'Pen Flawless In Red Sox Comeback Win

They did it again. The Boston Red Sox roared back from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 in 10 innings. It was their 19th come-from-behind victory, and that's the sign of a good ball club. Julian Tavarez, in what might have been his last start of the season (see Jon Lester related story below), was great for 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 base hits. He struck out 5 and gave way to the Sox bullpen. And the 'pen responded with perfection from Donnelly, the Darkman, Hideki Okajima and Jonathon Papelbon. The Darkman was perfect for two innings and was credited with the win while a rusty Paps earned the save, although he threw a ton of pitches. The batting star was the captain, Jason Varitek. He batted in three with a home run and a double. The winning run was driven in by Mike Lowell with a pinch hitting at-bat sac fly.
The Sox have now won 3 straight as they keep their lead over the Yankees at 10 1/2 games. The Yankees have been playing good ball of late with 5 straight wins. It had to happen sooner or later. The Red Sox record, and it sounds so nice, is 40-21.

There's quite a match-up today on the pitching mound as Randy Johnson, who has been sharp lately, faces Daisuke Matsuzaka. That should be fun. And with the weather being what it is on this grey and rainy Sunday in the northeast, a late afternoon game seems like it will be must-see TV. And with a win the Sox will erase most of the bad memories of the 3 straight losses that started this road trip in Oakland Monday through Wednesday.

Jon Lester took a step backwards yesterday pitching for Pawtucket. This is from the Boston Globe.....

"Jon Lester lasted just 2 2/3 innings last night in his latest rehab start with Pawtucket, as manager Ron Johnson evidently decided the lefthander was better off not laboring beyond the 70 pitches he threw to get eight outs. Lester allowed Ottawa three runs on five hits, and left trailing, 3-0. His rehab assignment cannot go past June 18, so it would appear he'll make at least one more start before his call-up."

Peter here, and the way JT (Julian Tavarez) is pitching, there is no hurry needed. Jon will be fine when he's ready, and so will the Red Sox.

My readers, click on the title of this post for three selections from Big Papi's book, "Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits,” as told to and written by the Boston Herald's Tony Massarotti. Fun reading yours for the clicking. Let's hope the bats stay hot and your Sunday is a great one. And may the Sox be with you.

Tuesday morning, get ready for part three of my friend Jay T's 1967 Red Sox memories. And for those of you ready for the final Sopranos episode, tonight on HBO at 10PM EDT, I'll leave you with a mental picture of Tony Soprano, cowering in his hideout bedroom, shotgun cradled like a newborn baby, mute, silent but deadly. For someone.