Sox Fight Back To Tie ALCS

October 14, 2013

By: Damon Turbitt – 10/14/13

The beards are clutch.

Just when the Boston Red Sox seemed to be heading towards a 0-2 deficit in the American League Championship Series, David Ortiz showed sports fans everywhere that the game is never over until the last out.

Facing a 5-1 deficit in the eighth inning, Stephen Drew grounded out, leaving Boston with just five outs before losing game two. Will Middlebrooks doubled in the next, giving the crowd some life at Fenway Park.

Next at the top of the order, Jacoby Ellsbury walked to send Shane Victorino to the plate. Like Boston had done all game, Victorino struck out, leaving the Red Sox with just four more outs. Then Captain Dustin Pedroia stepped up the plate and hit a single that loaded the bases.

It seemed like fate since the next man up was David Ortiz. He’s the man who has come through with clutch hit after clutch hit for the past decade. He didn’t wait long to give the fans what they wanted. He took the first pitch that he saw from Joaquin Benoit into the bullpen in right field for a grand slam, adding another big hit to his Hall-of-Fame resume and tying the game 5-5.

But the game wasn’t over yet.

In the top of the ninth, Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara made quick work of the Tigers, getting all three batters.

So Fenway was rocking in the bottom of the ninth. Jonny Gomes beat out an infield single and reached second base on an error by Tigers’ shortstop Jose Iglesias. Gomes advanced to third base on a wild pitch with Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the plate. Just as Ortiz did an inning earlier, Saltalamacchia quickly pleased the Fenway faithful by taking a pitch down-and-away into left field, scoring Gomes and giving the Red Sox the dramatic win.

Despite all of the magic that has taken place, there is still much more baseball to be played in this series. The Red Sox travel to Detroit’s Comerica Park to face Justin Verlander and the Tigers in game three of the ALCS Tuesday night.