12 In 12 Equals A Victory

A rare blown save by Jonathon Papelbon, only his second of the year, led to a 12 inning victory by the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Sox are now 64-40 and have won 8 of their past 9 games. Not bad for a team that has been without Curt Schilling. Jon Lester lasted into the seventh inning, but I noticed some disturbing aspects of his pitching. It seemed that an inordinate number of his tosses were alarmingly up in the zone, right up until he was pulled by Tito after giving up two solo home runs in the seventh. In fact, sixteen of his twenty outs were fly balls to the outfield. Pit him against a better hitting club and, I'm sorry to say, he would have been clobbered and out of the game early.

Kyle Snyder earned the victory, pitching two scoreless innings. Lopez finished off the Devil Rays in the 12th after the Red Sox erupted for 6 runs in the top of the frame. The highlight hit that broke open the game was a bases loaded double by the always clutch and soon to be All Star Kevin Youkilis. The Sox banged out 15 hits in all, and other than the acute pain when Paps gave up that two run home run to Gomes in the ninth, it was an enjoyable game to watch. Jon Lester has GOT to keep his pitches down, though. And even with the blown save, the Red Sox are 61-1 when leading after 8 innings. And that's the sign of a championship club. Oh, the lead over the Yankees, which was down to 6 1/2 games last Wednesday, is back to 9 games. And after they (the Yankees) finish their Baltimore series today, they play three with Chicago and three with KC. AND THEN IT GETS TOUGHER! We're in good shape. Believe it. Have faith.

Click on the title of this post for an article by the Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin. It's a full wrap-up of last night's sweetness. And enjoy your Sunday. It's Daisuke versus the usually tough Scott Kazmir as the Sox try for a sweep against the Rays' best pitcher. GO SOX!! Forever.