Game 3 liveblog

Hello, everyone. To push our last live blog even further down the page, and as part of a scientific experiment of the effects of punctuation on legibility, I made a running blog of Game 3. Be warned. It probably won't be any more fun to read about than it was to watch.

6:33-Is this 6 p.m. game ever going to start?

6:36-The Budweiser opening pitch goes for a ball.

6:37-Jacoby Ellsbury hits a leadoff single. That has to be the least-fastest hit in World Series history.

6:40-Dustin Pedroia barely beats out Tulo's throw for a second consecutive impressive hit. David Ortiz is up. Kill me.

6:41-Swing and a miss at the first pitch for Ortiz. Tim McCarver says the start to this inning (having two runners on with no outs) justifies David Ortiz starting this game. Is it just me or is anyone else shocked there was even a discussion about this? He's been the best hitter in baseball for years, especially in the playoffs. Of course he starts in the World Series. And now the count is 2-1.

6:42-Joe Buck continues to defend Terry Francona's gutsy call to start Ortiz. Now they're saying Youkilis could have played third. Personally, I would have start Y

6:43-Ortiz strikes out!

-oukilis at third, and put Lowell on the bench. But that's probably just because I remember Euclis from Moneyball.

6:46-A nice pitch evens up the count to 2-2 against Manny Ramirez, who thinks it was low. Looked a little low. But then the strike zone in Game 2 was wider than Bernie Williams' shoulders, so what's he whining about? Ramirez pops up. Two outs, with the runners still at first and second.

6:49-Another gift strike on a pitch to Mike Lowell. Everything is working according to plan.

6:50-Another fly out, and the Rockies escape the top of the first with no damage.

6:52-Ryan Spilborghs decides to sabotage his future in TV with his introduction of the Rockies lineup. Just riveting. Also, he called Todd Helton "ice pick" for some reason. Wonder what that's all about.

6:53-Kaz Matsui hits it into the gap...next thing I know Red Sox are falling all over themselves and Matsui's on second.

6:54-Tulo's up now, because he's finally batting second. Hallelujah. I feel good about this, even though he has no patience sometimes and hasn't exactly hit that great in the playoffs. But everybody loves Tulo, whose name the crowd keeps repeating with that clapping "Tu-lo!" chant.

6:57-And he strikes out. Crap and a half. What is Clint Hurdle thinking? You can't put Tulo at the top of the order!

6:58-Matt Holliday's up. Let's see if he even wants to be on first base, or if he's not ready emotionally yet.

6:59-Holliday hits a grounder to Dice-K, who initiates a rundown that gets Kaz Matsui thrown out. Holliday at least makes it to first.

7:02-Helton's out. That's the first inning.

7:06-Sergeant Major Jason Varitek is thrown out on a broken-bat grounder after another beautiful play from Tulo, who barehands the ball and chucks it as he's still moving at full speed. Two outs in the top of the second.

7:09-Julio Lugo hits a two-out double. McCarver mentioned that that clears the pitcher, since Dice-K is probably going to make the third out here. I'm pretty sure I knew a kid who batted No. 8 back in the day and who insisted it was an important spot in the lineup for this very reason. I'll bet. It's almost as important as spots 1-7. Dice-K goes down quickly.

7:12-Just saw that "Saving the best for numero uno" commercial for Verizon. At the end of it, the can you hear me now? guy just shakes his head at his customer's stupidity. This leads me to wonder. What do you think that Verizon guy's like in real life? Does he still have to have another job, or can he live off his ad money?

7:14-Gary Atkins takes a pitch in THE FACE! The replay makes it look like the shoulder, actually. I was wondering how he shook that off so quickly.

7:15-Brad Hop strikes out. Fine, it was Brad Hawpe. Just wanted to make you think David was writing again.

7:16-Our superb catcher, the love child of Joe Torre and Jessica Alba, flies out to deep left.

7:18-The Rockies just went another inning without scoring. FOX shows some interesting stats about Coors Field's runs per game since they started using the humidor. I didn't catch them but the effect has been more drastic than I've ever given it credit for.

7:21-Ellsbury doubles to lead off the top of the third. He's just a triple and a home run away from the cycle.

7:23-McCarver just said that the strike zone with the current umpire extends an entire inch off to either side of the plate. I'm glad Fogg is getting the edge tonight, but he's been waaaay more than an inch off on a lot of strikes. And why is Carvy even trying to provide a measurement for that anyway? Also, does baseball's rule book even have an official strike zone anymore?

7:24-Crap and a freaking half. David Ortiz knocks in Ellsbury with a double to right. Red Sox, 1-0. Runners on second and third, no outs.

7:25-And we're intentionally walking Ramirez, which is a TERRIFIC call for the Rockies. I can't remember walks ever getting us into trouble, unless you count the World Series. Buck says "clearly" it was the right decision to play Ortiz. He could be right. I don't see Francona getting fired over this.

7:28-Come ON. A hit from Mike Lowell scores two runs. Now I'm sure. I definitely would have started Kevin Youkilis in his place. Red Sox up 3-0. First and second, still no outs.

7:29-Franklin Morales is warming up. I kid you not. Man, I was really hoping we'd get to see him again soon. (No, not really.) At least I won't have to hear about this "Dragon Slayer" anymore. Considering Curt Schilling's affinity for EverQuest shouldn't that be his nickname anyway? J.D. Drew pops out for the first out of the inning.

7:31-The highest-ranking NCO in the army knocks in a run...but apparently Manny Ramirez prefers to argue things before he even touches the plate, while Yorvy eventually stands up and tags him in the back. So Manny gets called out...except now it looks like Ramirez did touch the plate. But he's out, and I guess we just got lucky. Except now it looks like he may have been tagged before he touched the plate. I am so confused.

7:33-Lugo walks, bases loaded, Matsuzaka is up. And now apparently Ramirez really was out, accoring to Carvy. Even better news: now it's 5-0 on Matsuzaka's hit. Good night, everyone, it's been great.

7:36-For the second time this series, I hear a mic'd-up Royce Clayton. Wait a second, is this the 1998 ALDS? Where the freak is Juan Gonzalez? And now Fogghorn is going home for the night after a misjudged ball in center leads to 6-0 Boston lead.

7:40-Franklin Morales is standing on the mound. And you thought 6-0 was scary.

7:41-Frankie gets the last out to end the inning. I'll be.

7:42-I love technology as much as anyone I've ever met. But Sprint, even I didn't grow up dreaming about a magic screen in my pocket. Where does that ad even come from?

7:44-And Frankie's up to bat now. But he's hitting .308! Can that be right? Was this guy an outfielder during the season? Because that would explain a lot.

7:51-AT&T Poll Question: which Blake Street Bomber hit the most home runs with the Rockies? I'd guess Larry Walker over Andrés Galarraga, Dante Bichette, and Vinny Castilla. Do you think Ellis Burks is watching this game? If he saw that question, he can't be feeling very good about himself right now.

7:52-Baseball-reference.com gives it to Walker, though Todd Helton is the franchise leader all-time.

7:56-Morales—yes, the Franklin Morales—gets David Ortiz out for the first out of the fourth. This is so weird. I can't believe this is happening. Be honest, you didn't think he'd ever pitch again after seeing his face in Game 1.

7:57-Another replay of that play at the plate. Yes, Ramirez was out for sure. Oh, by the way, the Red Sox are winning by six. I really hope that play ends up mattering somehow.

7:59-The Red Sox won't get A-Rod, apparently, because they want to re-sign Mike Lowell. Is A-Rod going to have a team next year? I'd love to see him opt out and have it completely backfire. And the Red Sox just went one-two-three in the fourth. Nice.

8:13-Ice Pick just struck out looking after a bunch of foul balls. The pitch looked outside but what the freak do I know?

8:22-Jason Varitek, the most respected man in the army, is up to bat with J.D. Drew on second. No outs, top of the fifth, still 6-0. Man, this game sucks.

8:25-Morales just struck out Varitek.

8:33-FOX's graphic tells us the Rockies are hitting .162 in the World Series, and have been outscored 21-2 so far. All of that sucks. But there's a small silver lining for all those people who've been grandstanding about their years of Rockies fandom the last couple weeks. (Which doesn't even make sense considering how young the franchise still is.) But, anyway, all you guys who keep saying things like, "Boy, it'll be tough getting tickets next year"...well, believe me. It won't.

8:36-Torrealba singles up the middle to start off the Rockies' half of the sixth.

8:38-Sullivan pops out to deep left, and Torrealba has to hustle to make it back to first. FOX uses a weird camera angle, from about where the first-base coach stands, to show Torrealba getting back. It was actually all right. I think that's the first time in five years I've seen an unusal camera angle that didn't make me want to slam a Todd Helton into somebody's forehead.

8:40-Pinch-hitter Seth Smith hits a single, and we have runners on first and second with one out. Kaz Matsui is up.

8:42-Matsui hits a grounder that gets Torrealba thrown out. And now Tulo pops up and the inning is over. Still 6-0. I am very grateful that in this of all years, there's only one October.

8:45-Speaking of Dane Cook, I saw Dan in Real Life today, and it sucked, in case you're wondering.

8:49-Hey, the Rockies finally got that Pillsbury jerk out. Yes, I realize that the nickname would make more sense if he were fat.

8:51-Dustin Pedroia just broke his bat on a pop-out...is it that cold in Colorado tonight? Wait, who am I asking that?

8:53-Now Ortiz has struck out. At least we've stopped giving up runs, eh? Holliday will be first up in the bottom of the sixth.

8:57-Kevin Youkilis is in the game at first base. Now there's a man who looks capable of a triple homicide.

8:58-Holliday grounds out. We really don't have many more chances. I guess I could have said that a couple hours ago, though. Let's see how Helton does. And he gets a horribly-called strike looking on the first pitch.

9:03-Helton walks.

9:04-3-0 count to Dr. Garrett Atkins. I'm thankful for Rob Neyer's live chat on ESPN.com-it's helping me stay awake tonight. I used to really like Neyer, but had to stop reading him when ESPN put all his stuff under Insider. And also when I was too cheap to pay for it. Atkins walks.

9:05-40% of the people got Walker right in the poll from earlier. Go Rockies fans. I guess it was kind of a trick question, because Walker was hurt so much, but he played in Colorado way longer than the rest of those guys, didn't he?

9:07-9.5 years for Walker, 5 for the Big Cat, 7 for Bichette, and 8 for Castilla, including the year he came back (2004) and became the first octogenarian to lead the NL in RBI.

9:08-Rockies score!!!!! Todd Helton comes around on Brad Hawpe's hit to left-center. Man, that's nice. First and second, one out, Torrealba is up.

9:11-Yes! Torrealba hits a single to left to knock in another run. 6-2 now. Coors Field magic? I can only hope.

9:12-DH Ryan Spilborghs is now a pinch-hitter, and Mike Timlin is coming in to pitch to him. I'm not thrilled about that matchup.

9:15-Back from the commercial break to see fans with a sign reading, "It Could Happen." Really inspiring stuff. That's really all you hope for in the World Series—I mean, gosh, we could beat the Red Sox, and wouldn't that be swell? Two on, one out with Spilby at the bat.

9:16-Ah, man. He flies out deep, to the warning track in center. The runners were so far off for some reason that they have to rush back and don't advance. Nice. Well played, gentlemen.

9:17-Jeff Baker is up to pinch-hit. I think I remember when we drafted that dude. Nice to see someone inside the organization get a shot. Oh, wait.

9:20-Man alive. Julio Lugo jumps straight up to nab that liner for the last out of the inning. Still 6-2.

9:24-Top of the seventh, and Matt Herges is pitching to Manny Ramirez. I think it would really help things to get through this inning as quickly as possible. You know, before our offense goes cold again.

9:26-Strikes him out! Sweet. I wish that at-bat would have been a little longer—maybe we could have seen another replay of Manny's slide into home earlier.

9:27-Tim McCarver asks how many games end with David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez out of the game. Thousands every season. I guess he meant Red Sox games, though.

9:27-Mike Lowell strikes out on a pitch he was totally fooled on. J.D. Drew is up.

9:28-Kevin Youkilis is standing in the dugout with giant red mitts on pretending to swing. Oh my gosh. I hope I never see that man in real life.

9:29-I lock my door. (He is in Colorado, after all.)

9:30-Herges with another strikeout! Sweet. Ahhhhh. Please let it mean something.

9:32-Some dude from Earth, Wind & Fire is singing God Bless America. Apparently he's a Denver native, but he's just wearing a generic World Series jacket rather than Rockies gear. What's up with that?

9:36-Matsui bunts his way on base. That was even softer than Pillsbury's single in the first. But then I guess he didn't take the full swing like Pillsy did. Tulo's up next, then Matt Holliday, who's 0 for 3.

9:37-Kaz Matsui takes off for second...aaaaand he's safe. Fantastic. If I get one of those free tacos, and I won't, I'll pretend he earned it for me.

9:38-Tulo takes a hard swing-and-miss on a pretty high pitch. Still getting the chant, though.

9:39-Tulo lines one and it looks like he'll be out...but it slides through, and Matsui advances to third after making sure it was a hit. First and third, no outs, and Joe Buck just said Francona is making a double-switch. Let's see if 'Cony still knows how to do that.

9:42-Matt Holliday's up, and Okajima's up to pitch. First and third, no outs.

9:43-No way. No way. YEAH! Holliday cracks a three-run homer to cut it to 6-5. That looked a lot like the homer I saw at the NLCS. A beautiful shot to deep center.

9:44-That replay was pretty sweet, too. By the way, it's all smoky on the field while Helton is up for the first pitch. Now it's totally clear for the second...maybe my eyes were just playing tricks on me.

9:45-Now all of America is hearing about whether Youk-for-Ortiz is a substitution the Sox will regret. Good. I was hoping we'd hear some more about those guys.

9:47-Yes! Helton singles to left. I do really miss his power, but I'll take it. One on, no outs.

9:48-Gary Atkins has two walks and a hit-by-pitch. I'd settle for another, but hits are cool, too.

9:51-Swing and a miss for Atkins for the third strike. One out.

9:53-Brad Hawpe's up to face Okajima. At this point I hate all of the New Yankees, but Okajima gets a special place in my heart.

9:54-Hawpe pops it up backwards. Sgt. Slaughter gets up out of the crouch to chase it, but the ball lands safely in the stands behind home plate. Count: 1-2, and then Hawpe fouls off another pitch down low to stay alive.

9:57-Dang it. Hawpe strikes out. Two outs, Heckton on first, and the next batter is Yorvit. Yorviiiiiiit!

10-Yorvy grounds out to the pitcher. Red Sox are still up 6-5 after 7 innings.

10:02-The Gillette commercial with Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Thierry Henry is on. Maybe I don't follow soccer closely enough, but which one of these is not like the other?

10:05-Another broken bat, and Tulo's throw sends Sergeant Varitek back to the barracks.

10:09-Coco Crisp just singled up the middle to put runners on first and second, one out. Pillsbury up to bat.

10:11-Shoot. Hawpe just missed on a sliding catch and the Red Sox score to make it 7-5. Crispy moves to third, and Ellsby's got his fourth hit of the night.

10:12-Pedroia hits a double that scores both runners. Come on, man. I'm starting to see why Brian Fuentes is always referred to as our "former" closer.

10:15-"Table setters tonight also include the entree and dessert" is about what Tim McCarver just said about Ellsbury and Pedroia's performances. I love this guy. Best broadcaster in the world.

10:15:01-No, not really.

10:19-Hey, the top of the eighth is over. 9-5 Red Sox. Is that bad?

10:19-The same commercial with Verizon guy. Seriously, can that guy go out in public without people asking if he can hear them now? And what happens when he goes somewhere with bad coverage? Do people just start cussing at him? That's got to get old fast.

10:23-Spillborghs flies to right for the first out of the bottom of the 8th.

10:26-Willy T lines out to second for the second out. Kaz-Mat Suit is back up.

10:28-Matsui singles. Tulo is up with two outs.

10:31-Tulo walks. Holliday is up. I'm excited, but we're down four, you know?

10:35-Holliday flies out to deep left, then slams his helmet to the ground. Tulo slammed his bat into home plate earlier in the game, too. Not that I can blame them, but are the guys too tight now? I don't know. This kind of sucks. On the other hand, I am watching the Rockies in the World Series...would it be wrong of me to feel bad if we get obliterated?

10:38-Tom Brady has 27 touchdowns passing this year, according to a promotion for tomorrow's game. (Also, Mike Lowell just singled off LaTroy Hawkins.) I meant to write about Brady earlier this week. In seven games he's tied John Elway's career high for TD passes. Not that Elway was really known for his numbers, but Brady's been unbelieveable this year.

10:40-Alex Cora bunts Lowell over to second. Please end, game.

10:41-Lowell steals third. Varitek flies out to center; Lowell tags up and scores easily. 10-5, Boston. Do I have to finish this? Live-blogging sucks, especially if your team is losing in the World Series. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

10:44-Tulo just throws out whoever was batting on a routine grounder. Helton, Atkins, and Hawpe are due up in the bottom of the ninth.

10:48-Helton just popped up to right. It hurt just to see his expression, because he knew it wasn't a hit the second he made contact. There's no one I'd rather see win the Series at this point...and man, this just sucks. It's like watching Tony Gwynn was against the '98 Yankees. Just painful.

10:50-Atky breaks his bat on a groundout. Brad Hawpe is up, ninth inning, two outs.

10:53-Hawpe hits it into the rightfield corner for a triple. It ain't over yet! Just almost over.

10:55-Torrealba grounds out, and the game is over. Man, I wish it was pre-2004...we'd have the Red Sox right where we want them. Too bad the New Yankees don't have the same habit the Red Sox did of blowing leads. All right. Game 4's a must-win.