One down, ten to go

The Red Sox rode their big bats and Curt Schilling's great pitching to beat the Angels 9-3 in Game 1 of the ALDS yesterday. Boston blew the game open with a seven-run fourth inning, thanks to some timely hitting (a two-run homer from Kevin Millar, a three-run blast from Manny) and to some sloppy defense by Anaheim (Chone Figgins made a throwing error with the bases loaded which allowed two runs to score and which also set the table for Manny's three-run homer).

Schilling - true to his postseason form (he's lost just one of 11 postseason starts) - was lights-out. It wasn't anwhere near no-hit baseball - Schilling gave up 9 hits - but his dominance prevented the Angels from driving runners home in key situations and meant that he got the job done. The nine hits he gave up resulted in only two earned runs (both of them solo shots) and his teammates gaves him enough offensive support to win three games, never mind just one. As Buster Olney says, Schilling was methodical in his disposal of the Angels:

He came to the Red Sox because he wins big games, and Schilling methodically dispensed of the Angels like he was loading a dishwasher: The fastballs go there, the splitters over there, the sliders down, one or two curves, slam the door and you're done.

Round two is tonight: Pedro vs. Colon. It's a 4am start for those of us unfortunate enough to live in Paris (I know, tough life ;-)), but I'll be there. It'll probably mean missing most of what promises to be an interesting Astros / Braves matchup, but I'm saving my real postseason heroics for later in the month...