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Almost gone
Boston one game away from elimination
Posted: Monday October 18, 1999 12:26 AM
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Jimy Williams lets loose of his frustrations after being ejected from the game by umpire Dale Scott. AP |
BOSTON (AP) -- The last time the Boston Red Sox went to the World Series, they made it by rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the 1986 AL Championship Series.
Thirteen frustrating years later, that's the only way they can get back.
Sunday night's 9-2 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS left the Red Sox with just one option: win Monday night or extend their championship drought to 81 years.
And they have to do it with left-hander Kent Mercker, who has a 6.35 ERA in 5 2-3 postseason innings this year, starting against Orlando Hernandez, the Yankees' hottest pitcher.
On Sunday, Bret Saberhagen pitched better than in his two other postseason starts this year -- one earned run and five hits in six innings -- but the Red Sox still couldn't beat the Yankees.
The last time Boston won the of Game 5. The Red Sox scored four runs in the inning and went on to a 7-6 win in 11 innings. They won the series by winning the next two games 10-4 and 8-1, with current Yankee Roger Clemens pitching the clincher.
They also won three straight games to take this year's best-of-5 division series, beating the Cleveland Indians 9-3, 23-7 and 12-8.
But the Yankees are the defending World Series champions and have a much better pitching staff than the Indians.
And the Red Sox have a long history of October anguish.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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