Baseball News - What Curse? Red Sox Win World Series



In the baseball-crazed region of New England, they will no longer cuss on "the curse". Now that the Red Sox have won their first World Series in 86 years, the heartbreak is officially over; thanks to a historic journey that will go down as the biggest story in the history of Boston sports.

After all that the Red Sox have been through. After Johnny Pesky holding the ball, after Bucky F'ing Dent, after Bill Buckner's error and after Pedro Martinez' meltdown in Game 7 of the ALCS, Boston can say that "The Bambino" is no longer a plague of their franchise.

The moment the Red Sox and their fans have been waiting for 86 years has finally come true. That's right, the 86-year drought officially came crashing down after the Sox completed their four-game sweep of the Cardinals with a 3-0 victory in Game 4.

Unlike so many previous Red Sox teams, this club never gave their fans a reason to kick in their TV screens. Continuing the ride that began when they roared back in the American League Championship Series to become the first team to rally from a 3-0 deficit in the postseason, the Red Sox dominated the World Series as few champions have. Besides never trailing in the series, they held a lead at some point in every inning, the first team to do so in World Series history. In fact, Boston never trailed this postseason after tying Game 5 against the Yankees in the eighth inning.

David Ortiz showing the Yankees who was their Papi. Curt Schilling symbolizing the Red Sox by pitching with a blood-soaked sock. Pedro finishing up one last great start. Mark Bellhorn homering off of Pesky's Pole. And finally, Johnny Damon leading off Game 4 with a home run to provide all the runs Derek Lowe needed to erase all the ghosts and curses of the past.

The Boston pitching staff was masterful in the final three games of the series, holding the normally potent Cardinals to three runs over 27 innings.
"I thought we had a great scouting report, very in-depth," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "But what it comes down to is having really good pitchers."

After allowing nine runs in the series opener, Boston pitchers held the National League's most productive offense to four runs and 13 hits the final three games. The heart of the Cardinals offense -- Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds -- had six hits and one RBI in 45 at-bats while Rolen and Edmonds managed only an infield single in their 30 combined at-bats.

Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Lowe finished the season with three vintage starts.

"We had a lot of things going for us, offense and defense doing it at the same time," said Martinez. "I'm not so happy for the ring, but just to bring this to Boston. The ring is meaningless, the ring is a ring and it's a material thing, but the feelings these people are going to have in Boston is indescribable."

Then, there was Manny Ramirez, the man who was available to any of the other 29 teams on waivers last winter who became the World Series MVP. He batted .412 in the series with a home run and four RBI.

"It means a lot," said Ramirez. "But I wanted to get the ring, and I have it. That's the something that nobody is going to take away from you. I'm just blessed to be the MVP and to win a World Series."

So many times, over so many years, the Red Sox were just innings or outs away from reaching or winning the World Series, only to lose in the end. Not this time. This time, there was no ball rolling through the first baseman's legs. This time, with two out in the ninth, Edgar Renteria slapped a one-hopper back to the mound and closer Keith Foulke stabbed it with his glove. He turned toward first base, took a couple steps and then flipped the ball to Doug Mientkiewicz for the final out; game over, World Series over.

"This is sheer relief and joy for all of New England," said Red Sox owner John W. Henry.

This is such an emotional lift for people in New England and all over the world," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said "I hope they enjoy it. I hope they do something good with it. I hope they go vote Tuesday and make the world a better place. We can die happy. I just hope everyone out there who has been rooting for the Red Sox the last 86 years is enjoying this as much as we are. We're coming home to see you soon."

Finally, after a 86 year delay, the World Series trophy can call Boston home for the first time since 1918. And now Boston fans can honestly say that the Red Sox have not won a World Series since October 26, 2004.




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