One Is The Loneliest Number For Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox' elimination number is that lonely number. One. You know how it works...if Boston loses a game (out of seven left) or if the Yankees win just one, the 2010 season will be history. The most exciting thing a member of Red Sox Nation has left to look forward to is Jon Lester's last start of the season. He'll be going for his 20th victory. Couldn't happen to a nicer and more courageous guy, either.

In the ninth inning, it was closers Mo Rivera and Jonathon Papelbon taking turns blowing a save. The Red Sox scored two runs off Mo in the top of the ninth to go ahead by a run. Bottom of the ninth. Paps time. How about a 1-2-3 inning, Paps? Those three up and three down saves, a thing of beauty, have become rarer and rarer with him these days and there has been idle speculation that Daniel Bard, who's still getting better with every appearance, should take over the closer duties. We'll see. Here's Boston's Bill Hall...

“Obviously, it’s a tough loss. We definitely needed to pull this one out some way. But just as good as we got ourselves in a good position, they came right back and had great at-bats and took a lot of close pitches and worked some counts and were able to tie the game and end it right there at the end. But we came in here and played all-out for three games, and that’s all you can ask. That’s all you can ask. We’ve still got one game left that we can’t lose, so we’re going to continue to try to win out."

Okajima walked in the winning run in the tenth frame and that sent the Yankee Stadium crowd home happy, assured of a Wild Card slot in the playoffs with only one more win. I'm sorry to say they'll do that...and more. Last night when Boston went ahead by a run and Papelbon was trotting in from the bullpen, I knew there were only two possible endings to this tight game. The first would have been an easy ninth and a save for Jonathon. The second? Well, that's what happened. It wasn't pretty and I'm glad I had turned the television off. No, I DID NOT GIVE UP ON MY TEAM. I knew I could see the replays on redsox dot com this morning, which I will as soon as I proofread this. Just click on this post's title and see for yourself. A four game series in Chicago against the White Sox, starting tonight, marks the last road series of the 2010 season. Here's all you need to know...

Mon. 27 at CWS** 8:10 PM ET NESN/CSN*** Buchholz (16-7) vs. Buehrle (12-12)
Tue. 28 at CWS **8:10 PM ET NESN/CSN*** Lackey (13-11) vs. Jackson (3-2)
Wed. 29 at CWS**8:10 PM ET ESPN/WCIU*** Beckett (6-5) vs. Garcia (11-6)
Thu. 30 at CWS** 8:10 PM ET NESN/WCIU Lester (19-8) vs. Danks (14-11)

I had a late start this morning so I have to run. Have a great Monday, click on this post's title for more on the Red Sox and as always, BE WELL. Come back...OK? There's not much 2010 baseball left but I'll be here all fall and winter long, right into the 2011 season. See ya.