UPDATE: Red Sox tie on David Ortiz grand slam, win with walk-off in ninth
When would the Boston Red Sox score in the American League Championship Series? For more than five innings Sunday the better question was: Would they get a hit?
Both questions were answered in the sixth inning of Game 2 against the Detroit Tigers. Shane Victorino got the first hit, a single to left field. Victorino then scored when Dustin Pedroia doubled off the Green Monster.
While the end of those droughts brought cheers at Fenway Park, the Tigers remained in control. Until the eighth inning. David Ortiz hit a grand slam with two outs on the first pitch he saw from Joaquin Benoit to tie it 5-5.
Grand slam for David Ortiz ties the game, and Torii Hunter falls over the right field wall.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
Looked like Hunter overrran the ball. The bullpen catcher caught it. 5-5 in the eighth inning. Unbelievable.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
And just like that, a one-sided ballgame became a tough one.
Until the eighth, it was Max Scherzer's world and most Red Sox hit nothing but air.
Max Scherzer: Oh, you wanna score a run? Fine. *strikes out David Ortiz looking stupid* That’s 11 strikeouts. 5-1 Tigers after six.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
Through seven innings, it is Tigers 5, Red Sox 1. Boston has three hits and 30 strikeouts in the series. 1:10 is a *bad* ratio.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
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Hitting wasn't a problem for the Tigers. Alex Avila homered to make it 5-0 Detroit, and when Omar Infante followed with a single the Sox replaced starter Clay Buchholz.
Alex Avila over the visitors’ bullpen. Two-run homer. 5-0 Tigers. Idiot fan throws away priceles souvenir of a lifetime.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
MORE: Watch fan steal ball from woman to throw back on field
Detroit scored in Game 2 when Avila singled to center to score designated hitter Victor Martinez. It would be the Tigers' last hit until Miguel Cabrera homered over the Green Monster in the fifth. Prince Fielder followed with a double off the famous left-field wall. He scored on Martinez's double.
Boston's potent offense was held to one hit in Saturday's Game 1 loss. That hit came with one out in the ninth inning of the 1-0 game.
The Sox had three base runner through six innings Sunday against Scherzer. Victorino was hit by a pitch in the first. In the third Jacoby Ellsbury walked with two outs. David Ortiz walked in the fourth but was erased in a double play.
Exceptionally weak attempt at a derisive “Scherzer” chant. Hard to pull off when your team has no hits and six strikeouts.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
Game 3 of the National League Championship Series will be Monday. The St. Louis Cardinals are up 2-0 as the Los Angeles Dodgers get their first home game of the series.
The ALCS moves to Detroit on Tuesday.
Winners of the league championship series will meet in the World Series.
Detroit is doing in Boston what L.A. (w/ Greinke/Kershaw) failed to do in St. Louis. On missed opportunities: http://t.co/rHLdxvniol
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) October 14, 2013
Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia had fans on their feet in anticipation when he lifted a fly ball to right field. The ball nearly left the park, but right fielder Torii Hunter made the catch on the warning track. Not easily -- he had to lunge back to his right after overrunning the ball.
First fly ball of the night against fly ball pitcher Max Scherzer. In the fifth inning.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013
MORE: Dustin Pedroia steals a hit away | Tigers waiting for Miguel Cabrera to produce | Anibal Sanchez, Tigers relievers nearly make history | Series breakdown
Five innings of no-hit ball for Max Scherzer. Third straight Tigers pitcher to do that. The first guy pitches again Tuesday.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2013