World Series Game 3 - Class Finally Tells as Boston Storms Into 3-0 Series Lead

At Coors Field, the Colorado Rockies were set to show the world that on their stage, they were more than a match for anyone. They could come back and grab the World Series by the scruff of its neck. The Boston Red Sox would be driven to the edge by the Rockies' voracious fans and put to the sword by a team bidding to upset the ALCS majority stranglehold on the MLB in recent years.

But nobody told them that at the end of the day, it takes more than enthusiasm and youthful vigour to unhinge a Red Sox team bolted to strong fundamentals of professionalism, skill, talent, and ultimately, class.

The Boston Red Sox first silenced the Coors Faithful with a powerful 6 run blast in the third inning. Double act David Ortiz and Mike Lowell crashed early into Rockies starter Josh Fogg, who struggled all night with his control, before Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka surprised many with a two-out, two-run single into deep third base territory, sending Fogg off the mound. At such an early point in the game, Colorado looked out of the reckoning as they struggled to come to terms with Matsuzaka's renewed confidence and their own stone-cold bats.
That lasted till the bottom of the sixth inning, Matsuzaka issuing 2 walks before Terry Francona sent on the bullpen. The Boston bullpen had been magnificent throughout the World Series before tonight. Francona expected the same when he sent on Javy Lopez. But two consecutive singles by Brad Hawpe and Yorvit Torrealba later, Rockies pulled it back to 6-2. Boston then quickly called for Mike Timlin to quell the rumbling uprising which he did by sending Ryan Spilborghs and Jeff Baker back to the dugout. But not before a preview of what was to come as Spilborghs almost reached home run territory in deep centre field and only an amazing leap from Red Sox shortstop high into the air prevented Baker from adding more Rockies runs to the board.

Colorado came storming back in the bottom of the seventh inning. With previous night's strong showing, Okajima was put on the mound to finish off another strong comeback by the Rockies. Matt Holliday sent the crowd into raptures and hoping for more, by firing the ball whistling deep into centre field. Home run, another 3 runs, and Colorado was back within one at 6-5 to Boston. Okajima still managed to sneak out of the inning without allowing more, but the team in black and white were feeling pumped, with fans going insane in the stands and expectations were now high of a comeback win.

That was when class finally told.

Boston have been slowly rebuilding the side after the 2004 World Series. The team still had the nucleaus of that Championship winning team, with deliberate additions to the roster which have strengthened the club in all areas. While many have accused the ballclub of being nothing more than another Yankees in disguise buying its way to success, the players have always displayed more joyful play and professionalism in the way they carried themselves both on and off the pitch. Francona was another icon of class in managerial study, never to stalk the media and often all about the game. The team sauntered to a 96 win season and have shown time and again to be the best team in baseball this season.

Tonight they showed that class again. 6-5 up and with their backs pinned to the wall on the back of a rowsing Colorado fightback, the Red Sox went into the eigth inning determined to shut the door on the Rockies. They did that in emphatic style from 2 clutch hits from two rookies, and five runs later 10-5 up, all signs of the World Series returning to Boston were on the cards. Jacoby Ellsbury first sent an RBI double that just eluded Rockies right field Hawpe, before exciting rookie Dustin Pedroia sent another two-run double to the right. You could see the deflated Rockies in the dugout with heads hung low.

Just as another Rockies comeback threatened to steal the show in the bottom eigth with two on and two outs, Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon then stole the show. Proceeding to retire the next four Colorado bats, he rounded off the ninth inning with aplomb and a second World Series save. Not bad for his first appearance at the biggest baseball stage of all.

Then again, class is all over this Boston Red Sox team. And class separates the best from the good.