STILL Winless In Seattle

July 21, 2006, more than a year ago. That was the date of the last Boston Red Sox victory at the Mariner's Safeco field. And Friday night, nothing changed, as a mediocre Jon Lester, pitching for his family and hometown friends, and a terrible Mike Timlin squandered a 3-0 Sox lead, a lead that should have been much bigger, and the Mariners won this frustrating contest by a score of 7-4. Lester pitched five tortured innings, throwing 99 pitches and giving up 4 runs on 8 hits with a couple walks mixed in. This kind of performance will not win many games for Lester, and his economy of pitches must improve for him to be a force this year, or ANY year. Coupled with another Yankee win over the Royals, the lead is again down to 7 games, with Daisuke Matsuzaka going against the Mariner's lefty Jarrod Washburn. It's time to break this winless streak. Tonight. No if's, and's or but's. Just victory. TONIGHT!!!!

The Sox banged out 12 hits, but it wasn't to be. And Mike Timlin just couldn't seem to glove the ball and throw it successfully to the base required. That's when I turned the game off and resorted to the radio and the solace of sleep. I wish it had worked, but I was sleepless until well after 2am. Oh well, the page has been turned. Case closed. Today is another day, and another day closer to our departure from this field of nightmares.

Have a great weekend, and click on the title of this post for the great Gordon Edes' take on this game of miscues, errors and shabby pitching for the Boston club. But fear not. The lead is still 7 games, and the Yankees' schedule gets a whole lot tougher starting on Monday. And this after more than 2 weeks of playing helpless pansies, pansies that are on our schedule for multiple matchups in the last third of the season. We'll be OK, I have to think, but Jon Lester, and I love the courage and heart he has shown so far in his young life, must learn to keep his pitches down in the zone and THROW STRIKES. Too many fly balls, with some of those lofted offerings sailing right over the fence. It was only his second start since coming back, and I have faith that he'll get better every time he takes the mound. Faith...that's an important aspect to being a Boston Red Sox fan. Comments? I'd love to read and respond to them. Thank you, as always, for taking the time to spend a couple minutes to read my words. That always makes my every day so sweet. Now click on that title for Gordon's take on the game....much like mine.