Red Sox Try to Extend Run Parade Versus Rockies in Game 2

Oct 25, 11:15 AM

Current Headlines:

(Sports Network) - Curt Schilling tries to give Boston a two-game cushion in the 103rd World Series this evening, as the Red Sox play Game 2 of the best- of-seven set against the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park.

Boston may have set the tone for this series on Wednesday, as Josh Beckett struck out nine over seven innings and the Red Sox banged out 17 hits in a 13-1 rout in a soggy Game 1 of the Fall Classic.

The Rockies entered Beantown with a big layoff, 10 straight wins and victories in 21 of their last 22 games. Their run included sweeps of Philadelphia and Arizona in the playoffs, but that all went out the window in the first inning, as Dustin Pedroia homered to lead off against young lefty Jeff Francis (0-1), who was chased after surrendering 10 hits and six runs in four innings.

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez each had three hits and two RBI, while Kevin Youkilis and Ramirez scored three times in the win. Pedroia, Jason Varitek and J.D. Drew each drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who are trying for their second title in four years. They had nine extra base hits, including eight doubles, both of which tied World Series records.

The Red Sox, who have now won five straight World Series games, outscored Cleveland, 30-5, in winning the final three games of the ALCS and that trend continued Wednesday night as they established a team record for runs in a World Series game.

Boston scored three times in the first, and already ahead 6-1, exploded for seven runs -- all with two outs -- in the fifth.

Beckett (1-0) immediately went to work by fanning the first four batters he faced before allowing doubles to Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitzki in the second inning. The 2003 World Series MVP with Florida ended the night by scattering six hits and allowing one run, while walking one.

During this postseason, Beckett is 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 35 strikeouts against just two walks in 30 innings.

Franklin Morales was pounded for six hits and seven runs in two-thirds of a frame, as the Red Sox sent 13 men to the plate in the fifth, a half-inning that took 34 minutes to complete and included six hits, four walks and a balk. Ryan Speier walked three straight batters with the bases full to cap the scoring, before Matt Herges got Youkilis to fly out to leave them loaded.

The 12-run winning margin was the largest for the opener of a World Series, eclipsing an 11-run spread the White Sox had against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 and the same amount the Braves had versus the Yankees in 1996. The White Sox and Braves both lost those series.

Now the Red Sox turn to one of the best big-game pitchers of all-time in Schilling, who is 2-0 in his three starts in this postseason. Schilling carries a 10-2 lifetime mark in the playoffs into tonight's contest along with a 2.25 earned run average in 18 postseason starts. He was superb against the Cleveland Indians in Game 6 of the ALCS, giving up a pair of runs and six hits in seven innings with his team facing elimination.

The 40-year-old right-hander, who is 3-1 in six World Series starts, lost to the Rockies earlier in the year and is 11-6 in his brilliant career against them with a 4.44 ERA in 26 games, 25 of which have been starts.

Colorado will give the ball to rookie right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who has been brilliant for the Rockies this postseason. In two starts the 23-year-old Jimenez has allowed just two runs and eight hits in 11 1/3 frames, but hasn't factored in either decision.

Jimenez, who has never faced the Red Sox, was 1-1 in six road starts this season, pitching to a 5.01 ERA.

While Colorado is playing in its first-ever Fall Classic, Boston is going for its seventh title and is appearing in its 11th World Series.

When these teams met during the regular season, Colorado took two out of three from the Red Sox at Fenway in June. Colorado outscored Boston 20-5, dropping the first game 2-1 before winning the next two, 12-2 and 7-1.

Game 3 of this series will be played at Coors Field on Saturday.

10/25 10:48:57 ET