Reversal Of Fortune

A couple posts ago I wondered in type how nice it would be if the Sox reversed the score of game number one and came out 7-1 victors. And what do you know? They went out and did it! Josh Beckett battled temperatures in the low 40s and a lack of control but stayed with his breaking ball and pitched five gutsy innings, allowing only one run on two measley hits. He threw 94 pitches, so after 5 the Sox went to their "so far so good" bullpen and they finished off the Royals, who had won 6 in a row over the Sox at home. JD Drew made a spectacular catch of Mike Sweeney's drive into the gap in the third, getting a tremendous jump on the ball. He didn't even have to leave his feet, something he likes to avoid doing if at all possible. This saved some inner tumoil for Mikey Lowell, who uncharacteristically committed three errors, two in that third inning which ended with the JD grab that kept the 3-0 lead intact.
The relievers deserve a mention, right here, right now. Lopez and Snyder combined to pitch the 6th and 7th innings. Lefty Romero and Joel Piniero pitched the hitless 8th and 9th innings, ending the game with the score the exact opposite of game one. 7-1 Sox. Well done.
This afternoon, shortly after 2pm here in the east, Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his first trip to the mound. It will be cold. From the Courant......

"The game time temperature Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium was 42 degrees.
This afternoon, the temperature isn't expected to climb much higher than 40. Add that to the list of adjustments Daisuke Matsuzaka must make to life in the United States.
Still, in his eight professional seasons in Japan, Matsuzaka pitched the vast majority of his games inside climate-controlled domes, including his home field, the Seibu Dome.
For the past seven weeks, Matsuzaka has thrown almost exclusively in 80-degree temperatures in Florida. Even his start in Philadelphia last Saturday began at a somewhat balmy 54 degrees.
"He has pitched in cold weather," pitching coach John Farrell said. "It's been on rare occasions. But one great thing about pitching on a cold day is the warmest guy is the starting pitcher."

Peter here, and I think I'll be the warmest guy. I'm sure my nerves will settle down once Daisuke gets a clean inning under his belt, but for now, I have the jitters. And the day off. A good combination to enjoy Red Sox baseball. And if the result is similar to yesterday, this Thursday might turn out to be pretty darn good. Enjoy, and go Sox! The Courant article about the game is linked when you click on the title of this post. Just for you........enjoy!
Oh, the plane carrying the 15 hostage British soldiers just this second landed in the UK. Thank goodness and Godspeed.