CHAI

In Hebrew the word chai means "life", and is signified by the number 18. When someone toasts you saying l'chaim, it means "to life." And there's plenty of life in Josh Beckett's 2007 after he stymied the Orioles and beat them 3-2 to record his 18th victory. Hey Josh, L'CHAIM! Here's what Miggy Tejada of the Orioles said about Mr. Beckett.....

"Every time he pitches to us, he throws the same game," said Orioles cleanup man Miguel Tejada, who had five hits (all singles) in the first three games of the series but didn't get the ball out of the infield four trips yesterday. "He's been unbelievable this year. He was throwing the ball wherever he wants, today and every time he pitches against us.
"We were just happy to score two runs off him, and what can we do?"

Peter here, and well said, Miggy. It was a well-pitched game by everyone, as the bullpen revved its engines in the 8th and 9th. Hideki Okajima pitched the 8th and returned to his lights-out form, and Jonathon Papelbon earned his 35th save with a one hit 9th. JD Drew and Coco Crisp combined to push across the go ahead run with a single and stolen base by JD and a super clutch single by the Coco man. 3-2 Sox and the feeling of a coming victory permeated the Fenway Park air and all of the Fenway Faithful. And Oki and Paps made those wishes come true. The Boston Red Sox have a record of 87-57, 30 wonderful games over .500 with 18 left to play in the regular season. The magic number for a postseason birth is 10, and the magic number for clinching the AL East is 14. Three games with the Devil Rays are on the immediate horizon at the Fens, and here are the pitching matchups.......

Scott Kazmir (11-8, 3.79) vs. Curt Schilling (8-6, 4.04) tonight
Andy Sonnanstine (5-9, 5.73) vs. Tim Wakefield (16-10, 4.39) Tuesday
Edwin Jackson (4-14, 6.00) vs. Jon Lester (4-0, 4.47) Wednesday

Click on the title of this post for Gordon Edes' Red Sox Notebook, with the latest on Manny's return and the future plans for Jacoby Ellsbury. Enjoy your Monday, enjoy your week and be well. Always. 3 of 4 from Baltimore...just as I predicted in my Thursday AM post. Great job Sox!