Not A Peach, But A Blum!!

It was the top of the 14th inning at Minute Maid Park in Houston when little used Geoff Blum stepped to the plate.  The Sox Paul Konerko had just hit into a double play, fantastically fielded by a diving Morgan Ensberg.  Up to the plate stepped ex-Astro Blum, making his first World Series at-bat, who nailed a shot to the right field bleachers off Ezequiel Astacio to make the score 6-5.  Astacio loaded the bases after the homer and walked in another run to make the final score 7-5. 

 Blum puts Astacio's pitch in the right field bleachers and puts the Sox one game from its first World Series title in 88 years.

In the longest game in World Series history (5 hours and 41 minutes), the Sox jumped ahead in the 5th inning.  Down 4-0, the Sox scored 5 runs in the inning off Astros starter Roy Oswalt.  Consequently, this would be the only other inning, besides the 14th, that the Sox would score in.  Damaso Marte would pitch an inning and two-thirds for the win giving up no runs and no hits on two walks and three strikeouts.  Mark Buerhle, Game 2's starting pitcher just two days ago, came in for the final out of the game to record the save.  Buehrle was the Sox ninth pitcher of the game which is a World Series record.  The Astros used 8 pitchers of their own.  Astacio took the loss.

 'Roy, you can't give up five runs in an inning buddy.  You are supposed to be the stud of the Astros pitching staff.'

Wednesday night's game pits Freddy Garcia of the Sox vs Brandon Backe of the Astros.  Garcia is rested and a great road pitcher.  Backe is 2-1 this postseason.  In his last outing vs the Cardinals in the NLCS, Backe gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 5 2/3 innings for the win.

 Sox third baseman Joe Credestarted off the five run fifth inning with a solo blast off Oswalt.

* Side notes

-- Did anybody else see the clip of Phil Garner slamming a stool into the ground after the Blum homer?  He was not a happy camper. 

-- I put on my lucky wristband in the 12th inning.  Coincidence?  I think not.

-- It's been how long since the Sox last won the World Series?  88 years?  What's my favorite number and the title of this journal?  Hmmm.........

-- I am featured on the Hardball Bloggers website for Sports Bloggers.  AOL Sports Writer says of my journal entry after Games 1 and 2 'great writeup. i'm officiallly jealous. so glad you had such a wonderful experience.'  Thanks Jamie, I appreciate the kind words.  Check out what he says here.