Crushing Loss For Red Sox in Epic Game 3
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox came into Game 3 looking to ensure a return to Boston. However, in one of the most entertainingly World Series games in recent memory, the boys from Boston head into Game 4 with a 2-1 deficit.
Starter Jake Peavy had a shaky start giving up two runs in the first inning after a pair of run-scoring singles from Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina. However, the Boston righthander settled in and later escaped a fourth-inning jam with the bases loaded and zero outs.
The Red Sox battled all game coming back twice from a two-run deficit. In the top of the eighth Xander Bogaerts continued his impressive postseason performance with a game-tying single and Brandon Workman worked out of a jam in the bottom of the inning to send the game into the ninth tied at four.
After going 1-2-3 in the ninth, Workman was sent back out to hopefully get the game into extra innings. After allowing a one-out single to Molina, Koji Uehara was brought in for Boston and then the real fun began. Allen Craig doubled to put runners on second and third with one out.
With the infield in, Dustin Pedroia made a spectacular play fielding a hard ground ball off the bat of John Jay; Pedroia threw threw home to get Molina out. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia inexplicably threw down to third in an attempt to get Craig who tried to advance following the throw home. The ball got away, third baseman Will Middlebrooks fell in the baseline and as Craig got up to run home he tripped over Middlebrooks and umpire Jim Joyce immediately called obstruction and in effect made the play at home irrelevant. Craig was called safe and the Cardinals won a heart-breaker from the Red Sox.
The Red Sox showed a lot of heart in this game, but how they respond in Game 4 will be very telling about the perseverance of this ball club.
A concern for the Boston could be regarding their bullpen. The unit had been so strong in the postseason up to point, but Craig Breslow gave up two runs in the seventh in a tie game and Workman allowed Molina to reach in the ninth before Uehara gave up a double and the game-winning fielder choice. Workman got the loss, but either way the Red Sox bullpen was a little shaky last night.
One thing for sure is that the Red Sox will not quit in this series. The Cardinals’ bullpen also showed some chinks in its armor last night and the Red Sox will need to take advantage of that as the series progresses.
This World Series has exceeded the hype and has been entertaining every step of the way. The Red Sox want to ensure that it returns to Boston and they will send Clay Buchholz out to bump for Game 4 tonight.