Curt Paints It Black

Curt Schilling was sharp, very sharp. After the disapointment of his last few starts, he has been working hard to fix what ailed him. Evidently he did. This is from the Courant.........

"Schilling, who allowed 12 hits and six runs to the Yankees in his last start, has been working with pitching coach John Farrell on the splitter. The results were extraordinary - he struck out the side in the first and didn't allow a hit until former teammate Trot Nixon singled in the second.
"I was throwing," Schilling said. "I was getting after it a little bit."
Said Pedroia: "He was awesome. He was painting every pitch. It was fun playing behind him."

Peter here, and it was fun WATCHING him pitch, too. A lot of fun. He was backed by a Manny tater and an inside-the-park job by the hot Kevin Youkilis, who extended his hitting streak to 20 games. Can we all agree that with his batting average and his on base numbers that he belongs on the All Star team? To me it's a no-brainer. Pedroia had another multiple hit day, collecting 3.
The bullpen allowed single runs in the 8th and the 9th, and there were some anxious moments before Paps nailed down the save. I still say that Paps is not as sharp as usual because he has not worked on a consistant basis this year, whether being held back by Tito or confronted with a non-save situation. But Monday night he got the job done and the Red Sox won their 4th in a row and 35th out of the first 50. They are playing inspired ball and each night there is a different hero. Said Brendan Donnelly, and this is from the Hub's Herald.....

"At 35-15, the Sox, who have the most wins in franchise history through 50 games, reinforced their claim to the title of the AL’s top team.
“I’ve been on some teams where we have always been talking about needing something else. We need need a starter, we need a hitter, we need something,” said reliever Brendan Donnelly, who got the final out of the eighth inning. “We don’t need anything, and that’s rare. This team is good enough to say that we don’t need anything, and while that’s rare, what’s even more rare is we get along and have fun. It’s a good combination.”

Peter here. The MOST wins in franchise history! Wow! And how about the return of Trot Nixon, OUR number 7. He received multiple standing ovations from all of us, at the game or cheering and crying at home. And before and after the game he AND his wife, always active in charitable pursuits, were emotional, to say the least. How else can I say it but this.....WE LOVE YOU TROT! We all do.

Tonight is another night that we have been waiting for....the return of Josh Beckett. And we all hope he can pick up where he left off as if nothing had happened. For if he does, this 2007 Boston Red Sox team is one scary bunch of ballplayers. Just the way we like it. Paps threw 23 pitches last night, but the Darkman is rested, last pitching in Sunday's win, as is Donnelly, who only pitched three last night. So the 'pen will be ready, locked and loaded after Josh's 7 strong (I hope).
Click on the title of this post for more on Curt Schilling and his newly sharpened splitter. And remember....7pm tonight...Fenway Park. Red Sox baseball...............as only they know how. Ya gotta love it! I know I do. Thanks for being here, and I'd love to read your comments....did you see a newly confident Curt last night? I, for one, noticed that he was "on" from the first inning, hitting his spots, Tek's glove. ALMOST EVERY PITCH. As Jere would say, "Good job, Curt."