 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
||
| Just a few days ago, it seemed almost ludicrous for the Red Sox to plan for Game 7 in this American League Championship Series. But now they are just one victory away from making it a reality for the second consecutive October. If the Sox can win Game 6 in the Bronx as they did a year ago, Sox manager Terry Francona's plan is to send veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to the mound in the finale. Because Wakefield pitched three innings out of the bullpen to earn the Game 5 win on Monday, it's unclear how long he'd be able to go in a Game 7 start. "Well, some of it will depend on who doesn't get used tonight, but Wakefield has already been told to kind of prepare for [Game 7]," said Francona. "We'd just go as long as we could." As in any Game 7, Francona would pretty much have all hands on deck. If he has his druthers, Francona will keep either Derek Lowe or Bronson Arroyo out of Game 6 to keep someone fresh for long relief in a potential Game 7. Also don't rule out Pedro Martinez pitching in relief if the Sox advance to Wednesday. The ace would be going on one day of rest after throwing 111 pitches in Game 5. "Any time I can throw again, I'm going to be out there," Martinez said on Monday. "Forget about it. There's no time to be sore or aching or tired." With that in mind, Martinez stayed back in Boston on Monday night and worked out at Fenway Park on Tuesday morning before joining the team at Yankee Stadium. |