Red Sox Lose But Clinch Wild Card Tie...Toronto 11 Boston 5...Happy 90th Birthday, Johnny Pesky..With Love

All I can say is "Thank you, Texas Rangers." They lost once again to lower Boston's magic number to win the AL wild card to one, essentially clinching a tie. Clay Buchholz will try to get his team into the playoffs tonight shortly after 7 pm EDT. He's the guy who can do it. That would be so fitting. He's been clutch and is a superstar in the making.

Last night with the Toronto Blue Jays in town, Sox pitcher Michael Bowden was called on to start in Josh Beckett's place. Beckett's upper back tightened up on the short plane ride from the Big Apple and when it had not improved by yesterday morning, Boston manager Terry Francona correctly did not want to take any chances. He'll make his final start of the regular season on Friday. Francona explains...

“He’s been feeling it,” Francona said. “Again, this time of year, guys feel a lot. On the plane he tried to get comfortable and couldn’t. He thought he could wake up, take a hot shower and go about his business. When that didn’t happen he called me, and it wasn’t a real difficult decision.

Good move, Tito. Better safe than lose him for the playoffs. He'll be the number two starter behind Jon Lester in the first round against the Halos. Toronto hitters battered and bruised Bowden and scored four times in the very first inning. He was only able to go three innings and gave up seven (!!) runs on seven hits. Jones, Richardson and Delcarmen followed him before the rains (more like a 9:33pm DELUGE) came, forcing the game to be called after seven innings. The team found out about the Ranger's loss a little later. Bowden was clearly displeased with his outing...

“I wasn’t throwing pitches when I needed to. I was getting ahead of some guys, and other pitches I was leaving up in the zone. I wasn’t throwing with conviction. I was given an opportunity today to start and I did everything except take advantage of it. I let the team down. It’s a terrible feeling.’’

Don't take it so hard, Michael. You had little time to get ready for your start and you were pitching on short rest. He last pitched Friday night against the pinstripers. Tonight's another night, a festive (I hope) one at Fenway Park. Clay Buchholz will try to pitch the Boston Red Sox into the 2009 AL playoffs, facing the LA Angels, who the Texas Rangers will play tonight shortly after 10pm EDT. It all comes around, doesn't it? Clay's mound opponent will be Mr. Romero, whose record is a respectable 12-9. Boston doesn't need anbody's help...all they have to do is WIN. And win they will. GO SOX!

Jon Lester's workout went well and his knee feels fine, so there was SOME good news yesterday. Mikey Lowell received another shot of cortisone and lubricant in his troublesome hip but will be ready to go by week's end. We need his beautiful and potent bat in the lineup.

Well, that's it for this Tuesday, the second to last day of September. Click on the title of this post for more Red Sox news and as always, BE WELL. Your comments would be great. I'll answer every one of 'em. See ya. I hope the champagne will be flowing in the clubhouse tonight at good old Fenway.

Happy 90th birthday wishes go out to our very own Johnny Pesky. We love you, Johnny. We always will. Always and forever.