Red Sox Are On Their Way To The ALCS

Photo from The Boston Globe

The Red Sox punched their ticket to the ALCS last night with a 3-1 win over the Rays.  The Sox players celebrated like the champions they are, which I've included pictures below.  They'll take on either the A's or Tigers on Saturday for Game 1 of the ALCS.

The Red Sox pitching combined for 9 innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, and striking out 10.  Peavy pitched into the sixth inning and only threw 74 pitches.  Breslow was dominant for 1.2 inning when he have up a hit and struck out 4.  Uehara redeemed himself from the night before with a 4-out save and struck out 2.

The Red Sox offense didn't have a single extra-base it, but did combine for 6 hits.  They left 10 on base, with Salty leaving the most with 5 (Ortiz was right behind him with 4).  Victorino and Pedroia each had RBIs, and Bogaerts scored on a wild pitch.

Victorino was hit twice during the game, which brings his total to being hit 4 times this series, a record for the ALDS.  It's been noted how often Victorino gets hit as crowds the plate, and that was certainly the case the first time he was hit in the game.  The second time, I don't think Victorino was crowding the plate at all.

The Rays played hard, and Maddon used a total of 22 different players during the game: 9 pitchers and 13 position players/pinch-hitters.  Starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson lasted only 1 inning, and reliever Wright was brought in with the bases loaded and didn't allow a run.  David Price was even warming up in the 9th inning in case the game was to go to extra innings.

The Red Sox need to address some issues before they start the game on Saturday:

• As stated, they left 10 on base last night, including the second inning when bases were loaded with 0 outs.  They have to get those big hits.
• They also had 10 strikeouts, but they did manage to draw 8 walks.  
• Saltalamacchia either gets a hit or strikeouts; in ten at bats, he has 3 hits and 7 strikeouts.
• There was another instance in the game where if Pedroia was playing his position, the Sox would've produced an out.  It was later in the game, but I don't remember the inning.  I love Pedroia, and he's one of my favorite players on the team.  However, watching him the past couple days shows how much he tries/wants to do in a game, even when it's not necessary.  He also had the last RBI of the game in the 9th inning.
• The bullpen was phenomenal this series, but the team can not rely on the relievers alone.  Yes, Lester went 7.2 innings, and this isn't necessarily directed at him.  Lackey went 5.1 innings, Buchholz 6.0, and Peavy 5.2 innings.  Lackey gave up 4 runs, Buchholz 3, and Peavy 1.  Not terrible, but not shutout either.  Red Sox starters need to shutout the other team, especially if the Red Sox take on the Tigers' dangerous line-up.

That's enough of my ranting of an otherwise great series win over the Rays.  Seriously, I'm ecstatic the Red Sox won last night; I had a hard time falling asleep (despite it being 12:30 AM) because of the adrenaline rush.  The Red Sox will start the ALCS on Saturday, time to be determined.  Below, you'll find some photos and tweets I found from regarding the ALDS series win.  Enjoy!

Photo from The Boston Globe

Photo from The Boston Globe

Photo from SBNation.com

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