Drew Last Blood

Seven outs away from having their season ended by getting shut out on four hits, and Dustin Pedroia, the AL's future MVP if the baseball Gods smile on Boston, had other ideas. With two strikes and two outs in the seventh, the Red Sox second baseman stroked a hit to put Boston on the board when all seemed lost.

With two men on, up steps to the plate a guy who hadn't hit a tater in 61 consecutive postseason atbats. But Big Papi, perhaps inspired by the Little Second Baseman Who Could, unloaded a three run bomb well past the Tampa Bay bullpen to make a 7-1 laugher a save situation.

In the 8th, J D Drew hit a bomb of his own to right to bring Boston to within one run and Coco Crisp tied the game in the eighth by bringing in Mark Kotsay, suddenly the best defensive first baseman in the postseason. Jonathan Papelbon in a nonsave situation put up a 0 in the 8th, Justin Masterson pitched an interesting 9th to put up a zero of his own and Boston was poised to once again join with destiny.

The two out magic that served Boston so well in the ALDS against the Angels came back to life when Kevin Youkilis reached second on a throwing error by Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, setting the table for J D Drew once again.

With two outs and Youkilis in scoring position, Drew stroked a single to left, driving in the tying run and the Red Sox once again made history by overcoming the second biggest deficit in MLB postseason history.

How sweet it would be if the Red Sox were to pull this one out so they can face the same team, the Phillies, that rode Boston manager Tito Francona out of town on a rail, saying he'd never manage in the major leagues ever again.

I can smell it, just as I could smell a Boston victory when Ortiz brought the Red Sox to within three runs of tying the game.

Seven outs from getting their season ended with a 7-0 shutout on four hits and they came back to win 8-7. I'd say the tide has turned. And that's why I predict the Red Sox will finally show these Tampa Bay pretenders who the big dog in the American League East is. That's why we're going back to the World Series.