With the World Series starting this Wednesday night in Boston, we figured it'd be fun to see what kind of results we'd get after simming through the match-up between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies. We used MLB 07: The Show for the PS3 with updated rosters, ratings and created players and the games are played CPU vs. CPU. The person simming is a diehard Red Sox fan but don't worry, he's not taking sides.

Check back tomorrow for Games 4 and 5 (As well as 6 and 7 if necessary).

Game 1

Colorado Rockies at Boston Red Sox

Fenway Park, MA 

BOSTON - The Colorado Rockies have been labeled as "white hot" thanks to their recent streak of 21 wins in 22 games, but people doubted if they would continue their surge against the Boston Red Sox after a long layoff; however, they did just that winning Game 1 of the World Series 5-1.

Starter Jeff Francis pounded the strike zone and Boston's potent lineup seemingly couldn't make good contact as Francis gave up a single run on a David Ortiz homer en route to his complete game victory. He scattered 4 hits, struck out 6 batters and walked none. The much more heralded starter for Boston, ALCS MVP Josh Beckett struggled in the middle innings and took the loss. The biggest damage came from Ryan Spilborghs, who took Beckett deep in the 4th inning to give the Rockies a lead they'd never relinquish.

Early on though it seemed like the Sox offense would roll again after David Ortiz took Francis deep to right-center in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead.  

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But Francis settled down right away retiring Manny Ramirez on 3 pitches. Spilborghs managed a single in the bottom half of the inning but Colorado couldn't capitalize. Yorvit Torrealba lead off the 3rd with a single but Beckett struck out Willy Taveras and got Kaz Matsui to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Boston went down 1-2-3 for the second consecutive inning in the bottom of the 3rd and the Rockies finally managed to get on the board in the top half of the 4th. Todd Helton got on with a 1-out single, and after a swinging bunt from Garrett Atkins moved Helton to 2nd, Brad Hawpe hit a ball to right off the short wall for a double that plated Helton to tie the game at 1-1. That's when Spilborghs took a 1-0 fastball the other way for a homer into the Red Sox bullpen.

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That was all Francis needed for run support as the Red Sox never threatened the rest of the game. Coco Crisp had a lead-off single in the 6th but Julio Lugo hit into a 4-6-3 double play after a 9-pitch at-bat. The Red Sox brought in Manny Delcarmen to relieve Beckett in the 7th inning but he fell apart in the 8th. Matt Holliday lead off the inning with a single to center followed by a Todd Helton double to right. Delcarmen pitched around Atkins but Hawpe hit a slow roller to second base and Dustin Pedroia's only play was to first as Holliday scored from third and the runners advanced. Mike Timlin came in for Delcarmen and got Spilbroghs to fly out to CF, but the ball was just deep enough to score Helton from third and give the Rockies a 5-1 lead. Jeff Francis retired the last 6 batters he faced as Colorado went on to win and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 starters will be Ubaldo Jimenez for Colorado and Curt Schilling for the Red Sox.

Hitting

Boston
Dustin Pedroia, 2B - 0-4
Kevin Youkilis, 1B - 0-4, 1K
David Ortiz, DH - 2-3, 1HR, 1 RBI, 1R
Manny Ramirez, LF - 1-3
Mike Lowell, 3B - 0-3
J.D. Drew, RF - 0-3, 1K
Jason Varitek, C - 0-3, 2K
Coco Crisp, CF - 1-3, 2K
Julio Lugo, 0-3

GIDP: Ramirez, Lugo

Colorado
Willy Taveras, CF - 0-5, 2K
Kaz Matsui, 2B - 0-5, 2K
Matt Holliday, LF - 2-3, 1R, 1BB
Garrett Atkins, 3B - 0-3, 1BB, 1K
Ryan Spilborghs, DH - 2-3, 1HR, 3RBI, 1R, 1K
Troy Tulowitzki, SS - 0-4, 1K
Yorvit Torrealba, C - 2-4

2B: Holliday, Helton, Hawpe
SB: Taveras
SF: Spilborghs
GIDP: Matsui

Pitching

Boston
Josh Beckett (L, 0-1) - 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Manny Delcarmen - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Mike Timlin - 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Colorado
Jeff Francis (W, 1-0) - 9.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO{mospagebreak}

Game 2

Colorado Rockies at Boston Red Sox

Fenway Park, MA

(Colorado leads series 1-0)

BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox desperately didn't want to head to Colorado down 2 games to none against a hot Rockies team and based on their stellar play in Game 2, they got their wish. The Sox banged out 8 runs on 14 hits and chased Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez out of the game in the 4th inning, leading to an 8-1 win to even the World Series at 1-1.

David Ortiz powered Boston past Colorado
in Game 2.

In Game 1 Red Sox starter Josh Beckett struggled some and while Game 2 starter Curt Schilling had some tense moments early in the game, he managed to avoid the big inning and went 5 innings allowing a single run and striking out 5. His counterpart was unable to live up to the high expectations set by Colorado's Game 1 starter Jeff Francis as Jimenez allowed 6 runs and 10 hits in just 3.1 innings. Colorado's offense was limited to a single run scored in the 3rd inning.

Much like the Sox in Game 1, the Rockies looked poised to jump out to an early lead when they had back-to-back 2 out hits in the first inning; however, they were unable to capitalize. The Red Sox had 2nd and 3rd with two outs in their half of the first but also couldn't score. After a scoreless 2nd, Colorado scored quickly after a Willy Tavares single and a Kaz Matsui ground rule double to right field. Matt Holliday would get his first RBI of the series when his slow roller to second scored Tavares.

Schilling then struck out Todd Helton to end the 3rd inning threat. Boston responded right away in the bottom of the inning when Julio Lugo lead off with a bunt single. Dustin Pedroia followed up with a single to center that moved Lugo to third base. Kevin Youkilis struck out, but David Ortiz came up with yet another clutch it in the playoffs as he hit a line drive home run to right field to give his team a 3-1 lead. Manny Ramirez stuck out, but Mike Lowell kept the scoring going with a solo homer to right field.

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Schilling got out of a 2nd and 3rd, two out jam in the 4th and then the Sox offense went back to work.  Jason Varitek hit a a leadoff double and he got to third on a Jacoby Ellsbury single.  Julio Lugo scored Varitek on a sacrifice fly to center.  Leadoff hitter Pedroia singled and Ellsbury advanced to third.  Pedroia, not known for his speed, stole 2nd base which allowed him to score along with Ellsbury on Kevin Youkilis' first hit of the series.  That chased Jimenez and Taylor Buchholz was able to end the inning and keep the score at 6-1.  Schilling enjoyed an easy top half of the 5th and Boston contiuned to pile on in the bottom half. J.D. Drew hit a one out infield single to deep third then Jason Varitek followed him with a shot into the Monster Seats to extend the lead to 8-1.

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The Rockies had back-to-back singles in the 6th inning which forced manager Terry Francona to go his pen early. Mike Timlin took all of two pitches before forcing a 6-4-3 double play, hit into by Game 1 hero Ryan Spilborghs. The inning ended on a Troy Tulowitzki flyout to center. Neither team would score the rest of the way as Timlin joined with Manny Delcarmen and Eric Gagne to keep Colorado's offense in check.

Game 3 wil be in Colorado as Josh Fogg gets the start against Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Box Score
 

Hitting

Boston
Dustin Pedroia, 2B - 3-5, 1R, 1K
Kevin Youkilis, 1B - 1-4, 1RBI, 1BB, 1K
David Ortiz, DH - 3-5, 1HR, 3RBI, 3R, 1K
Manny Ramirez, LF - 0-3, 2K
Mike Lowell, 3B - 1-4, 1HR, 1RBI, 1R
J.D. Drew, RF - 1-4, 1R, 1K
Jason Varitek, C - 2-4, 1HR, 2RBI, 2R
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF - 2-4, 1R
Julio Lugo, SS - 1-3, 1RBI, 1R, 1K

2B: Ortiz, Varitek
SB: Pedroia
SF: Ramirez, Lugo

Colorado
Willy Taveras, CF - 1-4, 1R, 1K
Kaz Matsui, 2B - 1-4
Matt Holliday, LF - 2-4, 1RBI, 1K
Todd Helton, 1B - 1-4, 1K
Garrett Atkins, 3B - 1-3, 1BB
Brad Hawpe, RF - 2-4, 1K
Ryan Spilborghs, DH - 0-4, 1K
Troy Tulowitzki, SS - 0-4, 1K
Yorvit Torrealba, C - 0-3, 1K

2B: Matsui, Hawpe
GIDP: Spilborghs

Pitching

Boston
Curt Schilling (W, 1-0) - 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Mike Timlin - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Manny Delcarmen - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Eric Gagne - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Colorado
Ubaldo Jimenez (L, 0-1) - 3.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Taylor Buchholz - 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Ryan Speier - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

{mospagebreak}

Game 3

Boston Red Sox at Colorado Rockies

Coors Field, CO

(Series Tied 1-1)

DENVER - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka has had his share of ups and downs this year. Despite coming off a strong performance in Game 7 of the ALCS, he never really was able to control his pitches, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings as the Colorado Rockies took control of the World Series, notching a 2 games to 1 lead with a 7-4 victory in Game 3. Like with most Matsuzaka starts, it came down to one bad inning and this time it was the 3rd. Todd Helton drove in two on a tough drop by Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and Garrett Atkins added further damage with a 2-run homerun.

Garret Atkins' 3rd inning HR gave the Rockies an early lead.

Rockies starter Josh Fogg had his own struggles but in the end pitched well enough to keep his team in the game. The Colorado bullpen went 3 scoreless innings anchored by Manny Corpas, who secured his first save of the series.

Matsuzaka had to throw 25 pitches in the first inning alone after giving up 2 hits with 2 outs, but managed to avoid giving up a run. It looked as if Boston would score first in the 3rd inning when Julio Lugo reached on an infield single. With the pitcher's spot up, Matsuzaka laid down a nice sacrifice bunt but for some reason Lugo took a wide turn at 2nd base and got thrown out by Todd Helton. The Rockies would take advantage of the miscue with their big inning of the game in the bottom of the 3rd. After two quick outs, Matsuzaka walked Kaz Matsui and gave up a single to Matt Holliday. That's when Helton hit a tailing liner to center that Jacoby Ellsbury couldn't field cleanly despite a nice effort. Two runs scored and Helton wound up on 2nd base but wasn't there long as Garrett Atkins went deep to right for a 2-run blast and a quick 4-0 lead.

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Boston's offense responded right away though, as J.D. Drew singled and David Ortiz walked against Fogg. Manny Ramirez then hit a hanging breaking ball deep to the left field seats to bring Boston to within 1 run at 4-3. Fogg got 2 quick outs but Ellsbury singled and Julio Lugo walked. Unfortunately for Boston, Matsuzaka came to the plate next, and he grounded out to end the threat.

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Matsuzaka and Fogg settled down some until the bottom of the 5th when Colorado got 2 on base with 1 out. With Holliday at 2nd and Helton at 1st, the Rockies attempted a risky double-steal but executed it to perfection, as both runners were safe. Following the double steal, Atkins hit the ball on the ground to Mike Lowell at 3rd, but the ball was hit slow enough that the only play was to first, which scored Holliday and gave the Rockies at 5-3 lead. Boston would get to within 1 run again in the 6th when Kevin Youkilis, pinch-hitting for Matsuzaka, scored Ellsbury on a sacrifice fly.

The Red Sox seemed ready to take the lead off of Ryan Speier in the 7th after David Ortiz lead off with a double and Manny Ramirez reached on an error by Garrett Atkins. Ortiz would then advance to 3rd after Lowell hit a sac fly to right, but the inning was over quickly when Jason Varitek grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Yet again Colorado would take advantage of Boston's struggles, this time getting 3 straight hits off of Hideki Okajima leading to a 6-4 lead. They scored their 7th run when Atkins grounded into a double play that scored Matt Holliday.

The Red Sox got 2 baserunners on in the 8th against Brian Fuentes but couldn't push the runs across. Then in the top of the 9th, Manny Corpas gave up a lone walk but retired Ortiz, Ramirez and Lowell to end the game and take a 2-1 series lead. Because of their lead the Rockies will start Franklin Morales in Game 4 while Boston will turn to Tim Wakefield instead of using Josh Beckett on short rest.