On the Nights that Jon Lester pitches, you MUST win. The Sox did exactly that. Lester pitched 6 strong and could have gone 7 but with the game seemingly well in hand (up 6-2 at the time) Francona decided to save some of his bullets for October Baseball. Although the ensuing events were shall we say a clusterf*ck, Thank you Hideki Okajima, The W was secured and we move another game up on the Rays in the standings.
It's becoming a nightly occurrence that the Red Sox offense clubs 3+ HRs. I have now decided that Victor Martinez contributions to the team can best be described as Baseball Viagra. He keeps em UP when they're down, and when the batting order is flaccid he brings life back into the lineup. Bay, Youkilis, and the RED HOT JD Drew all walloped balls out of the ball park. The offense is clicking on all cylinders now and its great to see when our most consistent pitcher gives up 2 runs or Less he finally gets the win.
Tonight's game ball goes to that little Indian that plays centerfield. Jacoby "Everybody's Dreamboat" Ellsbury saved the game for the Red Sox tonight. Twice he flashed the leather with the catch in the 8th all but securing the game for us. Holy shit a high risk high reward signing worked out for us. Billy Wagner came into last night's game and put a boot right up Joe Maddon's ass. Well played sir, well played. Enter Hideki Okajima. Dying Quail after Ducksnort after Texas Leaguer made this outing from the man they call 'Oki' all the more maddening. He let the first 5 runners reach base and let the potential tying run get on first base. With the score entering the inning at 7-2 and now at a dwindling 7-4, insert Heartattack Papelbon.
"The Dan Johnson Game" aside. Yeesh, that game still gives me a salty taste in my mouth. Papelbon has owned the Rays more than any other team in baseball during his tenure as a Boston Red Sox. Papelbon was the LOGICAL choice to bring in for the 2 inning save, especially with the rosters expanding yesterday. Papelbon entered with the bases loaded and he left with them loaded as well stranding their best scoring opportunity. This was not before the aforementioned Ellsbury heroics. Ellsbury broke in on a weekly hit liner and made a game saving, shoestring, diving catch to which a bonehead baserunning blunder cost the Rays another run. (How's that for alliteration?) It's pretty difficult to put into words the physical F YOU that Jacoby Ellsbury threw around on a night where the Sox needed to prove they can win on the road.
The 9th was uneventful for Papelbon and the Red Sox got the save and the win. This does however leave them without their closer for at least Wednesday but this game did mean something for the Red Sox, and Francona played it to win. Now It's time for Josh Beckett to put up his middle finger to all of those Beckett Naysayers and Bobby Brown the Tampa Bay Rays. With your foot on their throat, don't let em breath. GO SOX!!!
Stay Tuned
Ryan
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