WORLD SERIES GAME 3 LIVE BLOG

by DCScrap, Our Book of Scrap

Round three! Can the Rockies drag themselves up off the canvas? Will Dice-K be able to repeat his Game 7 NLCS performance? Or will Josh Fogg move to 3-0 in the 2007 post-season? These questions and more will be answered tonight in Denver, Colorado.

"We've been comfortable at home. We've been resilient at home," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "Our crowd will be a big part of it. We want to put a good product on the field, get this thing headed back in our direction, get some people making some noise for us, get our offense kick-started and see if we can win a ballgame. Game 3 is what this whole thing is about for us right now." (AP)

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the World Series, so the Rockies are going to need the crowd and more to keep their chances of becoming the World Series Champions in 2007 alive.

Be back here at 7:45 ET for the live-blog of Game 3.

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PRE-FIGHT

The two changes that have been reported so far to the teams' respective lineups are the Rockies leadoff man Willy Taveras being benched, while the Red Sox will be starting Big Papi at first over The Beard. I cannot imagine The Beard is too happy. Tito better watch his back tonight or The Beard may smite him down.

First "Rocky Mountain High" reference: 8:01 - Jeannie.

First "Rocktober" reference: 8:04 - Jeannie.

First "Mile High" reference: 8:04 - Jeannie.

First humidor reference: 8:05 - Jeannie. She's on a roll...

Mark Grace says he was gassed running the bases at this altitude. It wouldn't have had anything to do with the fact that he smoked a pack of deathsticks every game, would it?

KK just called Josh Fogg "The Dragonslayer." Hyperbole, here we come.

Cory Sullivan is getting the start in center for the Rox, btw.

Exactly WTF is the Rockies' mascot supposed to be anyway? (His name is Dinger. HUH?)

Sweet ... Carrie Underpants is doing the anthem.

Did you know Chevy sponsors the pre-game? It's so subtle, I barely noticed.

Rockies have 22 K's and 11 hits in the first two games. That's not good. ... On a side note, don't you just want to cut Manny's hair?

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First pitch, coming up!

McCarver says that the key to a Rockies victory is that the Rockies bunch hits together. That is so friggin' deep.

(1) Ellsbury worked the count full then topped a ball to third for a swinging bunt single. (2) Ellsbury tried stealing on a 2-1 count, but Pedroia fouled it off. Pedroia then hit a roller to shortstop and beat out the throw. Two on, no out. (3) Ortiz fans on a 2-2 count.

[Fear The Beard.]

(4) Manny worked the count to 2-2 and lofted an easy fly to left. Two on, two out. (5) Lowell, batting .333 in the post-season coming in, runs the count to 2-0 before Fogg threw him a nasty slider for strike one. With a full count, Lowell lines one to Sullivan in center. Fogg threw a lot of pitches but gets out of it. SCORE: 0-0

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Ryan Spilborghs just called Todd Helton "The Icepick" during the intros. WTF?

(1) Matsui hits the first pitch to right for a single, Drew bobbled the ball picking it up and Kaz went on to second - E9. (2) Tulowitzki, with a 3-2 count and a huge hole in left-center, whiffs at a Matsuzaka fastball. (3) Holliday hits a bullet to Dice-K which he snags and Kaz gets tagged out after getting hung out between second and third. (4) Helton falls behind on the count 1-2 and grounds to third and Holliday is forced out at second. SCORE: 0-0

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Is anyone else tired of commercials making up words like Hollyyorkizonasouthameriland? Fuck you, Verizon.

(1) First pitch, J.D. Drew grounds out to Matsui. Way to be a "patient Red Sox hitter," J.D. (2) Varitek would be a Sargent-Major according to McCarver, just before Varitek explodes his bat and grounds out to Tulo who makes a great barehanded pickup and throw.

Do I have to keep the sound on for this?

Is it just me or does Julio Lugo always look like he thinks he is fuckin' Rico Suave?

(3) Lugo ducksnorts a shot to right which dies in the grass allowing him to make it second base. (4) Matsuzaka, who was a power-hitting outfielder in high school, according to JBuck, looks like a 5-year old T-ball player when he fans for out number three. SCORE: 0-0

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Anyone out there? Holla if you hear me! NUMERO UNO...

(1) Atkins almost takes a pitch in the grill as Dice-K let one get away and hits him on the top of the shoulder on the first pitch. (2) Hawpe falls behind 0-2 on two fastballs, then looks like a weak sister on a third fastball and strikes out yet again. (3) Yorvit Torwhatever hooks a liner to left that Manny jogs down for out number two.

[First humidor video of the night]

(4) Cory Sullivan, who was called up in June, nubs one off the end of the bat to force Atkins at second. SCORE: 0-0

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This is our country... Didn't you think that ad campaign had run its course like six months ago? Damn, c'mon Chevy!

(1) Tacoby Bellsbury knocks the first pitch past Atkins and barely beats the tag at second for a double. (2) Pedroia drops down a bunt and Yorvit throws a wild one that pulled Helton off the bag. Runners at first and third, no outs. (3) Ortiz rips the first pitch to right for a double. Ellsbury scores, Pedroia on third. (4) Fogg will intentionally walk Manny to load the bases with nobody out. (5) Lowell works the count to 2-0 before Fogg throws a strike. Next pitch is drilled to center, scoring Pedroia and Ortiz. (6) Drew up with two on and still no outs, pops up a 1-1 pitch to short. One out.

[First Boston bullpen drumline video]

(7) Varitek singles to left and Manny is tagged out at home (gonna have to see the replay on that one). It looks like Manny may have touched home on his slide by, but the ump missed it. Too close to call. Yorvit may have tagged him on the hip. If Manny hadn't flipped his helmet off with his hand while running, he would have probably beaten the throw. Now I am not the only one who wants to cut Manny's hair. (8) Lugo walks on four pitches. Bases loaded for power-hitting Dice-K. (9) Matsuzaka hits a dribbler into left on the first pitch and drives in two runs. (10) Ellsbury ropes a drive to center that Taveras probably would have caught, but falls in just under Sullivan's glove to plate another run. Adios, Josh Fogg. Enter Franklin Morales. Dragonslayer, my ass.

Have I also mentioned that I am tired of seeing that goof with the glasses in Verizon's commericals, too? Gee, I hope that run Manny cost the Red Sox doesn't come back to haunt them.

(11) Pedroia puts the Rox out of their misery with a first-pitch groundout to third base. SCORE 6-0 BOSTON.

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(1) Luckily for the Rockies, Morales gets to lead off following that outburst. And of course, he fans. (2) Kaz Matsui works the count to 3-2 before reaching for ball four and grabbing some bench. Two outs.

[First Japan vs. Japan mention as well as first gyroball mention]

(3) Tulowitzki has the first two pitches blown by him, then hits a slow roller to Lugo for out number three. SCORE: 6-0 BOSTON

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Virgicolamentoflagantonio.

(1) Ortiz leads off the fourth grounding a 1-1 pitch to Matsui for out number one. (2) Manny drives one deep to left center that Sullivan tracks down for the second out. (3) Lowell hits a comebacker to the pitcher Morales for the third out. SCORE: 6-0 BOSTON.

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(1) Holliday leads off the bottom of the fourth by falling behind 0-2 then hitting a shot to first that Ortiz smothers and beats Holliday to the bag for the first out. (2) Helton gets ahead of Dice-K 2-1, swings through strike two, fouls two off, takes a ball, fouls another one off, and another one, and another, and finally fans on a breaking ball. Two outs.

I think McCarver likes the word "bevy."

(3) Atkins works a 3-2 count into Matsuzaka's first free pass. (4) Hawpe swings at the first pitch (after a walk, mind you) and pops up to Lugo in deep short. SCORE: 6-0 BOSTON

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Local (read: bad) commercial time. TMZ has it's own TV show? Looks like a high quality production.

(1) J.D. Drew, the only Bostonian not to reach base yet, drills one off the wall in left center and now everyone in the Red Sox lineup has joined the party. Man on second, no outs.

[Third Sargent-Major reference with regard to Varitek by McCarver. My ears hurt.]

(2) Varitek switches to the right side of the dish against the lefty Morales and bunts the first pitch foul. A ball and four foul balls later he is fooled by a pitch and strikes out swinging. One out.

After two straight balls to Lugo, Yorvit takes a trip to the mound, giving FOX more time to talk about more things we don't care about. Like Craig Biggio. Buck and McCarver think he is a Hall of Famer, so it's a lock I guess. And Ken Rosenthal also thinks so. Done deal.

(3) Morales comes back with two strikes and a ball to push the count full to Lugo. On the first 3-2 pitch Drew tries stealing third, but Lugo fouls it off. And another foul ball. I hope they brought enough baseballs, jeez. Lugo finally flies out to right and Drew holds at second.

Affeldt warming in the 'pen.

(4) Dice-K, now a threat to drive in runs, draws two balls to start out his at-bat. Foul ball. Again. Yeah, two straight balls, pitcher up. Swing! Foul ball again. Dice finally grounds out to his former teammate Kazuo for the final out. SCORE: 6-0 BOSTON

The Rockies, hitting .162 as a team, coming to the plate.

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(1) Yorvit leads it off for the Rox with a basehit up the middle on the first pitch. Just the second hit that Dice has given up. ROCKTOBER!! (2) Cory Sullivan lofts a fly to Manny in left for out number one. Yorvit went a little too far off the bag and almost got picked off first. (3) Seth Smith pinch-hits for the pitcher Morales. Smith breaks his bat and drops a single in from of Drew to put runners on first and second with one out. (4) Matsui, who has one of Colorado's three hits, takes the count to 2-2 then hits a tough grounder to Lugo's right, who makes a nice, smart play getting Yorvit with the forceout at third. (5) Dice-K throws two balls to Tulowitzki who hits a weak pop-up to Lugo for the final out, leaving two stranded. SCORE: 6-0 BOSTON

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Michael Strahan is doing Gatorade commercials? He is sure making the rounds lately.

(1) Jeremy Affeldt is your new Colorado pitcher, in to face leadoff man, Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury hits a spinner down to third and Atkins' throw beats him to the bag by an eyelash.

How much are Chris Myers and Ken Rosenthal making to sit around each night doing nothing?

(2) Pedroia gets his bat sawed off and flies out easily to Sullivan in center.

The crowd is chanting something that, on TV, sounds like "ROCKIES! ... BLOW!"

(3) Ortiz fans on four pitches. SCORE: 6-0 BOSTON

Holliday, Helton and Atkins coming up for the Rox.

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How do I get to be a "Certified Purveyor of the High Life?"

Youkilis in at first base for Ortiz. THE BEARD IS NOW HAPPY.

(1) Holliday, on a 2-2 count, hits a chopper, two-hopper to Lowell at third for the first out. (2) Helton, on a 3-2 pitch, and several more humidor-enhanced foul balls, takes ball four for Dice-K's second free pass of the night.

[First Purple Rain reference]

(3) Dice-K may be tiring as he throws four straight balls to Atkins. ROCKTOBER! Francona to the mound. That's it for the Dice-Man.

Has anyone actually seen Seinfeld's Bee Movie?

(4) Javier Lopez on the mound for Boston to face Brad Hawpe. First pitch, Hawpe flairs one to center scoring Helton. ROCKTOBER! (5) Yorvit T. steps to the dish. [Okajima and Timlin warming for Boston, Herges and Speier for Colorado] Yorvit hits a 2-2 pitch into left and Atkins scores.

Ryan Spilborghs will pinch-hit and Francona to the mound again. In comes Timlin.

(6) Spilborghs drives one to the wall in center that Ellsbury camps under for the second out. (7) Jeff Baker will pinch-hit now for Affeldt. On a 2-2 count, Baker, one of 16 homegrown players on the Rockies roster, smokes one that Lugo climbs the ladder to snag, saving at least one run. Inning over. SCORE: 6-2 BOSTON

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No playoff baseball broadcast is safe from Frank Caliendo. Gotta get him in the FOX NFL pre-game ad for tomorrow!

(1) Manny, leading things off against new pitcher Matt Herges has a fastball blown by him for strike three. One out. (2) Herges get ahead 0-2 on Lowell and then drops a change-up on him for another strikeout. (3) J.D. Drew, with the count worked to full and the crowd in a frenzy, fans for the third strikeout of the inning. SCORE: 6-2 BOSTON

Please rise. God Bless America sung by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire. He is wearing a World Series jacket and what looks like a feather boa. Good look.

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(1) Matsui bunts the first pitch down the third base line and makes first with no throw. (2) Matsui steals second. ROCKTOBER! Tulowitzki grounds a 1-2 pitch up the middle and Matsui takes third. Two on, no outs.

Francona to the mound. Timlin out, Hideki Okajima in. Coco Crisp in to play center, Ellsbury to right, and Drew to the bench in a double-switch. Manny Delcarmen warming in the pen for Boston.

(3) Matt Holliday drives the first pitch he sees from Okajima deep to center and gone. Three runs score and its a one-run game. (4) Full count to Helton and he rips a basehit to left. (5) Brian Fuentes warming for Colorado, as Atkins steps in. On a 2-2 count, Atkins whiffs at a change-up for the first out of the inning. (6) Brad Hawpe works the count full, Helton holds at first as Hawpe looks bad on a pitch low and in and strikes out. (7) Yorvit T. slaps a 2-2 pitch right back to Okajima who tosses to first for the final out of the inning. SCORE: 6-5 BOSTON

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A group of people singing, "Zoom, zoom, zoom" while dancing around a car. What advertising genius thought that up? And what car exec said, "Yeah, that's a good idea, let's go with that?"

Brian Fuentes in the game to pitch for the Rox.

(1) Jason Varitek, batting right-handed, breaks his bat and grounds out to shortstop.

The chant that sounds like "ROCKIES! ... BLOW!" is going again.

(2) Lugo, who saved at least one run in the 6th with his fielding, draws a free pass. (3) Getting his first at-bat of the night, Coco Crisp floats one into center and the Red Sox have two on with one out.

Did you know that Chevy sponsors baseball on FOX? Close game, everyone's tense, let's drop in an ad.

(4) Ellsbury drops a fly ball just inside the right field line that Brad Hawpe can't get to, sending Lugo home and Crisp to third, with Ellsbury taking second for his third double of the night and fourth hit overall. (5) Pedroia ropes one into right for a double scoring Crisp and Ellsbury.

LaTroy Hawkins warming in the pen for Colorado.

(6) Kevin Youkilis, in his first at-bat since entering the game, hits a slow-roller to third for the second out of the inning. (7) Manny works the count to 2-0 (McCarver says to intentional walk him, so Fuentes throws a strike). Ramirez skies one to left on the next pitch for the third out. SCORE: 9-5 BOSTON

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Manny Delcarmen in to pitch for the Red Sox.

(1) The first batter to face Delcarmen, Ryan Spilborghs, works the count to 3-1 then flies out to Ellsbury in the right field foul territory. (2) Willy Taveras will pinch-hit for Fuentes. Taveras is 0 for his last 18 at-bats. Delcarmen treats him like he is 10 for his last 18 as he throws three balls in the first four pitches. And on a 3-2 count, Taveras lines out to Pedroia at second base. (3) Matsui, batting left-handed, smokes one up the middle for his third hit of the evening.

Papelbon warming in the Sox 'pen. Pitching coach to the mound.

(4) Tulowitzki walks on five pitches, bringing up Matt Holliday.

Francona makes a double-switch, bringing in Papelbon and replacing Pedroia with Alex Cora at second base.

(5) Holliday flies out to left on the first pitch. SCORE: 9-5 BOSTON

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Ah, finally an erectile dysfunction ad.

LaTroy Hawkins in to pitch for Colorado. Game over ... Colorado.

(1) First pitch, basehit Lowell. (2) Alex Cora bunts and sacrifices Lowell to second. (3) Mike Lowell steals third with no throw. WTF? Last steal of third base in a WS, Juan Beniquez in 1975. There's your Juan Beniquez reference for the night. On a 3-1 pitch, Varitek hits one to shallow center, but the throw home is off-line and Lowell scores Boston's 10th run. Two outs. (4) Lugo grounds out to short on the first pitch. SCORE: 10-5 BOSTON

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(1) Helton leads it off and flies out to Ellsbury in right for the first out. (2) Atkins breaks his bat on a 1-2 pitch and grounds out to Lowell at third. (3) Brad Hawpe, the strikeout machine, smokes one past Youkillis at first into the corner for a triple. (4) Yorvit T. shatters his bat and grounds out to Lugo for the final out. And the Dragonslayer is slayed in the longest game in World Series history - look it up. FINAL: 10-5 BOSTON

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