Wakefield Brilliant Again As Pap Blows Save, Gets Win

*****RJ a Bust as the Yankees Lose to Oakland. Pitched Like An Old Man*****

All good things muct come to an end, and last night in the top of the 8th, Jonathon Papelbon's 20 save streak did just that as he tried to get out of a two out two men on situation left by Craig Hansen. But a single by Blalock tied the score. It would not stay tied for long, as Mike Lowell's sacrifice fly plated Manny Ramirez with the winning run. Paps, his usual ferocious self in the 9th, struck out the side, pumping his fist and screaming in jubulation as his ERA stayed right where it was, 0.30 The last major leaguer with that low an ERA as late as June 9th was Anaheim's Brendan Donnelly, who did it in 2003.
The batting star? Our right fielder, Trot Nixon, who collected 4 hits with 3 RBIs. Big Papi's bat remains strangely quiet, and Manny isn't hitting up a strorm much either. And yet we manage to win. But Coco seems to be coming around. We need him to. We were spoiled rotten by Youk during his stint at batting lead off. He was one of the best in the league. Coco was 3 for 4.
So game #1 is today at 1pm, and Boston as I write this is surrounded by rain, with only light showers falling in the city itself. We should get the games in. Craig Hansen was sent back to Pawtucket to make room for Jon Lester to start the first game. Show us something, Jon. You can do it. This might be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Oh, we might have a Keith Foulke sighting this weekend. I hope so. Timlin is 4 or 5 days away. Then the bridge to Paps will be back, with toll collectors ready and willing to extract their fees. Namely, outs!