It's Time For Baseball Again In The Land Of The Rising Sun

The Boston Red Sox and the Oakland A's are almost ready to battle again in the Tokyo Dome. I'm glad you liked my version of a live blog, but it was more a series of updates until the final exciting innings. At that time it became more of a batter by batter, pitch by pitch summary. I had fun, especially because the Sox pulled it out.

Today, hard throwing Rich Harden will take on our very own Jon Lester, unbeaten in his last 15 starts. I will be back with periodic updates when I can. Congratulations go out to Manny Ramirez and Brandon Moss for bashing the hits JUST when we needed them! And today the lineup is the same, including Brandon Moss in right for the hurting JD Drew. Coco will be in center. After his night (err...morning) yesterday, that's a great thing! I'll be back every half inning or so...it would be nice to score first today, and cruise, with no nervous moments. But somehow, I don't think so. Here we go, my friends. I thank you so much for your gleeful responses after yesterday's posts, and my site hits went through the roof! GO SOX. FOREVER.

***UPDATES***

Top of the first...With two outs, Papi walks and Manny strikes out. Ziz zip, A's coming to bat.
Bottom of the first...Still zip zip...Lester looks good. To the second we go...

Top of the second...A too short 1-2-3 inning for the Sox. (a quick hello to Nods, my g'friend, who is listening to me type).
Bottom of the second...1-0 A's, still at bat. Men on first and third with two gone...strike three...1-0 Bad Guys.

Top of the third...Still A's 1 Sox nothing. Lester striding to the mound.
Bottom of the third...Brown hits a cut fastball over the plate...4-0 A's. Lester has not had a 1-2-3 inning yet. Fastballs by Lester up in the zone, WAITING to be hit..continuing..Farrell to the mound after yet another single. 1 man on first with 2 down...an early 'pen appearance would NOT be good, but the next official game is still 6 days away. Anyone is available...the inning is over with the score 4-0 A's and Lester's pitch count mounting, much like many of his starts last year.

Top of the fourth...Harden has 7 (!!) KOs, as the A's still hold on to their 4-0 lead. Harden looks SO good, and Lester only has two innings, at most, left.
Bottom of the fourth...best inning for Lester. 1-2-3..still 4 zip..and so we go to the fifth.

Top of the 5th...another quick inning. A double play by Peds erased the baserunner, and it's still..STILL 4-0 A's. Harden looks good, but Lester did too, finally, in his last inning. To the bottom of the 5th...
Bottom of the 5th...reliever for the Sox in..Lester went a forgettable 4..Aardsma in to pitch..good move..2 outs already..a beautiful quick 3 outs for Double A.

Top of the 6th..(Oy!)...Manny home run..4-1..Lowell pop up...4-1 A's.
Bottom of the 6th...still AA pitching..HE WILL BE A FUTURE (this year) star for the Sox!. Guaranteed..another strikeout. 2 outs..base hit and Javier Lopez is in with the same 2 outs..and three outs. But still 4-1 A's.

Into the 7th...11th strike out for A's pitchers...double by Crisp. Home run needed..but Lugo grounds out. 4-1 A's.
Bottom of the 7th..Little Manny Delcarmen on the hill...and after seven, it is STILL 4-0 A's. A comeback is needed.

Top of the 8th...Keith Foulke pitching, and, believe it or not, again, he looks good...single Youk..Papi up..no..Manny up..no. To the bottom of the 8th, 4-1 A's. Pitching and a bunch of Sox hits are needed, but it won't be bad if we go home with a record of 1-1. Corey on for the Sox...and at the end of 8, it is 5-1 Oakland A's. MAGIC is needed.

Top of the 9th...two outs on the double play hit by Casey..one to go..'Tek up..last chance. There is no one on and the count is 0-2. And, GAME OVER! ***

This is me, live right now at 9:05am edt. Our Sox are 1-1, and nothing is wrong with that! The NEXT regular season game is six days from now. We're OK..the better pitcher won.