Shadows & Light...Red Sox Win

The Toronto Blue Jays play in the Rogers Centre, which has a retractable roof. Sunday, it didn't want to open fully so the Jays decided to leave it "mostly" open. This caused an infield shadow that thoroughly benefited the pitchers. Daisuke Matsuzaka went six shutout innings and Jays starter Jesse Litsch bettered that by taking a no-hitter into the sixth. As Red Sox skipper Terry Francona said...

“It was a great day to pitch. With the shadow where it was, it was so hard to see. You’d see half the ball.’’

I watched the game before Nadia and I left for the Hartford fireworks and he's NOT kidding! The pitches came out of darkness and virtually appeared in front of the batter. But back to back taters hit by Darnell Mcdonald (a two run shot) and All Star game bound David Ortiz gave Boston the three runs it needed in the sixth. Danny Bard pitched two perfect innings and Jonathon Papelbon earned his twentieth save of the season. It was a great way to end the first "half" of the season. We're actually a little farther along than that but that's the general consensus. Now Theo must address the bullpen problems. More on that in the days to come.

In other Red Sox news, Boston third baseman Adrian Beltre, nursing a sore hamstring, might or might not play in his first All Star game. He said this about that...

“So far, I’m playing, for now. I don’t want to risk anything. If I don’t feel good, I won’t play. It’s the All-Star Game, but I don’t want to screw up the season for a couple of at-bats in an exhibition game. I’ll be cautious on that.”

Please be cautious, Adrian. The Sox resume play on Thursday but I'll be here every day until then with a little of this and a tad of that. You can click on this post's title for more on the Red Sox and as always, BE WELL. Thanks for being here.