There is a cliché in sports penned by New York Yankee great Yogi Bera: “It’s not over ”˜til it’s over.”
If one is a New England sports fan, that was never more true than on Sunday night as both the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots mounted late-game comebacks to win in their respective games, just when it appeared both teams were going to lose and possibly ruining their chances of winning championships this season.
In Foxborough, Mass., the New England Patriots, who lost last week to the Cincinnati Bengals 13-6, trailed the undefeated New Orleans Saints 27-23 with two minutes to play in a National Football League game. A loss would’ve meant that New England would fall to 4-2 in what has been a trying season after losing star players such as Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos, Aaron Hernandez to an arrest and Rob Gronkowski to an ailing right forearm.
The loss of those three players has made All-World quarterback Tom Brady look more like the fledgling New York Jet Mark Sanchez instead of the future Hall-of-Famer that he is. The Patriots have uncharacteristically struggled. But that all changed on Sunday night as Brady led the Patriots’ offense to a late-game comeback and a 30-27 win against New Orleans when he hit Kenbrell Thompkins in the end zone for a touchdown with time winding down.
The Patriots looked horrible on their previous drive, and turned the ball over on downs deep in their own territory. Many fans left Gillette Stadium, and who could blame them? This offense hadn’t shown any signs that it could come back and win a game.
Brady and the Pats had other plans, however, and maybe this game marked the turning point of their season. Either way, they gave Patriots fans a reason to hope.
Meanwhile, 30 miles north in Boston, the Boston Red Sox were once again struggling at the plate as Cy Young Award-candidate Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers pitched a no-hitter into the sixth inning. For the second straight night in the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox couldn’t hit Detroit’s pitching and they fell behind 5-0. Then something began to happen as Shane Victorino hit a single in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Sox’ first hit of the game. Dustin Pedroia drove Victorino in with a hit off the Green Monster in left field for the Sox first run of the series.
The Sox were still down 5-1 and trailed in the series 1-0, but at least they had finally scored. Then came David Ortiz, who is no stranger to October magic. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Ortiz ripped a grand slam into the Red Sox bullpen in right field, tying the game at 5-5. It was an unbelievable sight to behold as the Red Sox, in one swing, saved their season.
The Sox went on to win the game in the bottom of the ninth on an everyday infield single, tying the series at 1-1 and starting afresh as they head back to Detroit for tonight’s Game 3 match-up. We don’t know what the Patriots and Red Sox will do the rest of their seasons, but at least for one night, they gave all New England sports fans a reason to hope.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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