ALCS Bound

The Red Sox completed the ALDS with sweep over the Halos of Orange County today with ease. Boston only held a 2-0 lead going into the top of the eight but you never really got the feeling that the game was close. Curt Schilling pitched in his typical postseason form going seven innings strong with only six hits allowed while striking out four.

The Sox will be shipping back up to Boston and will have to wait until Friday before sinking their teeth into whoever comes out on top of the New York versus Cleveland series. This is of course at the earliest. If the Yankees find themselves coming back and pushing a Game 5 of their series, it could be longer. At least I think so. I'm too lazy to confirm that.

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez went deep again and back-to-back for the first time all year to set the lead at 2-0 in the forth. The Sox would pile on seven runs in the top of the eighth and put the game out of reach for the Angels. Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, JD Drew, Jason Varitek and Coco Crisp all batted in runs in the inning.

All in all, Boston flat out dominated this series. The Angels were up for a majority of Game 2, but once again, you never got the feeling that Boston was going to derail. The Angels, who scored 822 runs this season, which was fourth best in the American League, were held to four runs during the entire three game series. Vladimir Guerrero continued his playoff woes only getting two singles the entire series.

The win today ensured that Josh Beckett will get the nod in game one of the League Championship Series and won't have to pitch in a Game 4, which is huge. Having him on the mound to start off the LCS is crucial. It will also give Tim Wakefield a little more time and possibly another Corisone shot to help his aging back for one more go 'round in the playoffs. Hopefully they'll come out sharp with all the time off.

As it stands right now, Cleveland is holding on to a 3-1 lead in the Bronx in the middle of the fifth. Once again, go Tribe.

I just noticed something. If current Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow and former Gator signal caller Rex Grossman had a love child, he'd look a lot like Philip Hughes. He almost looks like a product from Conan O'Brien's "If They Mated" machine.