Waiting between championships was a lot easier this time around for the Boston Red Sox. Overwhelming in every way, Jon Lester, Mike Lowell and Co. left little room for drama, and completed their second World Series sweep in four seasons Sunday with a 4-3 triumph over Colorado.
Starter Lester took the win, Jonathan Papelbon notched the save, and Series MVP Lowell paced a nine-hit attack with a double and home run, in the final chapter of this year's best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship. Papelbon struck out Seth Smith for the final out, touching off wild celebrations at the mound that started with catcher Jason Varitek leaping into the reliever's arms.
This was hardly a repeat from 2004, when the Red Sox ended their 86-year championship drought by beating St. Louis. Boston is a major league bully these days, playing with a rarefied air before crowds who now demand and expect to win.
In Waltham, meanwhile, tension built in every dorm at the university Sunday night as the game started. The result was dramatic.
Ive never known baseball much, but intentional passion around the country just thrills me out, said Yoo Jin Lee 11, who went to Fenway for the first time during the World Series.
Right from the get-go, it was clear that Game 4 would be Boston's night. The celebrations started early, with converted designated hitter Ortiz raising his hand after a nice scoop at first base, and Lester pumping his fist after a key strikeout. The Rockies, who won 21 of 22 games to storm into the postseason and their first World Series, never found their stride after waiting eight days for the Series to begin.
By the ninth inning, only one mystery really remained: What would happen to the ball from the final out? Remember, it took all sorts of gyrations after Boston's most recent title before Doug Mientkiewicz donated his souvenir to the Hall of Fame.
With this second win, and with the Yankees reeling from another early exit and the potential loss of Alex Rodriguez, expectations in Boston are a lot different. Instead of “wait till next year,” it's “next year, too!”
While Curt Schilling and Lowell can become free agents, the Red Sox could enjoy a very bright future. They didn't have room on the postseason roster for Clay Buchholz, the rookie who pitched a no-hitter last month. Meanwhile, young ace Josh Beckett dominated in Game 1, relievers Papelbon and Hideki Okajima closed out Game 2, and rookies Dustin Pedroia, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ellsbury starred in Game 3. This Red Sox team seems primed to remain in contention for years to come.
Following the victory in Colorado, thousands of Red Sox supporters made their way to the lower deck behind the Boston dugout and celebrated with chants of, let's Go Red Sox, and an old favorite aimed at their archrival Yankees Suck. Some things never change.
