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Game 7 Pressure Not New

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: October 20, 2008

Updated: 10/20/2008 01:11 am

ST. PETERSBURG - Elimination game? That was nothing new - or intimidating - for the Boston Red Sox.

Heading into Sunday night's Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, the Red Sox had won nine straight postseason elimination games, including 2004 (when they rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Yankees) and 2007 (when they overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Indians).

"Once you kind of dig yourselves in a hole, you either win or go home," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before Game 7. "We've been fortunate. They're all different cases, because they're different teams.

"But all the teams have that same kind of common denominator that they don't stop playing. They dig deep. To this point, it has been good enough."

Catch This

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek hit his 11th career postseason home run in Saturday night's Game 6, giving him the most by a player while catching. Varitek passed the 10 hit by Johnny Bench and Javy Lopez.

Former Yankee Yogi Berra hit 12 postseason homers, but only nine came as a catcher.

Varitek didn't acknowledge much personal satisfaction, saying, "We're still here. We're still playing baseball. That's what matters most."

Even though it was his first hit of the ALCS, Varitek said he still has contributed throughout the postseason.

"Fortunately, I can go 0-for-2,000 and put down the right fingers and get pitchers to do stuff and come away gratified. You may not have that opportunity in other positions that I have, and I enjoy that."

Twists And Turns

Some moments were agonizing. Others were exhilarating.

But Francona said the ALCS was thoroughly enjoyable - even during Boston's down moments.

"It takes it out of you," Francona said. "There's a lot of late travel, and I think when it's all said and done, everybody collapses, but not until.

"There will be no one single part of me that would ever want to complain about a late night. I mean, you've worked so hard to get here. To not enjoy it, I think that would be a mistake."

Young Guns

At 24 years, 286 days, Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester became the fifth-youngest left-hander to start a
Game 7 - and the youngest since

St. Louis' Joe Magrane (23 years, 115 days) in the 1987 World Series at Minnesota.

Magrane is now a television broadcaster for the Rays.

"The more he pitches, the more experience he gains," Francona said. "He's a really mature young man. He has a great attitude toward competing."

Joey Johnston

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