I'm taking a foray into some classic playoff baseball and dusting off the 2007 Red Sox world champs for another title run. I've pitted them against the 1998 New York Yankees, the initial edition of the juggernaut that went on to win three consecutive titles.
In the first game of their ALDS series, the visiting Red Sox took a 3-0 lead thanks to 3 solo blasts with two coming off Yankee starter David Cone. One of those shots came from famed Yankee basher David Ortiz, and the other two coming from a surprising source in Julio Lugo, the polarizng shortstop. Boston got a strong outing from 20 game winner Josh Beckett. The only blemish on an otherwise stellar performance was a 2 run homer by Jorge Posada in the seventh which was his final inning of work.
In the eighth the bullpen collapsed with Manny Delcarmen allowing a lead off double to Derek Jeter, the only batter his face. After Hideki Okajima came on, Jeter stole third but was cut down by Kevin Youkilis on a sharp ground ball. It looked as though the Red Sox might escape unscathed until Bernie Williams took an outside fastball to right center to complete a stunning 4-3 comeback.
The Red Sox will now turn to rookie Jon Lester in Game 2 as he will duel Yankee post season ace Andy Pettitte.
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