Pedroia blasts 3 homers to outlast Rocks

Late game heroics made Rockies series a great one

Ty Hampton
Sox Swagger

-- This interleague series between the Sox and Rocks has been, without a doubt, the most heated, competitively fueled and October-esque series of the season to date.

In game 1 the Sox and Rocks found themselves in a pitchers' duel between Lester and Chacin in the first Denver meeting between the 2 clubs since Lester closed out the 2007 World Series sweep at Coors Field. Chacin prevailed in a 2-1 near perfect effort.

Game 2 was a different animal altogether. The Rockies took it 8-6, but it wasn't without a considerable fight.

The Red Sox took a 6-5 lead after pitcher John Lackey doubled in a run and was himslef driven in on a Scutaro bloop single. The Sox had to feel pretty good about putting 6 runs up on the red-hot Ubaldo Jimenez--boosting his 1.15 ERA to 1.6.

Daniel Bard came in for the 8th and shutdown the rallying Rockies with some 99 mph heat and a curve that was working like never before -- scary! But then Jon Papelbon took the mound in the bottom of the 9th and did something he rarely does -- badly blow a save.

Ian Stewart drilled a game-tying solo shot into the 1st deck with 1 out in the 9th.

Then ex-nemesis Jason Giambi stepped to the dish with 1 on and blasted a moon-shot off of the lights hanging above Coors Field's upper deck. The balled flew off into the mile-high night sky as the purpe faithful rejoiced and Papelbon's head hung low with doom overcasting the prolific Sox closer's face.

If the walk-off blown save homerun wasn't bad enough for Paps, it had to be a former Yankee besting him that got to the big guy the worst.

But, as they say, the show must go on. The series finale was a lot like game 2, except Dustin Pedroia refused to lose and give up the sweep.

Pedie had homered twice earlier in the 11-11 slugfest that was sent to extra inning after Papelbon again gave up a 2-run homerun to Todd Helton to tie it up. Pedie blasted his 3rd homer of the night (12th of year) off Huston Street for a 13-11 lead and the Rockies were denied their sweep.

The Sox are now 44-30 and tied with the Rays for 2nd in the AL East, 2 games back of the Yankees.

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