Boston? Denver? No matter where Rockies roam, they're no match
DENVER -- Perhaps the Colorado Rockies can go to Rome and petition for this one to be annulled. First World Series appearance in franchise history? Irreconcilable differences, so far.
The Rockies changed locales, but they couldn't change identities. They changed their lineup, but they couldn't change the outcome. Right now, they're a lawn chair in a monsoon, a back road in a snowstorm.
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| Boston is causing Troy Tulowitzki and Colorado plenty of headaches. (AP) |
Which no doubt will be longer than it actually lasted. Boston's 10-5 waltz Saturday night gave the Red Sox a three-games-to-none lead and almost ensured them a clincher here in Coors Field.
Dominating doesn't even begin to describe these Red Sox. They're out-hitting the Rockies, out-pitching them and shortstop Julio Lugo made two Gold Glove plays in the middle innings Saturday. The Red Sox have been so thorough, no doubt their clubhouse guys are out-performing Colorado's clubbies right down to the laundry room, too. Seems like Boston's uniforms are cleaner and crisper, doesn't it?
"That's what we knew we were getting involved with, with the Boston Red Sox," reliever Matt Herges said in a mostly stunned and silent Colorado clubhouse. "There are superstars up and down that lineup. And the ones who aren't will be soon, (Jacoby) Ellsbury and (Dustin) Pedroia.
"You have to execute. Execution is paramount. If you don't execute, you're probably going to be getting a new ball from the umpire."
Or a new set of golf clubs for your winter's vacation. The 3-0 World Series hole these Rockies find themselves in is prohibitive. Of 22 previous teams to take a 3-0 lead, all 22 have proceeded to win the World Series -- 19 of them in four-game sweeps.
"OK, so it looks like we're in ground-breaking territory," Rockies skipper Clint Hurdle quipped.
Everything the Rockies touched had been turning to gold, as they won 21 of 22 games leading up to the World Series.
Now, everything the Rocks touch is turning to stone.
"It's frustrating, you know?" third base Garrett Atkins said. "This is baseball. You have to keep grinding out at-bats."
It wasn't as if Colorado didn't make the Red Sox sweat here and there, even in game-time temperatures that were 45 degrees. Grind they did in the sixth and seventh innings, combining to score five runs. Matt Holliday belted a three-run homer in the seventh to pull the Rockies to within 6-5.
