KEY POINTS:
The Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 today to take a two-game lead in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball world series and move a step closer to their second Fall Classic crown in four seasons.
After pounding out 17 hits in a record-setting 13-1 rout of
the Rockies in the opener yesterday, the Red Sox relied on stellar pitching to win today at Fenway Park.
Pitcher Curt Schilling, who improved his career post-season record to 11-2, limited Colorado to one run before giving way to left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima with two on and one out in the sixth.
Okajima, the first Japanese pitcher to appear in a world series game, pitched 2-1/3 flawless innings, including four strikeouts, before giving way with two out in the eighth to closer Jonathan Papelbon, who finished up for the save.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona praised the way his top two relievers finished off the victory.
"It was a phenomenal effort on both their parts," said Francona, reserving special praise for Okajima's ability to shut the Rockies down into the eighth.
"He was so good. His command was spectacular. That set up the whole game."
Colorado scored in the first inning on a ground-out by Todd Helton, while Boston's Mike Lowell scored the American League champions' first run in the fourth and drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth on a double into the left-field corner.
Rockies rookie Ubaldo Jimenez took the loss, giving up three hits and issuing five walks in 4-2/3 innings.
The series now shifts to Coors Field in Denver for the third game on Sunday (NZT).
The Rockies, who allowed the most runs and lost by the widest margin in a world series opening game, jumped in front in the first.
Leadoff man Willy Taveras reached first when he was hit on the left hand by a pitch from starter Schilling.
Matt Holliday then hit a grounder down the line that glanced off diving third baseman Lowell's glove for a single that pushed Taveras to third.
Helton grounded out to first base as Taveras dashed home for the first run of the game.
But the Red Sox levelled the score in the fourth.
Lowell drew a walk and then raced to third on JD Drew's single to right centre. Varitek cracked a high drive to deep centre for a sacrifice fly that brought Lowell home.
In the next inning, Boston's David Ortiz drew a walk from Jimenez, moved to second on a single by Manny Ramirez and then scored on Lowell's sizzling shot down the left-field line.
Colorado manager Clint Hurdle bemoaned his club's lack of offence but said the National League champions were happy to be heading home for the the third game.
"It's disappointing. But we're going to go home and play some baseball," Hurdle said.
"We scored two runs in 18 innings in this ballpark. That makes it tough to win. I anticipate us playing better baseball when we get home."
- REUTERS