BOSTON -- Sisu.
It's a Finnish word which, according to Finland's tourism website, typifies the enduring spirit of all Finns: "stoic determination, hardiness, courage, bravery, willpower, tenacity and resilience."
It's also the word Houston Astros pitching coach, Brent Strom, used to his pitchers in a meeting before Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday. The message he delivered might be the difference maker in this series, because over the following two days, Astros pitchers held the previously red-hot Boston Red Sox offense to just three runs -- and are returning to Houston with a 3-2 series lead.