>> joe: back-to-back strikeouts to start the second. >> tim: another good slider from scherzer. h remember, avila saying the sliders made the difference. >> joe: and the difference turned into 21 wins against only three losses for scherzer. fifth best e.r.a. in the american league at 2.90. over 214 innings pitched. number two in strikeouts with 240. he has got three tonight. he struck out 13 in game two here sunday night. strike one. stephen drew has one hit in 17 at-bats. in this series, just three hits this postseason. one ball, one strike.

drew has yet to swing. the count, 2-1. 33rd pitch of the night coming here from scherzer. >> tim: we have heard about pitchers being all over the place. max scherzer is all over the place in the strike zone. up and in. down and in. up and away. down and away. rarely a ball down the middle. >> joe: he could strike out the side here in the second and does! 96 past the bat of stephen drew! that sends us into the third inning.

here at fenway park, it's game number six. three strikeouts in the second for scherzer. red sox and tigers, no score. ♪

wow...look at you. i've always tried to give it my best shot. these days i'm living with a higher risk of stroke due to afib, a type of irregular heartbeat, not caused by a heart valve problem. at first, i took warfarin, but i wondered, "could i up my game?" my doctor told me about eliquis. and three important reasons to take eliquis instead. one, in a clinical trial, eliquis was proven to reduce the risk of stroke better than warfarin. two, eliquis had less major bleeding than warfarin. and three... unlike warfarin, there's no routine blood testing. [ male announcer ] don't stop taking eliquis unless your doctor tells you to, as stopping increases your risk of having a stroke. eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. don't take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding.

while taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily and it may take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop. seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. i've got three important reasons to up my game with eliquis. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor today if eliquis is right for you. >> joe: no score as game number

six goes into the third inning at fenway park. buchholz back to the hill. iglesias with a foul to start this third inning. a hit in the first. a hit in the second for the tigers. they have stranded two. red sox have left two. and max scherzer just struck out the side in the bottom of the second. justin verlander is sweating through this one with all of the tiger fans across the world here hoping to get the ball tomorrow night. what an odd feeling that must be as you sit down there hoping you get a chance. >> second time i've had to go through this this postseason. it's a difficult feeling. obviously, you're doing everything can you pulling four guys but, you know, it's -- i think it takes more out of you sitting here watching these games. >> joe: a base hit into right off the bat of iglesias. he is on to start the third inning. third hit. >> it takes more out of you wang the game than pitching. you heart is beating the whole time and pretty stressful. >> tim: before game five against oakland you said who is kidding

whom? it's not just any other game. and you got to feel that way about tomorrow night if you get a chance to pitch. >> yeah, no pretending here, man, it's not the same type of game. it's totally different and you have to prepare yourself for it. i've had the opportunity to pitch in a few of those type of games now and i feel having those under your belt helps with the nerves and stuff but it's -- the intensity level is totally different and you just got to go out there and deal with it. >> joe: a base hit by iglesias to start this third inning. torii hunter with iglesias running and hunter flies one into left and gomes is there. he'll try to throw behind the runner but iglesias is back. one out. >> tim: the last time that there was a 7-3 put-out, a left fielder throwing behind the runner at first base was seven years ago and that is what we almost saw right here. jonny gomes, because iglesias was running, and iglesias diving

back into first base, and how odd would that have been? seven years since the last 7-3 put-out at first base. >> joe: did you know that, justin verlander? >> i didn't but what i do. what are you talking about? i know everything. i got that. >> joe: here is miguel cabrera. one on, one out. cabrera struck out his first time. iglesias was running on that pitch to hunter and that is why it was so far off, but he got back. cabrera now 5 out of 19 against the red sox in this series and buckholtz looks the runner at first, back to the bag. you got to like, justin, the way max scherzer is working tonight. he has got his good stuff. i guess you're used to that by now? >> he's had his good stuff all year. fun to watch. when he gets in trouble it's usually early so he looks great right now and hopefully he continues to pound the strike zone against these guys who work the count and first pitch strikes and staying aggressive is key. >> joe: you don't need to be a

genius to figure out the red sox approach here tonight was take the first pitch. nobody went up there swinging. >> that is their approach so far. but things can change the second time around and might come out and change it and jump on every first pitch. you have to be cognizant of that and go out there and continue to make your pitches and execute. >> joe: here is cabrera. he takes a ball up and in. we talked about max scherzer telling jim leyland he was finished after seven in game two. what is it with you, justin, when you know you've had enough? >> usually in the regular season you don't quite get there. for me, very rarely do i get to where i feel like i'm exhausted by the postseason things change a little bit. so much emphasis on every pitch and it's different and you can fatigue yourself earlier than normal. in the regular season 120 i feel ;ç pretty gassed. >> joe: last question. as cabrera looks down at his third base coach tom brookins

and see how good my journalistic abilities are but we we will do it after the pitch to cabrera. one on, one out. iglesias a base hit to start the frame. hunter flied out to left and buchholz brings home a 1-1. i heard, verify or tell me i'm wrong, justin, thaw guys kept your keys for the hotel, but the luggage is available just in case. is that right? >> that is accurate. i've got my key in my back pocket. i plan on going back there tonight. >> joe: that's up to scherzer, your bull pen and your offense. as always, thanks for your time and good luck if you get the ball tomorrow. >> all right, guys. thanks a lot. >> joe: justin verlander hoping to pitch in game seven. right now, there is no score. top of the third. one on, one out. a 1-2 pitch to cabrera. two out. >> tim: again, joe staying away

from miguel cabrera. the red sox have not made a habit of coming inside to cabrera. cut fastball and cabrera down on strikes for the second time. >> joe: four strikeoutsdprj)q night for buchholz and now it's prince fielder. inside. ball one. prince struck out his first time. and could get everybody off his back with a big shot here in the third. they are on fielder's back in the detroit lineup. they are on stephen drew's back in the red sox lineup. >> tim: again, try to hit the ball to left field.

when you do that, you keep your front shoulder in. >> joe: the count is one ball, one strike. the bottom of this inning, the red sox will have bogaerts and ellsbury and victorino, against scherzer, who struck out four, allowed a hit and a walk. right at napoli. blocks it and goes to the bag and fielder 0 for 2 tonight. bottom of the third inning rolls in. fenway park, buchholz is doing his job. scherzer tries to continue doing his. no score. have hail damage to both their cars. ted ted is trying to get a hold of his insurance agent. maxwell is not. he's on geico.com setting up an appointment with an adjuster. ted is now on hold with his insurance company. maxwell is not and just confirmed

a 5:30 time for tuesday. ted, is still waiting. yes! maxwell is out and about... with ted's now ex-girlfriend. wheeeee! whoo! later ted! online claims appointments. just a click away on geico.com. ♪ ♪

♪ [ male announcer ] build anything with the new toyota tundra. toyota. let's go places. ♪ the meeting's starting now, guys. ♪ good night. [ male announcer ] at&t knows you don't want anything to come between you and your new iphone. that's why we're offering at&t next at $0 down on all new iphones. ♪

>> joe: bottom of the third inning. no score. time for the profile on xander bogaerts of aruba and see what he has accomplished this postseason. 2 for 5 so far.

bogaerts, then ellsbury and victorino against scherzer. strike two. scherzer with 36 pitches so far after a 21-pitch first inning, it only took him 13 to get through inning number two. that's just outside. ball one. bogaerts with 44 at-bats at the big league level this season. he has been able to lay off pitches, not no that was close, but he showed his discipline at the plate with a couple of key walks in the clemplging game, game four of the division series against tampa bay.

here is the 2-2 pitch. outside. that pitch a little closer. a full count. >> tim: behind 0-2 with two fastballs and now the 2-2 slider misses, barely down. >> joe: so now bogaerts trying to make scherzer work. again, get the pitch count up. john farrell's team wants to dig into that detroit bull pen. >> tim: we talked about it in the opening. joe, i've never been a proponents of that, but with scherzer on the mound, it changes things. >> joe: a lead-off walk and a good at-bat by the kid. >> tim: how about that? 0-2. then he worked the count to get a walk out of scherzer. second walk given up by max in this game.

>> joe: it brings in ellsbury. >> tim: a lot of things you can do right here. you can hit and run. i think ellsbury is too good a hitter to sacrifice in this situation. i think you waste an out. red sox are not a sacrificing team. els lsbur ellsbury, for the most par part, .300 hitter this year. .298. >> joe: runner at first. nobody out. a ball outside. a check swing. >> tim: change-up had some screwball action to it. >> joe: xander bogaerts nine plate appearances and he has drawn four walks this

postseason. >> tim: hit and run possibility. good speed on first. the count in ellsbury's favor. >> joe: one ball, one strike. victorino, who has been struggling with his swing, waiting on deck. ellsbury now 5 out of 12 in his career against scherzer after that first inning strikeout. we typically see the ball well out of scherzer's hand as he waits for a 1-1.

ball two. 2-2. i just love the fact that we have got you talking about pitch count this early in the game. but here scherzer does not have anybody retired in the third inning, up to 45 pitches on the night. >> tim: don't get used to it. tomorrow night is a different deal, if there is a tomorrow night in this series.

it will be the same thing. >> joe: i hope there's a tomorrow night. i just don't know if there is a game tomorrow night. >> tim: oh, yeah, well, that's right. >> joe: a lead-off walk. now a 2-2 count on ellsbury. and a full count to jacoby. >> tim: two 3-2 counts. bogaerts walked. probably running right here. cannot get picked off on a 3-2 count. either a hit or run or 3-2 count. it's up to the hitter to put the ball in play. you don't need to get as good a jump at first base. >> joe: just try to get

movement. bogaerts running. ball four. back-to-back walks. >> tim: the one thing a catcher wants from an um piper on the 3-2 pitch is an immediate call. alex avila didn't get one. he threw to second any way. keep in mind, that that is a -- that ball is live. if that ball had gone into center field, then bogaerts could have gone to third. >> joe: jeff jones out to there to talk to the infielders and scherzer with runners on at first and second and victorino coming up the red sox could do a lot of things here. >> tim: i think they bunt. either straight sacrifice or bunt for a base hit. victorino wants to talk to brian butterfield right here.

victorino had ten sacrifices this year on a team who doesn't sacrifice a lot, and that is an awful lot. he'll try to bunt the ball to cabrera. one thing the tigers are talking about is make sure you get one. victorino, if he gets the ball down the third base, it could be very interesting. >> joe: cabrera not moving around well. struggling with that bad groin. runners at first and second. ball one outside. victorino showed it. pitch wasn't close.

bunt in the air. and caught by scherzer! what a catch! a big out here in the third inning. >> tim: how many times do you see this?#t=ñ a sliding catch by a pitcher. what a play by chscherzer. if that ball hopped out of his glove and goes into foul territory, it could really be trouble but max scherzer certainly helping his cause right there. >> joe: so victorino who hasn't been getting any hits now can't get the bunt down. his frustration continues with a pop-up. caught by scherzer andv;ç now dustin pedroia stands in. he singled through the left side his first time. runners still at first and second. good speed on with bogaerts and ellsbury. one out.jx=

driven down the line! at the wall. it's foul. alfonso marquez is the umpire down the left-field line and pedroia came awfully close. that close. that close to his first home run of this postseason. we are going to get an argument out of john farrell but you can see the shadow of the baseball on the pole. take another look. it is definitely to the left. >> tim: definitely. >> joe: of the pole.

they may give it a look. >> tim: since 1975, game six against cincinnati, carlton fisk, a home run that stayed fair off pat darcy. that particular ball hit down the left-field line is the most reminiscent of fisk's blast. >> joe: now they are going to go look at it. >> tim: that's a foul ball. it's a great pickup, joe, on that shadow right there. i think that seems to me proved that it was a foul ball. by about four inches. game six, 1975 against pat darcy. >> there it goes! a long drive! if it stays fair, home run!

>> tim: dick stockton's famous call. that one stayed fair. >> joe: one of the biggest swings in red sox history off the bat ofi(ffisk. many play is under review. i think, if nothing else, can you see john farrell, his shoulders dropped after he either saw the ball go foul or he saw the umpire make the call. that ball was just crunched. >> tim: the pitch was a slider and it looked like pedroia was looking for it. >> joe: just hooked foul.

just john farrell, if nothing else, he has delayed the rest of this bottom of the third inning with scherzer walking around now on the mound having to wait for them to look at that replay. >> tim: it's a valid point. pitchers don't like that. we talked about base runners having their rhythm earlier. pitchers do too. i don't think max knows what to do. >> joe: here comes the call. joe west says foul ball. and we will go back to work, two on, one out. 0-1 count to dustin pedroia. >> tim: now max scherzer wants to throw a couple of pitches. dan iassogna, the home plate umpire washings about ready to brush off home plate. one pitch, he's ready.

>> joe: runners at first and second. that was a big missed opportunity for victorino for the red sox, popping up a bunt. the only hit with runners in scoring position for pedroia during this postseason in this series was against scherzer. an rbi double off the wall here at fenway last sunday. one ball, one strike. >> tim: joe, that, by the way, that was the first time the red sox have swung at the first pitch tonight. >> joe: two on, one out, one ball, one strike.

a few raindrops falling here at fenway.]$e outside corner. strike two. good pitch from scherzer. >> tim: power pitcher that can paint. that's why he has won 21 games this year. >> joe: back-to-back walks started the inning. victorino popped up. good play by scherzer. pedroia waits for the 1-2. he stays alive. there is another foul tip for alex avila. he is a baseball magnet. >> tim: it's contagious, joe.

once you get one, they keep coming with repetitive, it seems. this one right to the chest protector. that padding, alex's ñ xdad, assistant general manager to dave dombrowski of the tigers, that chest protector, a lot of people think it protects you. it to protect some, but not all of the pain. >> joe: bogaerts and ellsbury the runners. one out. left side. that brings cabrera to the bag. step and throw and double play ends the inning! scherzer gets around the two walks to start it. what a play he made on a bunt by victorino. and then just foul down the line game six is scoreless after