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CURT SCHILLING |
THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
2004 WORLD SERIES, GAME #2
Curt Schilling hobbles his way
to another win
October 24, 2004 ... The Sox moved a step closer to eradicating decades of franchise futility as they overcame a record-setting
display of defensive ineptitude and upended the Cardinals, 6-2, before a euphoric 35,001 in the Fens to seize a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven extravaganza.
The fans could thank Curt Schilling, some finely-timed hitting, and a relief effort anchored by Foulke for delivering the Sox tantalizingly closer to a dream finish.
After the medical staff removed the suture, Schilling was poised to help the Sox win a world championship, as he had done three years earlier for the Diamondbacks. Schilling's velocity ranged in the low 90s and he hit his spots, allowing him to thrive while his ankle was mildly numbed with
the anesthetic Marcaine. Schilling all but silenced the dangerous Cardinal lineup, surrendering only an unearned run on four hits and a walk over six innings. Schilling hobbled to the clubhouse after firing 94 pitches. Foulke and the Sox' bullpen did the rest as the Cardinals mustered
only one run off Mike Timlin in the eighth inning and spiraled to their eighth straight road defeat in the World Series since 1985.
Schilling got all the support he needed on a trio of two-out, two- run hits, a first-inning triple by Jason Varitek, a fourth-inning double by Mark Bellhorn, and a sixth-inning Wall-ball single by Orlando Cabrera.
The Sox were fortunate to survive committing four errors in a second straight game. No team had committed more than seven errors in the first two games of the World Series. Yet the Sox surged to a 2-0 lead in a World Series for only the third time in franchise history, joining the 1916 and
1986 teams. The Sox beat Brooklyn in the '16 Series and lost to the Mets in '86.
The Standells performed their hit "Dirty Water" before the game, and James Taylor submitted a soulful rendition of the national anthem. Donna Summer performed "God Bless America." |
