Thanks to the National League's highest scoring offense, best defense and best post-All Star break ERA, the Rockies exceeded expectations and won 21 of 22 on their way to the Series. But Red Sox Nation on campus was nonetheless confident in the minutes leading up to the game.
At around 8 p.m. at the Gate, brand-new Rockies fan Mike Cummins '08 was watching the pre-game show with some of his men's lacrosse teammates. "Rockies in five," he said. "Born in Jersey, grew up in Denver. I feel like I got birthright to hop on the bandwagon."
Enjoying some refreshments in his room in Keeney Quadrangle, relaxed Red Sox fan Trevor Mundt '11, volunteered a prediction about the game. "I'm gonna be bold - I'm gonna say, 9-2 Sox." Fellow Massachusetts resident and Sox fan Charlie Posner '11 said, "I'm gonna be safe - 7-1 Red Sox."
Minutes later, when Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run over the Green Monster, the celebration had begun. "Yes mother(expletive), sit the (expletive) down!" Mundt said. The Sox never looked back, blowing out Colorado behind Beckett's seven strong innings and 13 strikeouts.
The presence of Red Sox Nation is strong over most of campus, but those eating at the Ivy Room at game time seemed a little disinterested. Maine resident Kate Fritzsche '10 called Kevin Youkilis's goatee and bald head "hideous" and Charlie Wood '10 asked, "The Rockies are from the West, right?"
At the next table Izraelle McKinnon '11 wondered, "Is (the game) going on now?" Looking confused, her friend, who wished to remain unnamed, whispered, "Are you talking about baseball?"
Throughout campus, however, Red Sox fever had people from all over the world talking. Rogelio Ramirez '11, who lives in California but is Mexican, was excited after consecutive hits by Sox sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. "My friends from the Dominican Republic are doing so good right now," he said.
The Red Sox ran away with the game. Ortiz and Ramirez led the offensive onslaught with three hits and two RBIs apiece. Tomorrow, veteran Curt Schilling pitches for the Sox against youngster Ubaldo Jimenez for the Rockies.
Self-proclaimed non-fan and Massachusetts resident Alex Arruda '11 is starting to get excited. "I never cared before, but now that I'm here, I've watched a little more," Arruda said. "I definitely have started to feel some hometown pride."
