YankeesRedSox.com

Great win late last night (early this morning).  Despite a disappointing performance by Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox stayed in the game only to win it on a walk off 3-run shot by Manny Ramirez (edit - Manny's first walk-off home run since 1996, regular season or playoffs!).

Along with Manny, credit is due to Javier Lopez (0.1 IP), Manny Delcarmen (1.1 IP), Hideki Okajima (1.1 IP) and Jonathan Papelbon (1.1 IP) for not allowing a hit over the last 4.1 IP of the game.  With Matsuzaka allowing 7 hits and 3 walks in only 4.2 IP, having a bullpen to come in and shut down the opposition was huge.

Back to Manny, for whatever reason, I just don't think of him as being clutch, or perhaps better said, being the savior.  Based on my observations (i.e. I have no #s to back this up), he can produce runs early in a game and in the middle of the game, but isn't necessarily one you count on to bring home a win in the last at bat.  That role has been reserved for David Ortiz, but game 2 was Manny's game.  K-Rod tried to sneak a fastball by Manny but couldn't.  Manny sent it up, over and out of Fenway.  Huge.

Another benefit of Manny doing what he did was it will not give pause to the Angels and hopefully later competition that perhaps pitching around Ortiz (4 walks in game 2) isn't such a good idea.  Manny put his foot down on that strategy, at least for now.  When asked by Sean McAdam after the game about pitching around Ortiz to face Manny, Angel manager Mike Scoscia said "it's pick your poison" and that's exactly why you want a core of really talented and dangerous hitters in your line-up, to make things tough on the opponent.

Now, enjoy this win but understand the Angels are still a really good team and are also really good at home (54-27).  One of the major storyline to watch is the status of Vladmir Guerrero.  He left the game after getting hit on the left shoulder.  I was stunned that he didn't stick it out given the magnitude of the game.  He must really be hurt.

Curt Schilling is going in game 3 against Jered Weaver.  Weaver (13-7, 3.91/1.39) you will recall allowed 6 ER over 4.1 IP in his last game against Boston.  In his career against Boiston, he is 0-2 with a 4.70/1.35 in 23 IP.  In his career, Schilling is 6-2, 3.67/1.11 against the Angels.

Normally I'd have a bunch of opinions to share about what could have been handled better, but after game 2, I don't have much to say.  Perhaps starting Matsuzaka was a mistake, but they managed through it with a W.