ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Injured umpire Derryl Cousins did not work Game 7 of the AL championship series Sunday night after sustaining a bruised collarbone when he was hit by a foul ball during Game 6.
Cousins missed the final six innings Saturday night, leaving a five-man crew to work the game. Crew chief Tim McClelland took over behind the plate after starting the game at first base.
Angel Hernandez was added to the crew for Game 7 and worked right field.
Brian Gorman was behind home plate; Sam Holbrook was at first base, Brian O’Nora at second, McClelland at third, and Alfonso Marquez worked left field.
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MUTUAL RESPECT: The Red Sox and Rays agree on one thing: The budding rivalry between the teams will continue long past Game 7 of the AL championship series.
“It makes life in the American League East difficult,” Boston manager Terry Francona said.
and it’s hard. It’s not going to get easier because they’re not going to go away.”
Rays manager Joe Maddon likes how things have played out.
“The fact that we’ve finally been able to arrive at the level of the Red Sox in regard to playing them on the field,” he said, “I think it’s great for this division to add another wonderful rivalry. I think it’s great for the game. I think it’s great for us.”
Boston’s Game 7 starter, Jon Lester, called the AL East “probably the best division in baseball competitive-wise.”
“To win 97, 95 games in this division is pretty tough,” Lester said. “I think any time you play somebody in our division, it’s going to be competitive.”
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OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: The support for slumping Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek was never more evident than when he hit a tiebreaking homer in Boston’s 4-2 win in Game 6 of the ALCS on Saturday.
The entire Boston dugout cheered when the team captain snapped an 0-for-15 playoff slide with his 11th career postseason shot.
“He wears a `C’ on that jersey for a lot of different reasons, but none more important than how much respect everybody in that clubhouse, including players, coaches, upper management, has for him,” Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett said. “We’re always pulling for the guy, but it was huge for him to do that.”
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“I’ve known that for years,” Maddon said. “He wears it on his face. This guy is always ready to play. I know about his preparation habits, they’re tremendous. He comes to win every night.”
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PRODUCTIVE CC: There were concerns late in the regular season that Rays left fielder Carl Crawford could miss the postseason after injuring his right middle finger on Aug. 9 and undergoing surgery.
Even after playing in two instructional league games before Tampa Bay’s AL division series against the Chicago White Sox, no one could be sure how effective the two-time All-Star might be in the playoffs.
Turns out, he’s played better than the Rays could have imagined. He was batting .385 against Boston with four RBIs and three stolen bases entering Game 7.
“Honestly, he’s much further along than I had anticipated,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Is he enjoying it? Absolutely. I could hear his little giggle going on now and then, and I like that. You just see it in his face. He’s an exceptional athlete and he is enjoying the moment.”
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