"What he did was completely unprofessional

and really hurt his team. It was an unprofessional play and he knows that. He has to brush his teeth and look at himself in the mirror in the morning."
- Kevin Millar, commenting on A-Rod's chop to Bronson Arroyo's arm during the 8th inning.

Those gritty, never-say-die Boston Red Sox have made history - no team in the history of baseball has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to force a Game 7. Never in basketball history, either. It's only happened in hockey, and then you have to go all the way back to 1975.

Last night, though, the Red Sox did it. By beating the Yankees 4-2, they have forced a Game 7 tonight, despite losing the first three games of the series, including a humiliating 19-8 beating last Saturday.

You gotta love it.

I missed the first 3 innings of the game. However, I got home from karate class just in time to see Boston score four runs in the 4th. As the game ran on, though, those Calvinistic clouds of self doubt kept circling round my head as I wondered if these cursed Red Sox, who never manage to win the big series (including the biggest series of all, the World, since 1918), would really hold on and make history by winning their third straight. Especially after New York scored runs in both the 7th and 8th innings, making the score 4-2.

The Yankees weren't above their usual gamesmanship to try to reverse their fortune. Later in the 8th inning, with Jeter on first, Alex Rodriguez hit a ground ball toward the plate. The Sox pitcher, Bronson Arroyo, picked up the ball, put it in his glove, and went to apply the tag. A-Rod, however, took a wild chop at Arroyo's glove, knocking the ball out and down the first-base line. The first-base ump immediately signaled Rodriguez safe, even though A-Rod a.) went out of the baseline, b.) never touched first base, and c.) is not allowed to use karate in a baseball game. Jeter, meanwhile, ran home and the scoreboard immediately read "Boston 4, New York 3."

"That was unprofessional. That's against the rules," Kevin Millar said. "If you want to play football, strap on some pads and go play for the Green Bay Packers."

The call was eventually reversed and the run taken back, but the fine New York fans, not satisfied with merely booing and chanting "Bullshit!," began throwing balls, water bottles and whatever else they could find on to the field. Even The New York Times, which you would expect to be at least slightly partisan to New York (i.e., The New York Times) said "The Yankees are one loss from sinking to an inglorious place in baseball history. Their fans beat them to it last night." Riot cops in full battle gear eventually had to be brought on to the field, resulting in the bizzarre and somewhat apocalyptic sight of the rest of the eighth inning played with riot cops lining both left and right fields. By the ninth inning, of course, the cops were removed so as to allow more fielding room for the Yankees while the Red Sox were at bat.

No matter, though. The Red Sox held on, despite allowing two men on base and the winning run to come to the plate during the 9th. History was made. The series is tied, 3-3, and Game 7 is tonight. Please don't call me after 8:00.