The Red Sox Slam The Angels In A Comeback Victory

Saturday night was a night that the home Boston Red Sox had to put up some crooked numbers on their half of the scoreboard or lose their second in a row to the LA Angels. And after Friday night's second game loss, that would have been tough on the team, and for us here in magical RSN. But Curt Schilling still needs to fine tune the edges and regain some lost velocity. He said this....

"As much as I hate to say it, I am a work in progress in a lot of ways," said Schilling, who came off the disabled list Aug. 6. "I don't have the consistent low to mid-90s velocity."

I have to agree with him, but when it counted Saturday night at Fenway Park, as he and his team faced the LA Angels, Curt got the outs. In the sixth inning, after the Sox had gone ahead 6-5 on the strength of a Big Papi monster shot grand slam to right, he retired the Angels. Timlin, Okajima and Papelbon, in a non-save situation, also put up scoreless frames to end it. The Halos were held to one run after the second inning. That's what a great bullpen does...it allows its team to come back. And yesterday was an example of exactly that. And it was a needed win, too, for the Tigers were again beaten by those damn Yankees. The lead is five and holding.

It would be big to take three of four from the team with the second best record in baseball.....a literal shot in the arm for a club that's been playing "win one, lose one" for far too long. And todays pitching matchup pits Joe Saunders versus Julian Tavarez. With Tavie's propensity for going five, or at most, six innings, the bullpen will come into play yet again today. If it's not a close game, or if the Sox are way ahead (I hope), we'll see Eric Gagne emerge from the 'pen to a fuscilade of boos. I can't imagine Tito putting Gagne into the game with just a one or two run lead. Not yet. Although he disagrees (click on the title of this post for an article about JUST that). If it's close, it'll be Delcarmen and Oki. Oki threw 13 pitches yesterday while Paps threw 18. Gagne has not pitched since his Friday night personal massacre.

Again, if you click on the title of this post you will learn EXACTLY what Terry Francona's thoughts are about when or if to use Eric Gagne. For the most part, I agree. But read the article first, and then tell me what you think by leaving a comment. I'll let you know exactly how I feel in the comment section too. Have a happy, safe and healthy Sunday as the northeastern United States basks in wonderfully clear and cool autumn-like weather. Canadian air with a northwest wind will do it every time, and in August, as much of the country bakes and broils, we're happy. 'Bout time!