World Series: Sox Bend but Don't Break to Take 3-0 Lead

The Red Sox jumped out to a 6-0 advantage in the third inning, then held off a surge from the Rockies to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the 2007 World Series.

Rookies Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia went a combined 7-10 with four RBI and three runs scored at the top of the lineup, and helped put the game away with consecutive RBI doubles in the eighth.

Boston's starting pitchers continued their strong work, as Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up two runs in 5.1 innings to pick up the win.

Colorado's offense showed signs of life for the first time in the series.  In the seventh, Matt Holliday crushed a three-run homer to dead center off previously untouchable Hideki Okajima to bring the Rockies within a run.

However, Okajima buckled down, striking out Garrett Atkins and Hawpe to keep Boston's lead intact. 

The Red Sox touched up Colorado's bullpen in the next inning, scoring three runs off Brian Fuentes.  Ellsbury and Pedroia's run-scoring doubles silenced the crowd and gave Boston another four-run lead. 

Then with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, Jonathan Papelbon got Holliday to fly out to left to snuff Colorado's last rally.

The Red Sox offense jumped all over Josh Fogg in the third, with three doubles among their seven hits.  Ellsbury got it started with an opposite-field double, followed by a Pedroia bunt single.

David Ortiz then rewarded Terry Francona for starting him at first, as he laced an RBI double to right field.

Following an intentional walk to Manny Ramirez to load the bases, Mike Lowell smacked a single up the middle to score two more runs.

Fogg caught a break as Holliday threw Ramirez out at home on a Jason Varitek single.  However, with two outs, Matsuzaka picked up his first major league hit on a roller through the left side to drive in two runs.

Ellsbury then knocked Fogg out of the game with his second double of the inning. 

For Colorado, Brad Hawpe got on track with two hits and an RBI, and Kazuo Matsui picked up three hits and scored a run.

However, the Rockies also left 11 runners on base, including two with just one out in the sixth as they attempted to mount a comeback.

No one knows better than the Red Sox that a 3-0 series deficit isn't impossible to overcome.

The Rockies still have two games at home, including Game Four against Jon Lester, who has yet to start a playoff game.

But the Red Sox get to face Aaron Cook, who hasn't pitched since August 10th.

If Cook is rusty, the Red Sox hitters won't show any mercy, and Boston will be celebrating its second World Series title in four years.