Dancing Our Way to the Playoffs - Jenn

This weekend was the final series of the regular season and how fitting that the last three games the Sox play are against their hated rivals the Yankees. But unlike the last few seasons, there was nothing on the line for this series. The Sox had already clinched a playoff berth and the Yankees had... well... three more games before they were going home. So it should've been an easy series that focused on Dustin getting the batting title and us sweeping the Yanks. That wasn't quite the case.

As Dad already mentioned, Friday's game was a massacre. The Yankees came in and killed everyone they faced. No surprise though because the Yankees were playing against Pawtucket. Oh well, there was still Saturday and Sunday to watch and win. Only there wasn't because Saturday was rained out. So now we were looking at a double-header Sunday if that hurricane off the Massachusetts coast would stay where it was. And while there was some rain on and off on Sunday, it wasn't enough to dampen Sox fans' spirits.

Sunday's first game was a chance for Mike Mussina to get his 20th win. So of course all our regular Red Sox were out there in great form. At least almost great form. Dice-K was on the mound cruising along for the first three innings. So was Mussina. Neither team could get on base let alone cross home. But then in the 4th, Dice-K had a melt down. A-Rod ended up on base when a strike was called a fourth ball. (That wouldn't be the only time strikes were called balls and vice versa. The ump behind the plate was all over the place Sunday morning. What was a ball with one batter would be a strike with the next.) With Bobby Abreu already on base and only one out, it wouldn't take long before a single and a walk added up to three runs thanks to Xavier Nady's homer.

3-zip Yanks was the score until Joba Chamberlin took the mound and walked Jason Bay. Then Kotsay hit a ground-rule double and the two were in scoring position. Chris Carter ground out, but scored Bay, and Kotsay crossed the plate on Ellsbury's single. It looked like Mussina's win might be in trouble. But on a day when Dice-K only lasted four innings and Mussina was gunning for his 20th win, a comeback was not in the cards for the Sox.

Papelbon took the mound and also had one of his worst outings yet. From the first batter he faced, he couldn't get anyone out. And after 10 batters came to the plate the score stood at Yankees 6, Sox 2. That would be the final score for game one of the double header. But that was game one... game two is where we get our title.

Wakefield took the mound and with the way Wake's been pitching, it was anybody's guess whether we'd win or not. But he was on and win we did... after a little tension and 10 innings. Although Wake pitched five innings of shut-out ball, it was the relief staff that got Wake a no decision. Thanks to a two-run single from Sean Casey in the bottom of the 8th, the Red Sox were up 3-1 going into the 9th.

Unfortunately David Aardsma couldn't hold onto the lead. Betemit started the carnage with a single. Then Johnny Damon walked. Cabrera bunted, but was safe because Aardsma couldn't get a grip on the ball thanks to the wet field. Then Miranda popped out. But because Velazaquez doesn't understand that the outfielder has the right of way when it comes to catching balls, he and Van Every collided allowing Betemit to score. Gardner then struck out and the Sox were one out away from winning the game. But Cano, who already had a hit in the game, plated Johnny Damon with his single to left. The score was now tied, which meant the Sox were going to the bottom of the 9th and then onto extra innings.

After so much time in wet seats, the fans were starting to get antsy. They were doing anything the could to keep themselves and the Sox pumped up for one more win, including this couple who were a little early with the celebrating, but their dance was much appreciated all the same.



Anyway, the dancing in the seats must have been just what the doctor ordered because Cora started off the bottom of the 10th with a triple. It should have been over with the next batter, but these are the Red Sox and so it can never be that easy. Carter struck out when he swung at a pitch that was so far outside, it might as well have been down by the third baseman. Then the Yankees intentionally walked not one, but two batters in Bailey and Casey. So now the bases were loaded with just one out.
The Yankees were clearly looking for the double play. Thankfully Ross just struck out which meant the Sox still had a chance. That chance came in rookie Jonathan Van Every who had already gone 0-3 with a walk.

Van Every only saw four pitches. But it was on that fourth pitch that Van Every ended the season the way all seasons should end - with a single to right that plated Cora for the walk-off win. It was great! Not only did the Sox win the game in a great show stopping moment, but they're going to the playoffs. And the Yankees, they're heading home to watch the playoffs on their respective television sets.

Wednesday the Sox face the Angels for the first game of the ALDS. It's going to be tough competition, but the Angels have been division champs before... And the Sox still swept them.