DENVER – This time it took three years, not 86.
David Ortiz stood on top of a table, wearing goggles to protect his eyes from flying champagne, in the victorious Red Sox clubhouse. He donned a world champions T-shirt – the Sox’s newest attire. They also have some more jewelry after winning their second World Series title since 2004.
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon struck out Rockies pinch hitter Seth Smith, tossed his glove in the air, then leaped into the arms of catcher Jason Varitek as the Red Sox finished a 4-3 victory over Colorado last night at Coors Field.
For the second straight game, the Red Sox nearly blew a multi-run lead late, but once again, they held on. And just like their Series victory in 2004, this one was a four-game sweep, with the clinching win on the road after remarkable playoff comebacks.
“This is a very different team, a very different organization than the Red Sox of your father’s days,” Curt Schilling said, “and I don’t think that’s going to change.”
In 2004, the Sox came back from a 3-0 AL Championship Series deficit against the Yankees, then swept the Cardinals in the World Series, winning their final eight games overall. This year’s team was down 3-1 in the ALCS to the Indians, before cap turing its final seven victories by an in sane total score of 59-15.
“I think that was the turning point in this entire postseason for us,” Papelbon said of coming back against the Indians.
Varitek, captain of the Sox, agreed.
“This team has got a lot of heart,” Varitek said.
The Red Sox didn’t hit a ton in Game 4 – Series MVP Mike Low ell’s solo home run in the seventh and Bobby Kielty’s solo shot in the eighth were their big blasts – but left-handed starter Jon Lester provided an inspiring finish to his and his team’s seasons. Lester, who came back this year from lymphoma, pitched 52/3 shutout innings in the clincher, allowing only three hits.
For the series, the Boston starters – Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Lester – posted a 1.54 ERA.
“So proud of Jon Lester,” manager Terry Francona said.
Lowell said he was “ecstatic for” the victorious pitcher, but Lowell was pretty impressive, too. The third baseman hit .400 (6-for-15) in the Series, with that solo home run and four RBIs.
The Sox also got what turned out to be the game-deciding run from an unlikely source – pinch hitter Kielty. With Boston leading 3-1 in the eighth, Kielty blasted a solo shot to make it 4-1, prompting Julio Lugo to clap his hands and Manny Ramirez to hug Kielty when he got back to the dugout.
As they did in Game 3, the Rockies got going too late. The Sox led 3-0 and 4-1 before Colorado trimmed that edge to 4-3 in the eighth on Garrett Atkins’ two-run homer off Hideki Okajima. But Papelbon got the final five outs for his third series save, though the second-to-last out of the ninth nearly tied the game as Jamey Carroll flied to left, where rookie Jacoby Ellsbury (moving over from center as a defensive replacement for Manny Ramirez) slammed into the wall making the catch.
“We’ve got a lot of people to give credit to,” Lowell said.
The Rockies, who reached their first World Series ever, won 21 of 22 games to make the playoffs, beating the Phillies in the NL Division Series and knocking off the Diamondbacks in the NLCS.
Not too far from Coors Field, there was a Bud Light sign that read “The Miracle on Blake St.” Whether it was a miracle from the past or a hopeful wish for a new one was unclear, but if it was the latter and meant for the Rockies, that hope ended last night.
After the game, some fans behind the Red Sox dugout chanted “Sweep, sweep,” serenading the Boston players celebrating their victory.
“I thank them,” Varitek said of the members of Red Sox Nation. “Every guy, every woman, whoever it was, they’ve always been there. It makes it a special place to play, and I’m just happy right now.”