The Yankees’ 19-8 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night featured 27 runs, 37 hits, 13 doubles, six home runs, nine walks and 412 pitches.
That wouldn’t be as surprising if the game had been at Denver’s Coors Field in mid-July between the Rockies and the Mets. But what does it say about the quality of major-league pitching when it happens in the American League Championship Series?
“I don’t think it says anything about the state of pitching in major-league baseball,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “We have good pitching, and [the Yankees] have good pitching.”
Francona couldn’t prove it Saturday–or in Game 1, for that matter, when the Red Sox lost 10-7. Through the first three games of the series, the Red Sox have an ERA of 11.52, and the Yankees having a team batting average of .377.
Francona said that when someone gets hurt–such as No. 1 starter Curt Schilling–or suffers a rocky start–such as Game 3 starter Bronson Arroyo–and the bullpen is needed early, “You’re liable to run into problems.
“I don’t think it’s the state of pitching, necessarily. I just think it’s the circumstances.”
Extra innings
Francona said he never considered bringing Pedro Martinez back Sunday on three days’ rest. “That doesn’t give us, in our opinion, an advantage,” Francona said. “A rested [Derek Lowe] and a Pedro on time is our best way to win, we feel.” Monday would be Martinez’s regular day to pitch. …
Schilling threw on the side again Sunday, testing his injured right ankle. “He looked good, considering the circumstances,” general manager Theo Epstein said. “I’m not going to get into details.” . . .
Saturday’s slugfest set or tied 13 postseason records, including four by Hideki Matsui. … New York first baseman John Olerud was out of the lineup after bruising his instep Saturday. Tony Clark played first base Sunday night. …
Francona moved Mark Bellhorn from the second spot in the lineup down to ninth and moved Orlando Cabrera up to second behind Johnny Damon.
