Full talents on display, Anibal Sanchez baffles the Red Sox

Sanchez, a former Boston farmhand who so idolized Pedro Martinez that he'd drive from minor league outposts across New England to see the former Red Sox

Joe Lemire | Oct 13, 2013

Full talents on display, Anibal Sanchez baffles the Red Sox /

Only a high pitch count prevented Anibal Sanchez from extending his mastery of the Red Sox further. — Only a high pitch count prevented Anibal Sanchez from extending his mastery of the Red Sox further :: Michael Ivins/Getty Images

Sanchez, a former Boston farmhand who so idolized Pedro Martinez that he'd drive from minor league outposts across New England to see the former Red Sox wizard, crafted a masterpiece that was at times reminiscent of Martinez himself. Sanchez's six hitless innings, it need be noted, matched the best playoff output of his hero and fulfilled the prescient praise of his teammates.

Published Oct 13, 2013

JOE LEMIRE

Staff Writer, Sports Illustrated Staff writer Joe Lemire is in his seventh year at Sports Illustrated and his fourth season covering baseball full time. Lemire writes features and analysis for SI and SI.com and is responsible for the website's weekly MLB Power Rankings. He has profiled Pirates star Andrew McCutchen and Braves rookie sensation Evan Gattis for the magazine. Lemire's penchant for covering America's pastime is to be expected considering his inspirations, Tom Verducci and Peter Gammons, are among the most well-known writers in the sport. Before his current role, Lemire spent his first three years with SI oscillating between baseball, college basketball, high school football and sports business. This came on the heels of a summer internship with the magazine in 2004 and a tenure as a stringer with SI: On Campus. Born in Richmond, Va., and raised in Lowell, Mass., Lemire graduated from the University of Virginia in 2005 with a B.A. in government and a minor in economics. Before joining SI he covered high school and college sports for the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Va. He earned two Virginia Press Association awards for his work, one while a student writing at University of Virginia's Cavalier Daily and one at the Daily News-Record.