirez soap opera was at its height. The Angels spanked the Sox by a combined 22-9 count in the series.

One player who was in the dumps was Jacoby Ellsbury. He was wrapping up a month where he hit just .247. The Sox without a spark at the top of their lineup simply are not the same team.

"He's an exciting player. He was not playing at this level when we played them earlier in the season," said Angels' manager Mike Scioscia.

Ellsbury went on to end the season in fine fashion, hitting in 18 straight games for a .370 average. He's off to a strong start in the playoffs as well.

"It seems like whatever he's come up, whatever the situation is, he's getting on base and getting in scoring position," said Scioscia. "I think as we scouted them and looked at film and evaluated them before this series, he's had as much of an impact as anybody over there as to why they're playing well down the stretch and why they're playing well in this series."

 Tags  Jacoby Ellsbury

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