Here's some quick World Series math to keep you sharp, in the event you dozed off during last night's trouncing.
OK, pull out your No. 2 pencils (what other kind is there, anyway?). Take the 30-5 scoring advantage over Cleveland and add their 13-1 score from last night, and you have a 43-6 advantage in runs. (Kids, please do try this at home.)
It sounds like a Patriots final score, not a baseball barometer.
Those numbers are simply ludicrous, particularly when you consider they were compiled against front-line pitchers C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, and, in a new addition to the list of abused opposing aces, one Jeff Francis, who came into this outing as Colorado's version of Josh Beckett.
You know, untouchable, unflappable, unbeatable.
Francis was 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in the postseason. The young lefthander was a major factor in the Rockies' impressive run, which reached 10 straight wins and 21 of 22 before last night's Fenway smackdown.
The details are grim for National League fans hoping for a Rock 'em, Sock 'em headline this morning. The 13 runs by the Red Sox were a record for a Series opener, surpassing the mark of 12 held by the 1996 Atlanta Braves and 1932 New York Yankees. Every Boston starter got on base, and all but rookie Jacoby Ellsbury recorded a hit.
Heck, even Julio Lugo banged out three singles.
That's right. Your much-maligned shortstop had three more hits than Matt (0 for 4) Holliday, Brad (0 for 3) Hawpe, and Willy (0 for 4) Taveras combined.
"They're an offensive juggernaut," said Matt Herges, one of the few Rockies pitchers who had success containing Boston. "In many people's minds, they are the best team in the major leagues.
"You need to execute pitches against them, or they're going to pound it. And a lot of times, even when you do [execute], they still smoke it. You've got to get the crowd out of it, get their heads hanging a bit. We didn't have a chance to do that tonight."
