Suddenly, We Have a Pennant Race!
On Wednesday I wrote that the Red Sox should be pleased that they got out of Oakland with a 3-game lead in the Wild Card race. And a good thing too, since the Athletics have won all three of their games over the weekend.
But the Red Sox weren't content just to maintain a lead, they won all three of their games this weekend.
Against the New York Yankees.
Who are leading the AL East.
And who have now gone from a 6-1/2 game lead to a 3-1/2 game lead in the division.
Over - the Boston Red Sox!
Yes, all of a sudden the Sox are in striking distance of actually winning their division, quite an accomplishment for a team which was thought to be lucky if they weren't fighting to stay out of the cellar this year!
The Sox got off on the right foot on Friday as Pedro Martinez struck out 17 Yankees and three a one-hitter as the Sox beat the Bronx "Bombers" 3-1. Martinez set a career high in strikeouts and tied his career low for hits. He walked none, and gave up only a home run to Chili Davis in missing a perfect game.
The Yankees have a potent offense which stresses patience, so Pedro's feat is all the more impressive for that, as opposed to - as my friend Rob pointed out - Roger Clemens' two record-setting 20 strikeout games, which were against the awful 1986 Mariners, and the equally awful 1996 Tigers. In context, Kerry Wood's own 20-strikeout game last year is more impressive than Clemens', as it came against the potent Astros line-up.
As an ESPN announcer put it, "other guys pitched Saturday", as the Sox managed to hang on for an 11-10 victory in a slugfest, with five Sox home runs, including two from shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (who seems to have broken out of his slump). Ceej and I were biting our nails at the Giants game as we watched the Yankees close the gap on the scoreboard in the late innings, and we gave a little cheer when the game went final.
The Sox finished their first sweep at Yankees stadium in 13 years by beating expatriate Sox Roger Clemens 4-1, scratching out runs, getting into arguments with the opposing team, and relying on solid relief pitching - including a third save from Rod Beck and his 0.00 American League ERA. Sox starter Bret Saberhagen doesn't show up on the stats radar since he hasn't pitched enough to qualify for the ERA title, but his 3.29 ERA is sterling in the 1999 American league, and if healthy, he and Pedro are an outstanding 1-2 postseason combination.
As for Pedro, he's pretty much a lock for his second Cy Young award, as his 2.20 ERA is nearly a full run lower than his nearest competitor (the Yanks' David Cone at 3.10), and his 21-4 record is not only an excellent percentage, but he may be the only 20-game winner in the AL (no one else has more than 16). He also leads the AL in strikeouts by a wide margin, and even without adjusting for the DH, has a better ERA than any National League ERA qualifier. One of the most dominant seasons ever? Perhaps worth considering.
Ironically, the Sox have dominated the Yankees and Indians this season, but have a losing record against the other division leader, Texas. Perhaps the best-case scenario for the Sox is to win the Wild Card but not the division, play Cleveland in the first round, and then New York for the AL crown (since the Yankees have Texas' number). And yet, it would be so much more satisfying to win the division, especially if the A's can conspire to knock the Yankees out of the playoffs altogether. Wow!
Only 16 games left to play, including seven against the hapless Orioles.
You know, as a Sox fan I spend so much time waiting for the other shoe to drop ("No, they couldn't possibly sweep the Yankees; they'll lose today in some humiliating manner") that it's so wonderful when they come through and do something great. I hope the guys are pumped up, because I'd love to see them end the season on a bang.
On another bang, I mean!
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