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Red Sox pull rabbit out of the hat a second time

Boston Red Sox players spray each other with champagne after defeating the Colorado Rockies to win the baseball World Series at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

For the second time in four seasons, a World Series title sweep by the Boston Red Sox had its roots in an amazing comeback from the verge of elimination in the American League championship.

The Red Sox edged Colorado 4-3 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep of the Rockies in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball final, their second such romp after a 2004 sweep of St. Louis that ended an 86-year title drought.

"To win the second trophy is just an incredible accomplishment," Red Sox owner John Henry said.

In 2004, the Red Sox lost the first three games of the American League final to their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, but became the first team in more than a century of playoff baseball to rally from such a hole to advance.

"That was a special time for them," Red Sox rookie standout Dustin Pedroia said. "The whole ride we've been on this year has been extremely fun."

This time, the Red Sox fell behind the Cleveland Indians three games to one in the AL final, but roared back to win the final three games, making another unlikely rally to reach the World Series.

"That was the turning point in the entire post-season for us," Red Sox closing relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said quality pitching helped exorcize the "Curse of the Bambino" -- the supposed jinx haunting the Red Sox that kept them from winning a title since selling Babe Ruth to the rival New York Yankees in 1918.

"I don't know that that was ever a big deal to us, maybe a long time ago," Francona said. "But when our organization started adding pitching, the curse kind of went away."

So which team was better, the 2004 Red Sox who ended the "Curse of the Bambino" or the latest championship squad? To those on both squads, it doesn't matter.

"There's no comparison," Red Sox veteran Jason Varitek said. "Different battles. Different things to go through. This team didn't hit quite as well as the other one but we hit well late. It just doesn't compare."

The genesis of the latest title began last December when Boston landed Japanese right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The Red Sox paid the Seibu Lions US$51.1 million for the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka, then signed the impressive hurler to a six-year deal worth US$52 million.

Matsuzaka won an emotional game seven at Fenway Park over the Indians exactly one week before Boston completed the Series sweep of the Rockies, and a day after his own game six triumph as Japan's first Series starting pitcher.

"Everything he did here was a first and he did it in a foreign language. It probably wasn't very easy," Francona said. "He has a great ability to make adjustments and I think next year you will see more consistency from him. What level he gets to as a pitcher, we're excited to see how it plays out. There will be a bigger comfort level for him next year."

The final pieces of the puzzle included bringing up Jacoby Ellsbury from the minor leagues late in the season. The speedy rookie outfielder lived a dream by being moved into the leadoff hitter role in game three of the World Series.

Thousands of Red Sox fans remained in the stadium after the game, chanting "Re-sign Lowell" -- a reference to the fact that the Series' Most Valuable Player is coming upon a contract renewal season.

The Red Sox also might lose veteran pitcher Curt Schilling, who turns 41 next month, but they have 23-year-old right-hander Clay Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter against Baltimore last month in only his second major-league start.
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