Coin it a new term: The Papa-Jima show.
Curt Schilling called the duo of Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon the Papa-Jima show after both dominated the Colorado Rockies in the 2-1 win in Game 2 of the World Series. Both combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief only allowing one hit while striking out six out of 11 batters faced.
Schilling (3-0 post season) who had a good game himself earned the win throwing for 5 2/3 innings, on four hits, one earned run, two walks, and four strikeouts. Schilling allowed the lead off batter for Colorado to reach base in four out of his five innings pitched, but managed to get out of the jams with some saavy, a double-play, and some strikeouts along the way. Ubaldo Jimenez suffered the loss in his first World Series appearance pitching for 4 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs, five walks, and two strikeouts.
Schilling may have gotten the W in the box score, but tonight’s hero was Okajima. Relieving Schilling in the top of the sixth inning coming into the game with first and second base occupied by Rockies players’ Todd Helton and Matt Holliday, Okajima grounded out Garrett Atkins to first base and struck out Brad Hawpe swinging to end the inning stranding Holliday at third and Helton on second base keeping the one run lead for Boston.
Okajima was not done yet. The Japanese import threw a flawless seventh inning getting Troy Tulowitzki to fly out to right field, grounding out Yorvit Torrealba to short, and polishing off the inning by striking out Ryan Spilborghs. Continuing to cruise, Okajima, struck out two batters in the eighth inning before being given the hook by Manager Terry Francona for Papelbon. Okajima’s stellar performance earned him his first career hold in the World Series and solidified the strength of the Red Sox bullpen to the masses.
Colorado struck first blood scoring in the top of the first inning on a Helton ground out to first base that scored Willy Tavares from the back door who earlier reached base getting hit-by-a-pitch.
Boston tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jason Varitek scoring Mike Lowell and later took the lead in the for good in the bottom of the fifth inning sparking up a two-out rally as David Ortiz drew a walk, Manny Ramirez singled to left, and Lowell jolted a slider from Jimenez over Atkins head depositing the baseball into the left field corner scoring Ortiz giving Boston a 2-1 lead.
After Okajima baffled and the Rockies lineup, Papelbon earned his first career World Series save overwhelming and dominating the Rockies. The one hit given up by the Papa-Jima show was given up to Holliday who was 4-4 with four singles rocketing a ball past Papelbon in the eighth inning. Although being the tying run at first base Holliday retired himself being picked off by Papelbon to end the eighth inning and any chance of a rally as Helton was up at the dish.
The key mental mistake coupled with great pitching provided the win in Game 2 for the Boston Red Sox. Action moves to Colorado where the Rockies and their fans will get their first taste of a World Series at Coors Field on Saturday at 8 p.m. on FOX.
Daisuke Matsuzaka will be pitching for Boston while Josh Fogg will command the hill for the Rox.
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