BOSTON -- The Rockies put their left-handers in, they put their right-handers in ... and, yes, for two nights, Boston shook them all about.
Colorado is in a heap of World Series trouble. And as if leaving town in a two-game hole following a couple of lost nights in New England didn't leave them nauseous enough, the ringing in their ears from failing to master one of the oldest and most elementary dance steps in the country no doubt will send them scrambling for Advil.
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| Hideki Okajima's stuff is so nasty in Game 2, even he can't bear to watch. (AP) |
The Oki-Doke.
Red Sox setup man Hideki Okajima took the baton from Curt Schilling, became the first Japanese-born pitcher to appear in a World Series game, and for 2 1/3 hitless innings he whirled, twirled and dazzled the Rockies.
Over 2 1/3 scoreless innings, he protected a 2-1 lead as if it was the crown jewel and he was the night watchman.
Over 2 1/3 dominant innings, he whiffed four of the seven Colorado hitters he faced, introduced himself on the big stage and once and for all slipped out of the shadow of ol' what's-his-name.
"If Oki doesn't throw as many strikes as he did, he wouldn't have been able to stay out there for as long as he did," Red Sox manager Terry Francona gushed. "But he was so good. His command was spectacular.
"I mean, that set up the whole game, him being able to go out in the eighth inning and keeping their two fastest runners off base. That really helped us."
Not bad. Not bad at all. Especially for a guy who essentially was invited to Boston's spring training camp in Fort Myers, Fla., on a guest pass.
Somebody was going to have to keep Daisuke Matsuzaka company, wasn't he?
And it wasn't going to be Manny Ramirez.
The Red Sox figured Okajima, a 31-year-old left-hander who was one of the top setup relievers in Nippon Professional Baseball, would be a perfect complement to the gaudy Matsuzaka signing. The two-year, $2.5 million contract they gave Okajima was almost an afterthought.
