El Duque frustrates Red Sox, who face long offseason

Turning Point

	Big Papi and the Red Sox went down without a fight after blowing a golden opportunity to score in the sixth inning. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The defending World Series champion Red Sox screwed up, in the worst of ways, when they couldn't squeak across a run with the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.

But you know what hurt them almost as bad? The only way to rebound from a disaster like the one the Red Sox inflicted upon themselves is to keep the pressure on. And the Sox had every chance, with their Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters coming up in the seventh inning, to do that. Instead of starting a new rally, though, Edgar Renteria struck out on five pitches (after getting ahead of White Sox reliever Orlando Hernandez, 2-0), designated hitter David Ortiz followed with a strikeout on three straight pitches (going down swinging at an 89 mph fastball) and cleanup hitter Manny Ramirez grounded out to first base.

So, after botching a chance to at least tie the score in the sixth, the Red Sox came up in the seventh and went down 1-2-3 on a total of 14 pitches. What a way to go.

From the bench

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's choice to go with Hernandez instead of young Brandon McCarthy on the postseason roster -- a move roundly whispered about when the skipper first made the call -- turned out to be a stroke of outright genius, given the stuff El Duque had on Friday. Hernandez's postseason experience, and the fact that he was so rested, were the big reasons Guillen decided to go that way, according to general manager Kenny Williams ... Somewhat lost in the shut-down performance by Hernandez was the gem of a job that young Jonathan Papelbon did for the Red Sox. After specialists Chad Bradford and Mike Myers left him with two runners on and just one out in the fifth inning, Papelbon got White Sox third baseman Joe Crede to fly out to right and then struck out Juan Uribe to end the threat. Papelbon went 2 2/3 innings without giving up a hit or a run. He struck out two ... Also misplaced in the relief shuffle: The continued struggles of White Sox reliever Damaso Marte, who faced three batters, giving up a hit to Trot Nixon and walking two other hitters. We may have seen the last of Marte for a while ... White Sox center fielder Aaron Rowand, who came into the game 10-for-14 (.714) against Boston starter Tim Wakefield, had a double in two at-bats against the knuckleballer. As Rowand came up for his third at-bat, Boston manager Terry Francona pulled Wakefield for Chad Bradford. Rowand smacked a single on Bradford's first and only pitch ... One of these days, someone's going to get really upset -- and rightfully so -- at Ramirez's showboating after his home runs. After the Boston left fielder took Freddy Garcia deep in the fourth inning, he ripped off the Velcro band on his batting glove before he started his trot around the bases ... Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller was hitless in the three games of the series, going 0-for-11.

Clubhouse Confidential

Boston general manager Theo Epstein answered questions from reporters in the clubhouse after the game -- as he is wont to do -- but would not address the several prickly questions that face the Red Sox this offseason. In a kind of weird reverse-McGwire stance, Epstein said "This is not a day to look forward." ... Johnny Damon, as he is wont to do, mentioned his status as a free agent. "We're going to leave it on the Red Sox," he said of the first step in a possible negotiation ... Guillen was jumping all over home plate umpire Mark Wegner in the tension-filled sixth over balls and strikes. At one point, Wegner ripped off his mask and stared down Guillen. In a regular-season game, Guillen might well have been tossed. But, correctly, Wegner let Guillen blow off the steam and, by the next inning, Ozzie was calmly guzzling water after the storm had passed.

Bottom Line

With a sweep of the Red Sox in the books, the White Sox will go home, rest up and get to set up their pitching just how they want it for the AL Championship Series, which will begin Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. That time off, no matter what anyone says, will be a huge advantage. Next up for the White Sox: The Yankees or Angels, who may not wrap up their division series until Sunday night if that series goes to a deciding fifth game ... As for the Red Sox, they can hope only that this is not the start of another 86-year run of postseason misery. They won 95 regular-season games and had a chance at winning the AL East crown on the final weekend. This season, though, will be remembered for injuries, struggles and the wipeout at the hands of the White Sox. A tumultuous offseason awaits.