RedEye charts the MVP performance of each inning plus the things we wish we had seen on TV.
1st inning: Lance Berkman: RBI single brings home Craig Biggio (double).
Wish list: My Game 2 wish that the
Astros shave kind of worked. Most trimmed down to goatees. I wish I had wished for them to shave their heads.
2nd: The Astros’ defense: Roy Oswalt allowed a double and 2 walks but no runs.
Wish list: Bet some Sox fans wish MLB had ruled that Tim McCarver’s mouth be closed for Game 3.
3rd: Craig Biggio: RBI single, then scores on fourth hit of the inning.
Wish list: I wish more pitchers hit better. You know pro pitchers were stud batters in high school.
4th: Jason Lane: Solo homer that–upon further review–should have been a double.
Wish list: My wish here is that, someday, Fox’s cartoon baseball Scooter finally reaches puberty.
5th: Joe Crede: Why him among the many stars of the five-run fifth? His solo homer broke the ice.
Wish list: I wish I could describe the looks on these fans’ faces. “Shellshocked” and “thunderstruck” work.
6th: Garland: That’s three up, three down, and he’s pulled it together.
Wish list: I wish for Dennis Farina to play the lead in “The Phil Garner Story.”
7th: Garland: Yes, again. He shut Houston down.
Wish list: I wish Frank Thomas were playing. For that matter, I wish Steve Perry was still playing with Journey.
8th: Lane: Two-out RBI double ties it.
Wish list: Cliff Politte once joked that the little-used Sox bullpen phone should have an answering machine. I wish that were still funny.
9th: Orlando Hernandez: He loaded the bases, then fanned Morgan Ensberg.
Wish list: I wish that someone would quietly close the roof just to see what would happen.
10th: Brad Lidge: He silenced the Sox bats.
Wish list: I wish Fox played Queen’s “Under Pressure” for the rest of the game.
11th: Bobby Jenks: No harm, no foul.
Wish list: I wish it were still Tuesday.
12th: See the 11th.
13th: Brad Ausmus: Houston’s catcher started a double-play off a Sox bunt.
Wish list: I wish the sun wasn’t coming up.
14th: Geoff Blum: Big dinger.
Wish list: I wish you a good morning.
